Volunteer

http://freegeek.org/volunteer.php

From web structure: Index. Include Anyone who wants to volunteer time at FREE GEEK and can make it to our facility is welcome. No computer experience is required. Our facility is mostly handicapped-accessible, and we are sensitive to and can work with people with different abilities. and tour note. Also point to submenu options so they know where to go next.

VOLUNTEER

Whether you want to volunteer here to learn new skills, perform community service, get credit for school, or just support the cause(s), we have room for you! Forget all that equipment we handle, our volunteers are our greatest assets.

Volunteers salvaging old hardware. Our Programs

We have several programs for volunteers. Some people can't wait to get their first computer, while others are more interested in learning about computer hardware or writing computer programs. So we encourage new volunteers to choose the program that most closely matches their interests. Computer Adoption

If you are looking to get a computer from FREE GEEK, Adoption is the program for you. Mostly, people working toward computers help us with tasks like recycling, testing, data entry and processing donations. After completing their 24 hours, many stay on, teaching newer volunteers the skills they have learned in the program. Learn more about the Adoption Program here. Build Program

Build Program volunteers build the computers that we give to volunteers and non-profit organizations, and sell in our Thrift Store. You don't have to have any prior knowledge to join the Build Program, just willingness to learn. Graduates of the Build Program get to keep the sixth computer they build, and often go on to become Build Assistants or Teachers, training our next group of volunteers. Learn more about this program here. Coders

So, you're a programmer? FREE GEEK has a number of free software projects that could possibly use your help. However, until we get more organized, it may be difficult to get you integrated in our efforts in a coding capacity unless you happen to have just exactly the skills we need. Here are some introductory materials for would-be FREE GEEK coders. You may also want to contact our production coordinator. Committees

What's an organization like ours without committees? Everything from policy decisions (Council) to class planning (Education) to system administration (Administrators of Systems and Security) is handled by groups of dedicated volunteers. (Staff help too!) Our Grants committee is working on making our hardware grants process more organized so we can help more organizations. These groups are open to anyone interested in participating. Email volunteer@freegeek.org or talk to a member of staff to find out about group current projects, email lists and meeting times. Interns

If you're interested in volunteering on a set schedule for at least 10 weeks, and are looking to beef up your resumé or need a longer-term internship for a school requirement, these job descriptions may interest you. These are unpaid, challenging, and highly appreciated positions. Other

For those good at striking out on their own, there are a bazillion other things you can do here. We have one volunteer who comes in regularly to make sure our lights are still working (thanks, Robert!). Others may want to concern themselves with construction projects (yep, we have some currently going on!) or making sure our testing systems work consistently. Sometimes we have work parties; you can ask the staff if there's one coming up. There are lots of options for volunteering here; hopefully you can find one that suits you. You may want to just come in for one of our tours and talk to a staff member about getting started.

If you'd like to volunteer, but you're not sure what you'd like to do at FREE GEEK, please email volunteer@freegeek.org with your situation and questions. We'll answer your questions and may invite you to make an appointment to speak with our volunteer program coordinator. How do I start?

Come in for a tour to get an overall sense of the organization and so you can ask questions. We offer tours at noon and six pm every day we're open.

If you are in a program that will require verification of your hours or other paperwork, please let us know. All volunteers should be in our database and record hours (even if you're not working toward a computer). Please do introduce yourself to staff members (especially our volunteer coordinator) and let them know what your project and needs are. Restrictions

Volunteers under the age of 16 must have an adult with them when they volunteer.

Volunteers who violate our codes of conduct (ie. basic human decency) will be asked not to return. This includes theft.

Please do not set FREE GEEK on fire. Fire hurts. Benefits

FREE GEEK is a community. This is one of the big rewards people get for working here. You can meet all kinds of interesting people here. You can take part in decisions at FREE GEEK from the most basic to the most wide-reaching and abstract. There's worlds of information that, with dogged research, patience and the right questions to the right people, can become clear.

Volunteers are welcome to use the terminals in the classroom any time there's not a class going on to check their email or do research on the web. Unlike the library, there's rarely a line!

Volunteers are eligible to take any FREE GEEK classes for free. Also, our volunteers are eligible for membership at First Tech Credit Union. In addition, active volunteers (those who have volunteered for four hours within the last three months) are eligible for a 50 percent discount on equipment in the FREE GEEK Thrift Store.