MS WALK: 2012 walk to create a world free of MS VOLUNTEER GUIDE JOIN US! Register at mswalksouthflorida.org.
TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO MS WALK: 2012.............................................................................. 1 Walk Details How Should I Prepare? What Should I Wear? What Should I Do When I Arrive at My Walk Site? WALK SITES AND DIRECTIONS............................................................................. 3 WHAT S MY VOLUNTEER ROLE?............................................................................ 5 Greeter Registration T-shirt/Prize Distribution Volunteer Check In Food/Refeshment Area Rest Stop Route and On-Site Support Volunteer Housekeeping For more information & team resources, please go to mswalksouthflorida.org.
WELCOME TO MS WALK: 2012 MS Walk is our rallying point, a time and a place for us to come together and help raise critical funds that support cutting edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education and provide programs and services to help people with MS move their lives forward. The success of the MS Walk is directly related to the wonderful volunteers who help make the event go off without a hitch. We welcome volunteers with a wide range of talents and skills. There are many jobs to choose from including registration and cheering at the finish line! There is only one requirement: to do something about MS NOW! WALK DETAILS All walks start and end at the same location. Walk route is 3.1 miles MS Walk event takes place rain or shine. Walker Registration/Check-In opens at various times for each site. Please see Walk Sites and Directions for registration/check-in and start times. The walk will end approximately at 12:00 pm Breakfast will be provided before the walk and light beverage and snacks will be provided after the walk. HOW SHOULD I PREPARE? Plan to arrive half an hour before your shift to allow enough time to park, sign-in and get settled. Pack light, but prepare for being outdoors. You may want to bring sunscreen, bug repellant, a hat, a sweater and a rain poncho as well as medications you may need during the day. We ll provide snacks and water for all volunteers, but you should bring your own refillable water bottle to help keep yourself hydrated throughout your shift. 1 MS Walk: 2012 Volunteer Guide
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? You will receive a MS Walk Volunteer t-shirt to wear during your volunteer shift. Sizes and availability are on a first-come, first-served basis. Wear comfortable clothing gym shoes, jeans (no holes or low-rise), and shorts are acceptable. Prepare for the weather. Check the weather report before you leave home to know if you should bring sun-block, umbrella or poncho. WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I ARRIVE AT/LEAVE MY WALK SITE? Go directly to the Volunteer Check-In tent and receive your Volunteer t-shirt and nametag. You may receive some onsite training for your specific role which will be provided by a staff member. You will be directed to them once checked in. Please check with a staff member if and when you need to take a break during your shift. We also ask that you be flexible with the start and end times of your shift please make sure your area is covered (if need be) by the next volunteer before ending your shift. When your shift is finished, you are welcome to stay and enjoy the MS Walk festivities. However; when you leave for the day, please remember to sign out at the Volunteer Check-in area and let a staff member know you re leaving. If you need community service hours you will be able to pick them up during this time. If for any reason you will be unable to fulfill your volunteer commitment and must cancel, please contact the MS Walk staff as soon as possible. For more information, visit mswalksouthflorida.org or call 954-731-4224. mswalksouthflorida.org 2
WALK SITES AND DIRECTIONS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 FORT MYERS: Registration/Check-In: 7:30 am, Walk Starts: 9:00 am Lakes Park 7330 Gladiolus Dr Fort Myers, FL 33907 From State Road 41 take Gladiolus Drive west. Lakes Park will be about 3/4 of a mile on your right. NAPLES: Registration/Check-In: 7:30 am, Walk Starts: 9:00 am Lowdermilk Park 1301 Gulfshore Blvd N Naples, FL 34108 From State Road 41 take Banyan Blvd. west to North Gulf Shore Blvd. Entrance to Lowdermilk Park is at the end of Banyan Blvd. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 FORT LAUDERDALE: Registration/Check-In: 7:30 am, Walk Starts: 9:00 am Huizenga Plaza 32 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Take I-95 to Broward Blvd and head east. Make a right onto S Andrews Ave and left onto E Las Olas Blvd. PALM BEACH: Registration/Check-In: 7:30 am, Walk Starts: 9:00 am CityPlace 700 South Rosemary Avenue West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Take I-95 to Okeechobee Road. Go East to S. Rosemary Avenue and make a left into CityPlace. Hibiscus Parking Garage will be located on your right after the theater. Walk North to The Plaza and register in front of the fountains near the Harriet Himmel Gilman Theater. 3 MS Walk: 2012 Volunteer Guide
SUNDAY, MARCH 11TH BOCA RATON: Registration/Check-In: 8:30 am, Walk Starts: 10:00 am (Due to Day Light Savings) Boca Corporate Center and Campus 5000 T-Rex Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33431 Take I-95 to Yamato Road. Head West on Yamato Road. Boca Corporate Center and Campus is on the South Side of Yamato Road. If you cross Military Trail, you have gone too far. SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH AVENTURA: Registration/Check-In: 7:30 am, Walk Starts: 9:00 am Founders Park 3105 NE 190 th Street Miami, FL 33180 From North or South: From I-95 take Ives Dairy Road heading east; turn right onto Biscayne Blvd, turn left at Aventura Blvd (199th street) to West Country Club Drive and make a right. Go south on West Country Club Drive, pass under the Lehman Causeway until you reach the Government Center/Concord Plaza. Walk to Founders Park South just east of the Government Center. From the East: Take Biscayne Blvd. to NE 191st street (heading east). Parking is located inside the Concord Plaza. Park as far east as possible and walk to Founders Park South just east of the Government Center. CORAL GABLES: Run Registration Check/In 5:30 am, Run Starts: 7:30 am Walk Registration/Check-In: 7:30 am, Walk Starts: 9:00 am Merrick Park 405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, FL 33134 From North: I-95 to 836 west towards the Airport. Take Lejuene Rd towards Coral Gables. Turn Right on Biltmore Way. City Hall is on the Corner. From South: Take 826 South towards the Airport. Take Lejuene Rd towards Coral Gables. Turn Right on Biltmore Way. City Hall is on the corner. mswalksouthflorida.org 4
WHAT S MY VOLUNTEER ROLE? GREETER Your role is to set the tone for a welcoming environment. Volunteer greeters provide good customer service and direct participants to the right area, helping the event run smoothly. Greeters must be stationed at the entrance of the Walk site and in front of the Registration Tent to direct participants and to answer questions about registration and about the event in general. Welcome and direct walkers, volunteers and guests to the appropriate areas of the event. Be familiar with all of the booths in the area. Before Walk participants go to the registration line, direct walkers that need to turn-in money to complete their collection envelopes and total their donations at one of the writing tables provided. There will be extra collection envelopes at the writing tables for those who need them. Ensure that every participant has completed and sealed their collection envelopes and signed their participant waiver prior to entering the registration line. Ensure registration lines are moving smoothly. Answer general event questions. NOTE: QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO A STAFF MEMBER 5 MS Walk: 2012 Volunteer Guide
REGISTRATION Your role is to assist the staff checking-in participants, collecting sealed envelopes, organizing materials and assisting with break down. All registrants who come to this line will have money to turn in. Once a participant approaches the registration line, greet and thank them for their participation. Let them know that they must have completed and signed the collection envelope. If not, ask that they complete their forms at the writing tables. Receive collection envelopes and make sure all fields are completed. NOTE: Only participants can count their own monies and seal their envelopes. Volunteers are not allowed to count or handle money not in sealed envelopes. Collection envelopes will be available at the writing tables. Participants may turn-in: Collection Envelopes or Walk Sponsor/Pledge Sheets If participant wants to submit alternate collection forms, please have them also complete the form printed on one of our official collection envelopes, and have them place their forms and donations inside of the official collection envelope. On the envelope/pledge sheet: o Circle the pledge amount total (what s enclosed in the envelope) using a red marker. Ask the participant to make sure it covers ONLY the amount actually included in the envelope being collected. Pledges made online or submitted before MS Walk day are counted separately. o If total amount submitted is $100 or more, provide the participant with a Walk t-shirt/prize voucher. If participant is paying by credit card, please provide the participant the credit card form. Take the sealed envelope and drop it into one of the bins labeled Registration. Thank the participant and, if applicable, direct them to the t-shirt/prize area. NOTE: When the walk has started and the registration table has closed, please begin gathering materials and assist with pack-up. Check with the lead staff member what needs to be done to close the area. T-SHIRT/PRIZE DISTRIBUTION Your role is to help the staff member distribute MS Walk participant t-shirts and prizes to qualified individuals Greet the participant with a smile and offer friendly customer service Walkers who raise $100 or more receive one MS Walk t-shirt voucher only one t-shirt per voucher, please. mswalksouthflorida.org 6
When the participant presents you with a voucher, please ask for their preferred shirt size. Supplies are available on a first come, first-served basis. If a participant insists on having additional t-shirts, ask him/her to please step aside while you get someone who can help, and ask the lead staff member to assist the walker. This will ensure that the line keeps moving and that all walkers will receive good customer service. Prizes are not cumulative Once the walk has started you will inventory and breakdown your area. VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN Your role is to welcome volunteers for the event and make sure they are ready to do their tasks for the day. As volunteers arrive at the table, welcome them. Ask them if they registered in advance, and if so ask for their last name. Look for their name on the Volunteer Check-in List by last name. Ask the volunteer to read the Volunteer Agreement and to sign their name. Give them a nametag to complete, and ask them to wear it. Ask them for their t-shirt size and provide one for them to wear at all times while volunteering. After they are done, they can take it off. Look for the assignment listed next to the volunteer s name on the Check-in list OR if none listed, ask a staff member where are volunteers needed. Direct the volunteer to the appropriate table or tent, asking him/her to report to the staff lead in that area for further instructions. Let the volunteer know that s/he is welcome to refreshments, and that s/he should tell her/his staff lead when s/he needs to take a break. All volunteers should be reminded to check-out at the Volunteer Check-in or at least to inform the volunteer or staff lead when they are done with their tasks for the day. Ask if they need community service hours and if they do please fill out their name and hours worked on the service letter provided. Thank the volunteer! NOTE: WALK-INS: Ask volunteers who did not pre-register to complete a volunteer form, and then ask your staff lead if s/he sees any gaps in volunteer coverage, and assign the walk-in volunteer accordingly. A few roles you can always assign to volunteers include: cheerleaders at the start/ finish line, clean-up crew (after the event), and floaters (assigned where and as needed throughout the event -- floaters should check back in at the volunteer tent between assignments). 7 MS Walk: 2012 Volunteer Guide
FOOD/REFRESHMENT AREA Your role is to help organize the water or snacks at the tables so that participants can easily take what they need. You will receive instructions from the staff lead. Some of the items might not be ready for consumption until the end of the walk. Some lifting may be needed. If items such as ice, water or other items need to be replenished, you will need to make sure there is enough for participants. Assist with keeping area clean and clear of trash. You must wear gloves when handling food. As the event winds down, pack up items or supplies and put them in boxes so they can be used again for the next event. At the end of the event, make sure all table cloths are removed from tables, fold the chairs and tables, and throw away all trash to make sure area is clean. REST STOP Your role is to assist MS Walk participants as they take a much-needed break at the rest stop. When you arrive at the rest stop, arrange all of the supplies in a neat manner. Your bin of supplies, a table and chairs will already be set up. Hand out refreshments to the walk participants. Cheer on and motivate walk participants Replenish supplies when needed. If you need more supplies at your rest stop, you will be provided a radio to call a staff member. As the event draws to a close, pack-up all unused supplies in a box and throw away all trash. ROUTE AND ON-SITE SUPPORT Your role is to assist in making the MS Walk route and event site safe for all participants. ROUTE MARKER Work with staff member in marking the route with directional, warning and safety signs at least 30 minutes to an hour before the event begins. At the end of the event, pick-up all signs and return them to the registration area in the main event site. PARKING SUPPORT Direct participants to parking areas. Direct those needing handicapaccessible parking to the marked/reserved areas. CHEERLEADERS Be at the start/finish line or along the route to cheer for participants and to motivate them to continue along the route. Thank everyone for their participation. Woo-hoo, yeah! Way to go! Keep it up! 8 MS Walk: 2012 Volunteer Guide
PHOTOGRAPHERS After checking in at the Volunteer area, ask for the committee lead or chapter staff to receive any other special directions. Your role today is to capture photos of teams, action shots of participants, and volunteers, and the overall feeling of the event; scenic shots are also great. VOLUNTEER HOUSEKEEPING When you arrive, check in at the Volunteer area. Please wear a nametag and volunteer t-shirt (provided first come, first served). Keep hydrated bring a water bottle & drink fluids Stay cool wear a hat and sun block lotion Take a break go to the bathroom, have a snack Food Safety if handling food, please wash your hands and wear gloves at all times Lifting know your limitations, ask for help Be friendly and provide customer service Ask staff or committee members if you have any questions or need help THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! mswalksouthflorida.org 9
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