Changes in Volunteer Registration Staffing

From AFSWiki

In order to improve the service the Volunteer Development provides AFS-USA volunteers and staff in the implementation of the annual volunteer registration process, we are making a number of staffing changes in the Volunteer Resources area.

The first change is the upcoming departure of Margaret Peterman from her role as Volunteer Development Specialist. Margaret has been with AFS off and on in various positions for over 12 years and has worked in the Volunteer Development Department for just over two years. In her current role Margaret has contributed greatly to the success of the Returnee Initiative, the many projects of Volunteer Registration and the development of materials such as the Chapter Development Tool Kit and the Passport to Volunteering. Margaret’s contributions to the work of the Volunteer Development Department during the last two years have been tremendous and we expect that Margaret will return to AFS in another position in the future. Margaret’s last day with Volunteer Development will be May 6, 2011.

The other major change is that we will be restructuring Volunteer Registration staffing so that we will have one Full Time staff (9-5, Monday –Friday) and one Part Time staff (19 hours/week) year round. This change will allow us to ensure better staffing coverage, improved customer service for our volunteers and for our staff colleagues and help AFS-USA better meet our compliance goals as it relates to volunteer registration - something that has often been challenging with three part-time staff in Volunteer Registration for the last year and a half. Betsy Velluto will continue to directly supervise Volunteer Registration. In addition to Volunteer Registration, these positions also support Volunteer Resources in other yearly projects such as Team Chartering and Compliance Assessments.

We will not have Volunteer Registration Seasonal Staff for the summer in 2011. For increased support during the peak season, Smitha Pennepalli, the Coordinator of Office Services and Volunteer Administration in the St Paul Office, Betsy and I will all support as needed.

I am pleased to announce that Liz Wyman, current PT Volunteer Registration Assistant, has accepted the new Full Time Volunteer Registration Assistant position! Please join me in congratulating Liz on her promotion. Liz has had the opportunity to work in Sending, Hosting and Sponsored Programs before making her way to Volunteer Development in early 2010, so she brings a wide perspective of AFS-USA’s activities. While in her current role, Liz has provided great customer service and attention to detail - especially during the launch of the Volunteer Registration Phase II changes in January 2011, where glitches often had to be found before they could be fixed. We are happy to have Liz able to apply her energy and enthusiasm full time. Liz begins her new role May 9, 2011.

Rachel Rustad, current PT Volunteer Registration Assistant will remain in her current position. We are pleased to have Rachel’s continuing support in volunteer registration.

Thank you, Damayonti Rowe