Difference between revisions of "Adoption Program Information"

Revision as of 12:19, 11 November 2008

Welcome to the Adoption Program at Free Geek! The Adoption Program is our longest-standing program. Anyone may participate in this program as long as they are able to make it to our facility to volunteer. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. In exchange for 24 hours of service, adopters may receive a computer with monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse.

When you have completed your 24 hours, please sign up for an Adoption Class (see below). The class teaches you how to set up and use your computer. Additionally, you will receive 1 year of tech support after completing the class.

Where will I work in the Adoption Program?

There are lifting, standing, and sitting jobs available in this program. Instructors will be mae available to show you the ropes. Adopters may work in any of the following areas:

Receiving: Carrying items into Free Geek and putting them away, sitting down and sorting items, sitting down and testing equipment.
Recycling Bench: Standing up and disassembling PC systems.
Recycling Table: Sitting down and disassembling smaller electronics.
Printerland: Standing up and disassembling systems.
Basic Testing: where you'll test mice, keyboards, and speakers.

Occasionally we have different volunteer opportunities available. Please inquire at the front desk if interested!

What Kind of Computer Will I Receive?

We've named the computers we give away to volunteers FreekBoxes. The current specifications are as follows:

Processor: Any Intel Core 2 Duo or Pentium D

1 GB or 2 GB of RAM

Hard drive: 460 GB

CD-RW and DVD-ROM

network, sound, video onboard or card

Monitor: 15" - 17" LCD

Keyboard, mouse, speakers

Adoption Policy, "Members of the adoption program can get their first computer after 24 hours of volunteer work. Subsequent computers can be obtained only once per year. Only the hours logged since the most recent computer adopted will count towards any subsequent computer." Remember, in order to receive one year of free tech support, you MUST sign up for the Adoption class. This 3-hour class is in addition to your 24 hours of volunteer work and is well worth it!

What About This Class That I Keep Hearing About?

The Getting Started Class is an introduction to computers and to using Linux, the operating system we install on FreekBoxes. You'll receive your "new" computer at the conclusion of the class, so it's important to arrange for transportation.

We require this class of all adopters receiving their computers. Even if you have some computer experience, Linux is a bit of a different ballgame, so we want to be sure you understand how to use it. If you do decide to opt out of the Getting Started Class, you won't receive any tech support from us.

Please be aware that the classes are often booked far in advance, so it may take a while for you to get into one. Also, if you can't make it, please call us at least 24 hours in advance to cancel so another volunteer can take your place. We offer the class on Thursdays from 4 - 7pm and Saturdays from 3 - 6pm.

Recording Hours and Parking Your Car

At the end of each of your volunteer shifts, you'll need to log your hours and sign up for your next shift at the front desk. If you won't be able to make it to Free Geek for your shift, please call us. As an additional thank-you for your service, after you've volunteered for 4 hours, you'll receive a 50% discount in our Thrift Store! It will expire after 90 days but you can always come back and volunteer to reinstate your discount.

If you have a car, there are plenty of places for you to park it around Free Geek. However, we ask that you don't park in front of Free Geek, in front of the building across 10th from Free Geek, and in the spaces marked Reserved in our parking lot. These are not our parking spaces and your car might be towed!

Taking breaks

For each volunteer work period of 6 to 8 hours you should take a half an hour break. During this break time you will earn hours toward adopting a computer. We also encourage you to take a 15 minute breaks in every 3 ½ to 4 hour shift, this time is also not deducted from your hours. Take Breaks!

Health and Safety, Rah Rah Rah!

Please stay safe. There are lots of pointy things and tall piles of computer stuff at Free Geek. We ask the following of you while you're here:

Be careful, wear shoes, dress appropriately for your task, and alert a staff member if you see an unsafe situation that needs attention.
If your back or ankle or anything else starts hurting while you're volunteering, let us know and we'll have you do a different task.
We highly suggest wearing gloves if you are disassembling computers.
If you are living with a blood-borne disease (like Hepatitis C or HIV), you are welcome here, but, for everyone's safety, please let a staff member know. Also, if you are cut at Free Geek and spill blood, let the closest staff member know so that he or she may act and give directions to others accordingly. Although we are invested in guarding your privacy, we request that you allow us to inform other staff members of the situation.
If you need any special consideration at all, let a staff member know so that we can work with you and help you get the most from your volunteer term.
Free Geek is a safe, respectful place. We don't allow harassment, violence, theft, arson, or other destructive behaviors here. Help keep our organization fun and inviting for all!

Parting Information

For reference, here's Free Geek's contact info. Thanks for volunteering at Free Geek!

Free Geek Community Technology Center
1731 SE 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214

Tel (503) 232-9350
Fax (503)230-8815
http://freegeek.org
If you need to reschedule your shift please call 503 232-9350.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Welcome to the [[Adoption]] Program at Free Geek! The Adoption Program is our longest-standing program.  Anyone may participate, as long as they can make it to our facility to volunteer.  In exchange for 24 hours of service, our adopters receive a computer with monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse, a class on how to use the computer, and 1 year of free tech support.  We also hope that you learn a bit about computers while you're volunteering.
+Welcome to the [[Adoption]] Program at Free Geek! The Adoption Program is our longest-standing program. Anyone may participate in this program as long as they are able to make it to our facility to volunteer. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. In exchange for 24 hours of service, adopters may receive a computer with monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse.
+When you have completed your 24 hours, please sign up for an Adoption Class (see below). The class teaches you how to set up and use your computer. Additionally, you will receive 1 year of tech support after completing the class.
 __NOTOC__
-===What Tasks Will I Do While I'm at Free Geek?===
+===Where will I work in the Adoption Program?===
-The usual tasks for adopters include:
+There are lifting, standing, and sitting jobs available in this program. Instructors will be mae available to show you the ropes. Adopters may work in any of the following areas:
-* '''Receiving''' where you'll take in equipment from donors,
+* '''Receiving:''' Carrying items into Free Geek and putting them away, sitting down and sorting items, sitting down and testing equipment.
-* '''Recycling''' where you'll disassemble computers,
+* '''Recycling Bench:''' Standing up and disassembling PC systems.
-* '''Basic Testing''' where you'll test mice, keyboards, and speakers,
+* '''Recycling Table:''' Sitting down and disassembling smaller electronics.
-* '''Monitor Testing''' where you'll test monitors and earn double hours for all the heavy lifting
+* '''Printerland:''' Standing up and disassembling systems.
-* '''Cleaning''' where you'll clean up the kitchens, bathrooms, and general areas (and earn double hours!)
+* '''Basic Testing:''' where you'll test mice, keyboards, and speakers.
-You also have the opportunity to do some special tasks, like help out in the Thrift Store as a '''Store Helper''', '''filing and other administrative work''', or do some '''Printer testing'''.  If you're interested in doing one of these special tasks, just tell the person at the front desk.
+Occasionally we have different volunteer opportunities available. Please inquire at the front desk if interested!
 ===What Kind of Computer Will I Receive?===
 We've named the computers we give away to volunteers '''FreekBoxes'''.  The current specifications are as follows:
 {{Abbreviated FreekBox Specs}}
-Adoption Policy, "Members of the adoption program can get their first computer after 24 hours of volunteer work. Subsequent computers can be obtained only once per year. Only the hours logged since the most recent computer adopted will count towards any subsequent computer."
+Adoption Policy, "Members of the adoption program can get their first computer after 24 hours of volunteer work. Subsequent computers can be obtained only once per year. Only the hours logged since the most recent computer adopted will count towards any subsequent computer." Remember, in order to receive one year of free tech support, you MUST sign up for the Adoption class.  This 3-hour class is '''in addition''' to your 24 hours of volunteer work and is well worth it!
 ===What About This Class That I Keep Hearing About?===