SOAR
Volunteer Opportunities
FOSTER HOMES
If you have not yet fostered for us but are looking to help by fostering, please let us know. You would need to have filled out an application and have a home visit done in order to be a foster home. We have a chapter in our Volunteer Guide for more detailed reading about what this volunteer job entails. Read more here: SOAR Volunteer Guide Chapter 3
TRANSPORTATION
If you have not yet signed up to transport for us but are looking to help us transport dogs, please let us know. We have a chapter in our Volunteer Guide for more detailed reading about what this volunteer job entails. Read more here: SOAR Volunteer Guide Chapter 4
HOME VISITS
If you have not yet signed up to do home visits for us but are looking to help by doing them, please let us know. We have a chapter in our Volunteer Guide for more detailed reading about what this volunteer job entails. Read more here: SOAR Volunteer Guide Chapter 5
COMMITTEES
Click on a title for additional information on what the committee/team/position entails.
Information Technology
Communications
Public Relations
Volunteer
Fundraising
Coordinators
Support
Transportation
Seminaire
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CHARGE
Manage SOAR’s two Google accounts listed to make the best use of what they have to offer for SOAR.
TASKS
- Google AdWords. SOAR has a Google AdWords grant of $10,000 per month. We need to log in to the account at least monthly and either:
- Add, edit, or delete keywords
- Add, edit, or delete ad text
- Create a new campaign or ad group
- Google One Today. SOAR has an account with Google One Today that is a fundraising opportunity. We need someone to manage this account and to work with existing and new campaigns.
- Work closely with the SOAR President and Board on suggestions for campaigns.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
The Google volunteer should either have experience with one or both of these Google products or enough computer skills with a willingness to learn. There are a number of tutorials available on the internet.
DATABASE
CHARGE
Set up and manage a database for SOAR volunteers and dogs. SOAR currently has a number of spreadsheets but no easy way for data to be shared with volunteers.
TASKS
- Research database options.
- SOAR had a custom database written for them 5 years ago that would still need quite a bit of work to make it fully useful. It was designed to operate under:
- Windows server
- .Net framework
- Microsoft SQL server
- Internet Information Services
- Track-A-Beast was suggested as a database service that is commercially available for rescue groups and shelters. Southwest Airedale Rescue currently uses it and likes it. There is a monthly cost for this.
- Any other options that may be available.
- Present options, pros and cons, and suggested choice to the SOAR Board
- Implement the option and get it up and running.
- Get data entered into the database from current spreadsheets and other sources.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
The Database volunteer should have experience with databases and/or websites or enough computer skills with a willingness to learn.
WEBSITE
CHARGE
Keep SOAR’s website updated, fresh and visually pleasing.
TASKS
- Work with SOAR volunteers and/or the SOAR Board to post changes/new items to the website
- Report quarterly to the President on any major actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Should have a working knowledge of php websites. Knowledge of html and Photoshop helpful.
This position is filled
COMMUNICATIONS
FACEBOOK TEAM
CHARGE
To interact on our Facebook page and group with our fans and supporters.
TASKS
- Facebook page.
- “Like” various posts as appropriate
- Engage fans with occasional posts that are informational and/or fun
- Put out posts as directed by the SOAR Board
- Come up with new ideas to keep fans engaged with our page
- Monitor postings and remove inappropriate or extremely negative or hurtful posts
- Facebook group.
- Approve new members after making sure that they are not sex people or inappropriate people for our page.
- Welcome new members with a post to our page and encourage them to post a little about themselves.
- Put out posts as directed by the SOAR Board.
- Engage members with occasional posts that are informational and/or fun
- Monitor postings and remove inappropriate or extremely negative or hurtful posts
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Members of the Facebook Team should have a Facebook account, like to interact with people on Facebook and have a good working knowledge of Facebook pages and groups. They should also have their notifications set to “on” for the SOAR Facebook page and group
We currently have volunteers doing this, but if others are interested, they are welcome.
E-NEWSLETTER
CHARGE
To send out e-newsletters to our supporters at a rate of no more than once a week (on average, two to four times a month).
TASKS
- Take ideas that anyone from the SOAR Board has and develop an e-newsletter for them.
- Come up with interesting and time relevant ideas to fill in the times when nothing else is suggested (I.e. fireworks, thunderstorms, precautions for Thanksgiving, etc.) The ATCA Rescue and Adoption Committee website (www.airedalerescue.net) and the SOAR website (www.soar-airedale-rescue.com) could be a source of interesting topics.
- Work with the Volunteer Committee if need be to recruit help in coming up with ideas.
- Keep a spreadsheet of weeks and topics (including both open weeks and weeks filled) for planning purposes.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who knows how to use Mail Chimp or has enough computer skills to learn it. This person(s) should also be willing to do a little research to find some topics to fill in empty times.
This position is filled
ADOPTION/VOLUNTEER STORIES
CHARGE
To communicate with adopters and volunteers to get original stories/photos or updated stories/photos for our “Tail Wagging Tales” and “Meet Our Volunteers” for the website.
TASKS
- Watch our Facebook page and group for adopters posting an update about their Airedale. Ask them for permission to use on the website.
- Contact volunteers/adopters to ask for stories and photos.
- Proofread submissions for spelling and grammar errors and spell out abbreviations (ie. ADT, lbs., etc.)
- Work with the webmaster to get stories/updates posted.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with talking to people (both phone and e-mail) and who is on Facebook and has good computer skills.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
CHARGE
A person who is on the lookout for opportunities for SOAR supporters and volunteers to reach out to the public about what we do.
TASKS
- Keep a spreadsheet of opportunities for volunteers to meet the public. These could include (but not limited to) Barnes and Nobel, Skunk Fest, Oberland Doggie Doo, dog shows, PetSmart or Petco, etc. Sometimes, these opportunities allow SOAR to sell things or have a donation jar.
- Contact volunteers about opportunities local to their area to see if they are able to help
- Work with our Facebook Team to get the word out about opportunities.
- Work with the Webmaster to get information about opportunities posted on our website.
- Support the volunteers by getting literature to them to hand out and possibly posters.
- Follow up after an event and get photo(s) and captions or a report for “SOARing Events Past” on the website.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with spreadsheets and communicating with supporters and volunteers and other groups who offer opportunities.
VOLUNTEERS
CHARGE
Handles all aspects of welcoming new volunteers and communicating with volunteers as needed.
TASKS
- Receive Volunteer Applications.
- Obtain signed Volunteer Agreements.
- Send out volunteer welcome packets.
- Maintain a spreadsheet of volunteer names and contact information along with what they are willing to volunteer to do. Periodically share this list with other volunteers as needed.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer, spreadsheets and communicating with volunteers.
This position is filled
FUNDRAISING
CHARGE
Handles organizing the items, dates of auctions, closing, notification of payments, and mailing of items. SOAR has a number of things that could be used for Facebook auctions, we just need volunteers to help organize and run it.
TASKS
- Work with the SOAR Board for possible dates for auctions and funds or Airedales to support.
- Obtain SOAR items to auction. Photograph them and describe them. They should be easy to ship.
- Open the auction on the SOAR Facebook group to others to post items.
- Prepare the items on SOAR’s Facebook group for auction.
- Run the auction from start to finish.
- Ship the items that were obtained from SOAR. Postage is reimbursed.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer and with communicating with supporters and volunteers.
GRANT WRITING
CHARGE
Write grants both large and small to help SOAR secure additional funding.
TASKS
- Receive grant opportunities from the SOAR President
- Look into other grant opportunities and present them to the SOAR Board.
- Prepare the paperwork and documents for grant opportunities and meet deadlines.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is familiar with grant writing is a plus. Should also have good computer skills and writing skills and a basic knowledge of SOAR.
CALENDAR TEAM
CHARGE
Handle all aspects of selling, producing, printing and mailing the SOAR engagement calendar.
TASKS
- Use Facebook and the website to promote the calendar. Begin promoting in August.
- Send individual e-mails to those who ordered the year before to invite them to participate again.
- Keep a spreadsheet of orders received and rescue Airedales submitted.
- Acknowledge all orders when received. Inform them of timelines.
- Proofread submissions for spelling and grammar errors, length, and spell out abbreviations (ie. ADT, lbs., etc.)
- Handle the graphic design and photos for the calendar. Get it ready for printing.
- Work with the printer.
- Mail the calendars out to fill orders. Postage is paid by SOAR
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer – Photoshop and Publisher are pluses in addition to spreadsheets. Good with communicating with companies, supporters and customers. Knowledgeable with using usps.com.
We currently have people doing this but would like some additional help.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES TEAM
CHARGE
Handle all aspects of other fundraising opportunities (other than grants, Facebook auctions, the calendar and the Aire Affaire auction).
TASKS
- Investigate possible sources of fundraising from the SOAR Board and research any other opportunities (from selling items, to apps that donate, etc.)
- Propose ideas to the Board.
- Implement approved ideas and monitor them.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer and with communicating with companies, supporters and volunteers.
AIRE AFFAIRE
Because of the magnitude of this event, a set of charges, tasks and skills are listed in a separate document.
COORDINATORS
CHARGE
Meets at least quarterly by teleconference to talk about issues related to the job of coordinating, working on solutions to make the job easier, and foster communications between the SOAR coordinators.
TASKS
- Share information on:
- Dogs surrendered prior to being placed on the web site
- Approved homes (name, location, and main requirements/assets)
- DO NOT ADOPTS
- Adopted dogs - where they went and notification prior to seeing it on social media
- Info from other rescue groups deemed worthy of sharing
- Applications from out of our area that are looking for a specific SOAR dog
- Propose suggestions to the SOAR Board to improve any of our documents including the Volunteer Guide.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
It would be nice to have several individuals interested in doing this so the work can be spread out a bit. We have a chapter in our Volunteer Guide for more detailed reading.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer and with communicating with supporters and volunteers.
Everyone who is a coordinator or SOAR affiliate for one of our states is automatically on this committee.
SUPPORT
CHARGE
Handles preparing and mailing special thank you cards.
TASKS
- Work with the SOAR President to write thank you cards for special situations.
- Mail these out. Postage is reimbursed.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with communicating with volunteers.
This position is filled
YEAR-END DONATION RECEIPT LETTERS
CHARGE
Handles preparing and mailing year-end donation receipt letters.
TASKS
- Work with the SOAR President and/or Treasurer to prepare donation letters/receipts at year-end for donors.
- Mail these out. Postage is reimbursed.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who has computer skills and a color printer.
This position is filled
MICROCHIPS
CHARGE
Handles ordering in, mailing out and registering microchips for SOAR Airedales.
TASKS
- Order or contact the President to order microchips when stock is getting low.
- Ship out microchips to volunteers as requested.
- Register microchips when notifications are received from coordinators.
- Maintain a spreadsheet/files of the status of microchips and SOAR Airedales.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer, spreadsheets and communicating with volunteers. Someone who also knows the registration process with various microchip companies is a plus.
This position is filled
ADOPTION PACKETS
CHARGE
Handles mailing out adoption packets to the SOAR adopters.
TASKS
- Work with the SOAR Board for ideas to include in the packets.
- Periodically obtain the contact information for new adopters from the SOAR Census
- Assemble and mail packets to new adopters. Postage is reimbursed.
- Order or contact the President to order items for the packets when stock is getting low.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with communicating with volunteers and adopters.
This position is filled
CENSUS
CHARGE
Handles all aspects of keeping the SOAR census data for our Airedales.
TASKS
- Assign census numbers
- Work with coordinators to get missing information.
- Report to National annually for Airedales rehomed during that year.
- Periodically send information to the Adoption Packet Manager for packets that need to be sent out.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer, spreadsheets and communicating with volunteers.
This position is filled
COLLARS, LEASHES AND TAGS
CHARGE
Handles ordering in and mailing out collars, leashes and tags to volunteers.
TASKS
- Order or contact the President to order collars, leashes and tags when stock is getting low.
- Ship out collars, leashes and tags to volunteers as requested. SOAR will pay for postage.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with communicating with volunteers.
This position is filled
TRANSPORTATION
CHARGE
This team would handle all aspects of a dog transport that was given to them by any of our coordinators.
TASKS
- Keep a spreadsheet of possible transport volunteers.
- Receive requests for an Airedale transport from any of the SOAR coordinators or the SOAR Board.
- Map out the transport details; route and dates.
- Contact possible volunteers by e-mail or phone to fill the legs.
- Put out a final transport sheet to everyone involved.
- Monitor the transport as it is happening or arrange for someone to monitor it.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer and with communicating with supporters and volunteers.
Would like to have two or three individuals interested in doing this so hopefully at least one member of the Committee will be available for transports as they arise. There is a chapter on transports in the Volunteer Guide.
We have one person doing this and would like one or two more to help.
SEMINAIRE
CHARGE
Handle all aspects of putting on a one-day educational ‘Seminaire’ (seminar) for Airedale people and perhaps local dog owners.
TASKS
- Select topics and presenters for this event such as, but not limited to:
- Grooming demos
- Good Citizenship testing
- Behaviorist
- Training
- Pet first aid training
- Propose suggestions to the SOAR Board.
- Work within a budget.
- Select and secure a location.
- Secure the presenters.
- Arrange for lunch.
- Work with other committees to get publicity for the event – Facebook, website, e-newsletter.
- Keep a spreadsheet for those signing up.
- Acknowledge those attending when they sign up.
- Recruit volunteers needed, especially for set up, take down and the day of the event.
- Do follow up with attendees, send thank you cards.
- Report quarterly to the President on any actions taken in the previous quarter.
This needs to have several individuals interested in doing this as a committee.
SKILLS
Someone who is good with the computer and spreadsheets, and communicating with potential presenters, supporters and volunteers. Good organizational skills and follow through are a must.
Questions? Contact Marsha Roush at
dm3roush@earthlink.net or (937) 885-5941
CLICK HERE to fill out online Volunteer Application or Printable Volunteer Application