• Commitment to Volunteers, Diversity and Youth Involvement
• Definition of an American Red Cross Voluntee
• Role of the Board of Directors
• Volunteer and Employee Roles and Relationships

• What You Can Expect as a Red Cross Volunteer
• What You Can Expect the Central Maryland Chapter to Provide for You
• Insurance for Volunteers
• Dual Role as a Red Cross Volunteer and a Nonexempt Employee

The achievement of the goals of Central Maryland Chapter is best served by the active participation of members of the community. To this end, the Central Maryland Chapter accepts and encourages the involvement of volunteers at all levels of the organization and within all appropriate programs and activities.

Volunteers are viewed as a valuable resource. They shall be extended the right to be given meaningful assignments, the right to be treated as equal co-workers, the right to effective supervision, the right to full involvement and participation and the right to recognition for work done. In return, volunteers shall agree to actively perform their duties to the best of their abilities and to remain loyal to the values, goals and procedures of the organization.

The Central Maryland Chapter is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. Our employees; volunteers; governance; customers; blood, bone marrow and tissue donors; financial contributors; clients; suppliers and vendors should be representative of the diversity of the people residing in each local community the Red Cross serves. We are committed to people diversity, program diversity and service diversity.

Youth volunteers are welcomed! We accept youth as volunteers beginning at age fourteen. They must have the written consent of a parent or guardian prior to volunteering. The volunteer work assigned to a minor should be performed in a non-hazardous environment and should comply with all appropriate requirements of child labor laws.

Youth are a vital link to the life of the American Red Cross and the future of this country. The American Red Cross is committed to developing youth involvement so that young people may better serve their community and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Definition of an American Red Cross Volunteer

A Red Cross volunteer is an individual who, beyond the responsibilities of paid employment, freely assists the American Red Cross in the accomplishment of its mission without expectation or receipt of compensation.

Role of the Board of Directors

The Board of Governors of the American Red Cross delegates authority and responsibility to the board of directors of each chapter for governance of the chapter; delivery of authorized services in the chapter’s jurisdiction; and meeting corporate obligations to comply with corporate regulations.

Volunteer and Employee Roles and Relationships

The American Red Cross is an organization governed, supported by and primarily staffed by volunteers. Employees are enablers of, and not substitutes for, volunteers. When possible, principal management roles are filled by teams of volunteer and employee management partnerships working together and sharing responsibility.

Volunteers serve in governance, management, direct service, support service, consulting and advisory roles. Volunteers may be involved in all programs and activities of the organization, and serve at all levels of skill and decision making.

Consistent with the Strategic Direction of the American Red Cross to inspire a new generation of volunteers; volunteers and employees are considered to be partners in implementing the mission and programs of the Central Maryland Chapter and the American Red Cross. Volunteers and employees have equal and complementary roles to play. Volunteers are encouraged to understand and respect the needs and abilities of the employees.

Your responsibility as a volunteer:

1. Be realistic and candid in accepting your assignment, taking into consideration your interests, skills and availability, as well as the needs of Central Maryland Chapter.
2. Learn your volunteer assignment as well as you can by completing all required training, asking questions and staying in touch with your supervisor.
3. Contribute to the Red Cross by being reliable and dependable in doing your job and working with your co-workers.
4. Follow all policies and guidelines of Central Maryland Chapter, sign a Code of Conduct, observe confidentiality when needed, and engage in appropriate public behavior at all times.
5. Participate in the feedback process by letting the chapter know how you feel about your volunteer experience and by giving constructive suggestions for improvement in any area.
6. Develop your skills as a volunteer by participating in training and development opportunities. Learn as much as you can to do the best job possible.

What You Can Expect the Central Maryland Chapter to Provide for You

1. A suitable assignment based upon your interests, skills and availability, as well as the Central Maryland Chapter’s needs.
2. Orientation and training to help you perform your job.
3. The opportunity to work as part of a team, to contribute to the welfare of the community and the organization, and to be recognized for your contribution.
4. The support you need to do your job, including necessary equipment, supplies, work space and helpful supervision.
5. The opportunity to give feedback about your Red Cross volunteer experience.
6. The chance to grow and develop as a volunteer through participation in other Central Maryland Chapter activities, special training events, meetings and more responsible positions.

Insurance for Volunteers

In general, the American Red Cross insurance covers volunteers while they are acting as agents for the Red Cross for –

• Liabilities they might incur while performing Red Cross duties

• Liabilities incurred as a result of accidents while driving a Red Cross motor vehicle

• Medical expenses incurred in conjunction with their Red Cross volunteer activities (this insurance is limited to a maximum of $10,000 and injured volunteers should first turn to their personal health and medical insurance)

• Wrongful acts such as any breach of duty, error, misstatement, or misleading statement by any volunteer which is committed while performing official duties on behalf of the Red Cross

Dual Role of Red Cross Volunteers and Employees

At times, employees of the Chapter may desire to volunteer for the organization. Exempt employees may volunteer for Chapter. However, because of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees may only volunteer for the Chapter in certain limited circumstances. Specifically, a non-exempt employee is not permitted to volunteer his or her time to the American Red Cross, except when all the following conditions have been met:
(1) the service is entirely voluntary with no promise of advancement or penalty for not volunteering -- that is, it is not coerced;
(2) the volunteer work is sufficiently distinct from, and in a different capacity than, the work for which the non-exempt employee is paid. For example, a non-exempt employee who teaches any courses as part of his or her usual job functions may not “volunteer” to teach other courses; and
(3) the volunteer neither expects to receive pay for the volunteer work nor receives any wages for the work.
Any employee who wishes to volunteer services for the Chapter or American Red Cross must speak to his or her manager and the Department of Human Resources and Volunteers before performing any such volunteer service and complete a volunteer application.