[bworks_shop] Re: ByteWORKS NEEDS YOU!!

[tmk_for_byteworks]

Steve, you work on our grants!! -- and you do a lot for ByteWorks.

Not every volunteer has to be in the shop, there are lots of things that can be 
done remotely.

However, for certain things, we need bodies in the shop.  And this year they 
just have not been showing up.

To put it in perspective ... suppose a parent comes into the shop this coming 
Saturday, wanting to sign up their child for our EAC class. 

I get to tell the parent that we can help their kid some time in 2012, if all 
goes well.  Yup, a two year waiting list.

All of a sudden there is this huge demand for our programs, but we're lacking 
in teachers, administrators, and tech staff, to ramp up to meet the demand.  We 
can offer two sets of classes on Saturday, we can use the newly-built computer 
lab in St. Elizabeth Academy, we can offer classes on different days of the 
week, maybe.

All of those require more bodies, to contact people, to organize the classes, 
to teach the classes, to build the computers -- for that matter, to solicit 
donations of computer equipment and go get them.  We're short on hard drives 
and RAM (especially DDR and DDR2 for the newer computers, which are earmarked 
for the adult program).  We haven't been able to get those donated free, so to 
get some, we're going to have to buy them, increasing the cost of materials for 
our programs.

We also have a huge waiting list for adult classes -- but not enough Microsoft 
MAR licenses, which W.I.T.S. can no longer provide us.

I don't really know what else to say at this point -- I'm asking everyone on 
the list, if you can help, please do!!!

Theresa


--- In bworks_shop@yahoogroups.com, Steve DeLorey <delopo...@...> wrote:
>
> Theresa,
> Just so you don't get completely frustrated, I'm responding to your 
> impassioned plea. Unfortunately, I can't respond positively. There's no way I 
> can get into the shop. 
> I don't know what to suggest. We seem to have dead spots from time to time 
> and this is evidently one of them. Nothing seems to be happening. 
> Looking back, there have been a few "sparks" that have re-ignited interest. 
> They all involve the arrival of a new volunteer with a new level of interest 
> or a different focus and new methods.
> The only things I can suggest are: 
>  1) Keep recruiting new volunteers, particularly among co-workers at work or 
> fellow members in professional or social organizations. People with an 
> outside but common interest with the current volunteers. VolunteerMatch is a 
> bit too much of a shot gun approach. Recruiting needs to be more focused.
> 2) Renew the all-volunteer meetings. Give people a chance to voice their 
> frustrations and hopefully work out solutions. In particular, try to get the 
> current volunteers to map out a strategic direction that THEY want to pursue. 
> (I've given up on trying to get the Board to do this.)
> 3) Matt Dunn is supposed to be chairman of the Community Relations Committee. 
> As far as I know he is AWOL.
> If he does not respond, try to get a specific volunteer from the shop list to 
> perform that function and get us some publicity in the media. That also will 
> bring in some volunteers. (Perhaps I can help in this effort but I'm not 
> close enough to what is actually going on to be able to spearhead it.)
> 
> Steve DeLorey 
>  
>   
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: Theresa Kehoe <t...@...>
> To: bworks_shop@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 10:09:39 AM
> Subject: [bworks_shop] ByteWORKS NEEDS YOU!!
> 
> I took a look at our Yahoo bworks_shop group, and we have 70 people
> listed as members. Yet on any given Saturday, we are lucky to have 5-6
> people in the shop.
> 
> We are advertising on VolunteerMatch, looking for help. Let's advertise
> to ourselves as well!
> 
> You are on the shop list, which is why you are getting this email.
> 
> There are currently 185 children on the WAITING list ... at our current
> rate, it's going to be nearing the end of 2011 before we get to all
> those kids. That's not counting anyone else who wants to sign up in the
> next two years, just our current backlog.
> 
> Another thing: the adult classes. I know we've got a waiting list for
> that. I know there is strong demand for that. I know there are a group
> of volunteers who are trying to get that program back up and running.
> What I do not know, nor did anyone else in the shop last Saturday, are
> any of the details. You know, answers to the questions we get when
> people walk in or call up, wanting information?
> 
> When are the adult classes going to start? What are the details of the
> program (class dates/times, curriculum, etc)? Who is going to build the
> computers for the adult program? What work space will they need in the
> shop, and what equipment? When will they be building them? Will they
> come and talk with the rest of us volunteers who work in the shop, so we
> know what we can do to help out?
> 
> Doc left us some pretty big shoes to fill. If we can do a better job of
> talking with each other, that would help.
> 
> So ... you signed up for the bworks_shop mailing list. You must have
> SOME interest in helping out at ByteWORKS. We need you! The kids need
> you! Won't you please consider volunteering with us?
> 
> If not, would you please unsubscribe from the list, so we're not wasting
> our time and resources attempting to contact you?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Theresa
> 
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