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Building and maintaining a quality volunteer core for Colorado Walks is one of our top priorities since a volunteer may be the first contact someone has with Colorado Walks. Therefore, we welcome people that agree to uphold our core values and are willing to take the time to learn about our programs and services, so they can accurately and confidently represent Colorado Walks.
We have different volunteer opportunities that play a critical role in delivering our programs and services to communities through the state. Each opportunity has a different level of commitment, but all offer a wonderful way to get involved with Colorado Walks!
Sample volunteer opportunities include:
- Leading and/or organizing neighborhood walks
- Organizing walking groups
- Annual Mile Events / Special Events
- Membership Development
- Fundraising
- Marketing / Public Relations
- Public Speaking
- Special Projects
Volunteer Code of Conduct
Colorado Walks has adopted the following policies regarding volunteer involvement. Please read them thoroughly and contact the Volunteer Coordinator with any questions. Your signature is required on the Volunteer Application as your agreement to abide by this Code of Conduct.
Purpose of Volunteer Policies
These policies are written to provide overall guidance and direction to staff and volunteers engaged in volunteer involvement and management efforts. These policies do not constitute, either implicitly or explicitly, a binding contractual or personnel agreement. Colorado Walks reserves the exclusive right to change any of these policies at any time and to expect adherence to the changed policy.
Definition of 'Volunteer'
A "volunteer" is anyone who, without compensation or expectation of compensation beyond reimbursement, performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of Colorado Walks. A "volunteer" must be officially accepted and enrolled by Colorado Walks prior to performance of the task. Unless specifically stated, volunteers shall not be considered as "employees" of Colorado Walks.
Community Service
Colorado Walks may accept as volunteers those participating in student community service activities, student intern projects, corporate volunteer programs, and other volunteer referral programs. In each of these cases, however, a written agreement must be in effect with the organization, school, or program from which the special case volunteers originate and this agreement must identify responsibility for management and care of the volunteers. This agreement must be reached in writing BEFORE the volunteer begins an assignment, and it is the responsibility of the volunteer to secure this agreement with the appropriate organization.
Liability
Volunteers are expected to understand the risks associated with volunteering. Further, volunteers hereby waive any claims against, indemnify, and hold harmless Colorado Walks, its respective officers, directors, employees, sponsors, representatives and volunteers from any and all liability, including attorney fees, that may result from illness, personal injury, property damage, or wrong doing resulting from involvement with Colorado Walks volunteer program.
Volunteers Under 18
Volunteers under 18 years old must complete a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian in order to volunteer with Colorado Walks. In addition a parent or legal guardian must co-sign this Code of Conduct statement. We strongly suggest that minors share Colorado Walks’ volunteer orientation materials with their parents. Parents are invited to call or email Colorado Walks with any questions or comments about our program.
Discrimination
Colorado Walks is committed to a policy of fair representation and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, disability, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, geography, or age. Colorado Walks will follow this policy in selection of volunteers. Volunteers are expected to adhere to these same standards in the course of their duties.
Service at the Discretion of the Organization
Colorado Walks accepts the service of all volunteers with the understanding that such service is at the sole discretion of the organization. Volunteers agree that Colorado Walks may at any time, for whatever reason, decide to terminate the volunteer's relationship with the agency. Notice of such a decision should be communicated as soon as possible to the volunteer’s supervisor and/or the Volunteer Coordinator.
Representing Colorado Walks
Volunteers are asked to NOT contact organizations or individuals on behalf of the Colorado Walks unless a staff person gives them express direction to do so. Prior to any action or statement that may significantly affect or obligate Colorado Walks, volunteers should seek prior consultation and approval from appropriate staff. These actions may include, but are not limited to, public statements to the press, coalition or lobbying efforts with other organizations, or any agreements involving contracts, resources, finances, or other obligations. Volunteers are authorized to act as representatives of Colorado Walks as specifically indicated within their job descriptions and only to the extent of such written specifications.
Screening/Reference Checks
For some tasks, volunteers must submit samples of work and/or professional references. Such requirements will be outlined in the task/job description.
Confidentiality
Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all proprietary or privileged information to which they are exposed while serving as a volunteer, whether this information involves a single staff, volunteer, client, other person, or Colorado Walks business. Failure to maintain confidentiality may result in termination of the volunteer's relationship with Colorado Walks.
Copyright / Ownership Issues
Material produced by volunteers for Colorado Walks, including graphics materials, web page designs, narratives, research, compilations, instructional texts, etc., becomes the property of Colorado Walks upon submission. Volunteers may be recognized for their contributions as appropriate.
Contacting Other Volunteers
Occasionally, volunteers will need to contact other volunteers with regard to their activities with Colorado Walks. We expect all such communications among volunteers to follow standard professional practice. Other than phone numbers or email addresses, the Colorado Walks staff will not share contact or other personal information about a volunteer with another volunteer without the express consent of all parties involved.
Ending Your Volunteer Role
You can cease volunteering with Colorado Walks upon the completion of any volunteer assignment, or when you are not currently engaged in an assignment. If you choose to remove yourself from our list of active volunteers, we would appreciate the opportunity to conduct an exit interview with you in person, by phone, or via e-mail.
Non-Compliance / Dismissal
We understand that failure to adhere to any part of this code may result in suspension from our volunteer duties and/or termination of our volunteer relationship with Colorado Walks. No volunteer will be terminated until the volunteer has had an opportunity to discuss the reasons for possible dismissal with supervisory staff.
As a Colorado Walks Volunteer, I will:
- Represent Colorado Walks with professionalism, dignity and pride, and be responsible for conducting myself with courtesy and appropriate behavior.
- Follow through and complete accepted tasks.
- Conduct myself in a respectful manner, exhibit good sporting conduct, and be a positive role model.
- Seek training for my volunteer role by participating in meetings, self-study, or other training opportunities to help me work more effectively with appropriate audiences.
- Display respect and courtesy for employees, other volunteers, program participants, visitors, clients and property.
- Provide a safe environment by not harming anyone in any way, whether through discrimination, sexual harassment, physical force, verbal or mental abuse, neglect, or other harmful actions.
- Respect the privacy of persons served by the organization and hold in confidence sensitive, private and personal information.
- Keep Colorado Walks staff informed of progress, concerns and problems within the program(s) in which I participate.
- Work cooperatively as a team member with employees and other volunteers.
- Respect and follow Colorado Walks policies (Code of Ethics, Privacy Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct) and program expectations.
- Keep personal opinions and actions separate from those made as a representative of this organization.
- Avoid conduct, both on and off duty that would jeopardize program effectiveness.
- Promote and support Colorado Walks in developing effective local, county, and state programs.
And, as a Colorado Walks Volunteer, I will not:
- Use vulgar or inappropriate language.
- Solicit gratuities, gifts or bequests for personal or professional benefit.
- Use or be under the influence of illegal drugs.
- Consume or be under the influence of alcohol or consume tobacco at Colorado Walks events.
- Discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status or disability, or sexual orientation.
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