1. New Volunteer Orientation Asha Seattle www.ashanet.org/seattle

2. Agenda What is Asha? Why volunteer for Asha? What are the volunteer opportunities? How to get started? Asha Seattle

3. What is Asha? Asha is a non-profit organization dedicated towards socio-economic change in India mainly through the medium of education. Issues we address include (but not limited to): –Education –Health Care –People’s Campaign Bhopal, RTI, … –Women’s issues –Micro-credit Schemes Asha Seattle

4. What Makes Asha Unique? 100% volunteer driven –YOU define Asha! Zero overhead – 100% of donations sent to partner groups Flat organization structure – only functional roles Decentralized, but synergized, chapter decision making Asha Seattle Asha is rated #1 charity in the category of international relief and development

5. Why Volunteer for Asha? Make a difference! Become socially aware – Learn and educate others Contribute at your convenience level Follow your passion - start your own initiative Enjoy a good peer group Asha Seattle

6. What can you do? Support Partners Support Partners Raise Funds Raise Funds Advocacy Raise Awareness Raise Awareness Educate Yourself Educate Yourself Asha You can bring in new ideas, too Asha Seattle

7. You can do more … Administrative activities: –Finance –Event / Talk organization –Webpage maintenance –Newsletter coordination –Project coordination –Chapter coordination –Asha Tea / Merchandise sale Create Learning Aids Design Publicity Material Take part in day to day activities Asha Seattle

8. What can you do? Support Partners Support Partners Raise Funds Raise Funds Advocacy Raise Awareness Raise Awareness Educate Yourself Educate Yourself Asha You can bring in new ideas, too Asha Seattle

9. Learn Do we know what the issues are? What we think we know may not be right! What we do: –Share your learning emails, Asha Patrika –Workshops –Attend talks –Discussion in meetings/email lists Asha Seattle Research, present and discuss various issues

10. Educate Organize : –Talks –Movie/documentary Screenings –Debates –Newsletter articles Partner with other like-minded organizations Asha Seattle Organize awareness raising events, write articles

11. What can you do? Support Partners Support Partners Raise Funds Raise Funds Advocacy Raise Awareness Raise Awareness Educate Yourself Educate Yourself Asha You can bring in new ideas, too Asha Seattle

12. What Does it mean to be a Project Steward? Asha Seattle Contribute/be part of a project’s life cycle! Project Identification / Creation Project Evaluation

13. Project Stewardship Few things to keep in mind It’s a two-way relationship Equal relationship Good communication is key –Phone call/letters/site visits/emails Learn and disseminate information Commitment Asha Seattle

14. What can you do? Support Partners Support Partners Raise Funds Raise Funds Advocacy Raise Awareness Raise Awareness Educate Yourself Educate Yourself Asha You can bring in new ideas, too Asha Seattle

15. Advocacy Our best goal is: –To make our existence unnecessary Large impact policy changes are key Few campaigns we have participated / currently involved: –Text book review –Justice for Bhopal –Right to Information –Right to Education Asha Seattle Coordinate campaigns, help with publicity, research

16. Fund Raising and Events Fundraising –Give Campaign –Marathon –STP –Golf Tournament Signature Events –AllGoRhythms –Geetanjali –Asha Tea Asha Seattle Help coordinate events, organize, publicize, day of the event work

17. Get Started! Have specific interest? –Let us know –Get involved Haven’t made up your mind? –Come to our bi-weekly meetings –Find out more about all the different things we are working on –Find a specific work that matches your interest and skill Talk to us, we can help! Asha Seattle

18. You can make a Difference! It doesn’t matter if you are a new volunteer –You have the same “power” as anyone else in the group –If you are passionate about something, get your proposal to a meeting and take it from there – drive and lead –Spearhead new directions Examples: Asha Sanctuary Asha Seattle

19. Resources New Volunteer Document –Overview –Common Acronyms –Reading Material –Who is who and Contact Information Feeling overwhelmed? - We’ll get you a buddy! Asha Seattle

20. Our Hope Less of this… more of this…