Volunteers

<div>  Becoming a new Volunteer | <a title="Experienced Volunteers" href="../../page/index/9" target="_self">Experienced Volunteers go here</a>   Start here: Step 1 Get your: Skype ID <a title="Get Skype" href="http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-computer/windows/downloading/" target="_blank">(get one here if you don't have one)</a> Twitter handle <a title="Get Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/signup?context=login" target="_blank">(get one here if you don't have one)</a> <a title="Gmail account" href="https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount?service=mail&continue=http://mail.google.com/mail/e-11-1a58dcbaa2b373ce519ee0a9c09b24-9637a0090641f0cbe87af241df82c4cff3e6363b&type=2" target="_blank">Gmail account</a> and <a title="Google Docs account" href="https://www.google.com/accounts/SignUpWidget?service=writely&continue=https://docs.google.com/&followup=https://docs.google.com/&ltmpl=homepage" target="_blank">google docs account</a> If you have not used these tools before head here <a title="ALERTS CONNECT Tools" href="../../page/index/1" target="_blank">(ALERTS! CONNECT Tools)</a> to spend a few minutes becoming familiar with them. There are additonal useful tools that can be of use as well.     Step 2 Read This:   Online Volunteers are doing data sorting and mapping. Information is coming into ALERTS CONNECT all of the time via SMS, Twitter, email, the web, and official news and reporting feeds. Volunteers filter out the irrelevant messages, add addresses to those that are relevant, and then they create a report on the map. These reports become the dots on the map. It takes 20-40 seconds per message to create a report online. To ensure the data we collect is as accurate and useful as possible, we have a group of trained filter volunteers. These volunteers are trained to edit and verify reports, as well as to filter email, Twitter and SMS messages. This training takes about an hour, and then you can continue to contribute from anywhere with an internet connection! Training instructions and information are included below. To ensure the privacy of people reporting information "on the ground", all volunteers are to be routed through one of the volunteer coordinators before they can be given login access to ALERTS CONNECT Its hard to believe but there are people out there who enjoy creating mischief in times of disaster. This is why more sensitive areas of ALERTS CONNECT are only accessible by trusted volunteers as the information is relied upon by emergency services. To be a trusted Volunteer you need a reference from an existing trusted person or come from one of the Verified groups assisting with the project. These are: <a title="Crisiscommons.org" href="http://crisiscommons.org/" target="_blank">Crisis Commons</a>, <a href="http://crisiscommons.org/contact/" target="_blank">http://crisiscommons.org/contact/</a>  <a href="http://humanityroad.org/" target="_blank">Humanity Road</a>, <a href="mailto:press@humanityroad.org" target="_blank">press@humanityroad.org</a>  <a href="http://giscorps.org/" target="_blank">GIS Corps</a>, ESRI <a href="http://www.esri.com/about-esri/contact.html" target="_blank">http://www.esri.com/about-esri/contact.html</a> <a href="http://blog.standbytaskforce.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">Standby Task Force,</a> <a href="mailto:join@standbytaskforce.com" target="_blank">join@standbytaskforce.com</a>  <a title="VERTS Samoa Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001732357038" target="_blank">VERT Samoa</a>, <a href="mailto:vertsamoa@gmail.com" target="_blank">vertsamoa@gmail.com</a>     Step 3 Register Registration Sheets <a style="color: #3764aa; text-decoration: none;" title="Volunteer registry" href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkGRmQDKfB7wdHVnS2NDdWxZMXFNZ05TeWN5UU14NFE&hl=en_US#gid=0" target="_blank">Volunteers</a> <a style="color: #3764aa; text-decoration: none;" href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=tvRE43fCG_mJDOYFx-zmLAQ#gid=1" target="_blank">Organisations</a> also register your categories of interest for <a style="color: #3764aa; text-decoration: none;" title="getting alerts of relevant reports" href="../../alerts" target="_blank">instant alerts</a>. This will allow reports in your areas of interest to be forwarded to you for actioning.   Please include as many of the following details as possible in your email to: samoaneoc@gmail.com Full name Skype ID <a title="Get Skype" href="http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-computer/windows/downloading/" target="_blank">(get one here if you don't have one)</a> Twitter handle <a title="Get Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/signup?context=login" target="_blank">(get one here if you don't have one)</a> <a title="Gmail account" href="https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount?service=mail&continue=http://mail.google.com/mail/e-11-1a58dcbaa2b373ce519ee0a9c09b24-9637a0090641f0cbe87af241df82c4cff3e6363b&type=2" target="_blank">Gmail</a> account Preferred e-mail address Relevant skills/experience How you'd like to help Physical location (to help when co-ordinating timezones)   Please also join the <a title="Samoa Google Group" href="mailto:samoa-neoc@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">Samoa General Google Group</a>. This is an invitation required forum for any discussions.   Step 4 Head to: the "<a title="New Volunteers" href="../../page/index/8" target="_self">Volunteers - Next Steps</a>" section for training. Once you've had some training, and have worked through a few examples with a current volunteer, you are on your way.  The Skype channel will usually have someone who can help, so please ask in "SamoaNEOC" You can sign up to one of the following online Volunteer groups They will assist in getting you started. These are:   <a title="Crisiscommons.org" href="http://crisiscommons.org/" target="_blank">Crisis Commons</a>, <a href="http://crisiscommons.org/contact/" target="_blank">http://crisiscommons.org/contact/</a>  <a href="http://humanityroad.org/" target="_blank">Humanity Road</a>, <a href="mailto:press@humanityroad.org" target="_blank">press@humanityroad.org</a>  <a href="http://giscorps.org/" target="_blank">GIS Corps</a>, ESRI <a href="http://www.esri.com/about-esri/contact.html" target="_blank">http://www.esri.com/about-esri/contact.html</a> <a href="http://blog.standbytaskforce.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">Standby Task Force,</a> <a href="mailto:join@standbytaskforce.com" target="_blank">join@standbytaskforce.com</a>  <a title="VERTS Samoa Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001732357038" target="_blank">VERT Samoa</a>, <a href="mailto:vertsamoa@gmail.com" target="_blank">vertsamoa@gmail.com</a> If you have other skills or attributes, such as being able to help on the ground, or have accommodation space, please check these other sites: Samoa Volunteer Army (to be established) Donating accommodation <a title="Verts on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001732357038" target="_blank">VERTS</a> phone number for Youthline, a volunteer group that offers counseling services </div>