VOLUNTEER MANUAL ECHUCA NEIGHBOURHOOD
VOLUNTEER MANUAL ECHUCA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE 261 High St Echuca Phone 54826914 info@enh.org.au Updated October 2013 Contents Welcome letter Our VIP Program—overview Our Vision, Mission and Values History of the ENH Organisational Diagram Common Acronyms Volunteering Australia — Definitions and Principles of Volunteering Universal Declaration on Volunteering Where Volunteers work in our House Personal Bill of Rights Your Rights as a Volunteer Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer Grievance Procedure Committee of Management Dealing with Distressed People Dealing with Aggressive People Safety in the House Safety in the Shed and Garden Volunteer Policy Emergency Numbers Interest Pages Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual Dear Volunteer............... Echuca Neighbourhood House welcomes you to our House and to our Volunteer Program. * Volunteers are the backbone and the lifeblood of our House and we place great value on your contribution, whatever it may be. * This manual is yours. In it you will find information about the House, about your rights and responsibilities as a volunteer, and about some of the tasks and activities that you may wish to be involved in. * We want to be sure that you are comfortable in our workplace at all times and that if any conflicts or problems arise they are dealt with quickly and effectively. Later in this manual you will find the procedure to follow to resolve problems. * We hope that you thoroughly enjoy your time with us. I know that we will do our best to ensure that your needs are met and that we all have fun together. Liz O’Byrne COORDINATOR VIP PROGRAM @ ENH Our Volunteer Inclusion Program (VIP) commenced with our first newsletter and meeting on 8th March 2012. Since then, we have had bi-monthly meetings to show our appreciation of our volunteers and to address any housekeeping issues raised by the Coordinator and/or volunteers. A light afternoon tea also provides an opportunity for the staff and volunteers to mingle and get to know one another. Informative newsletters are available prior to each meeting, notifying you of the upcoming meeting, sharing the profile of one of our volunteers and any other special news. As our volunteers are rostered on different days, you don’t always cross paths with one another. By including the profile of a volunteer, it gives you the opportunity to get to know each other and share your experiences of working at Echuca Neighbourhood House. Our volunteers commence work at Echuca Neighbourhood House for an initial three month trial to learn the ropes under the guidance of one of our more experienced volunteers. Once this initial three months has lapsed, provided all concerned are in agreement, you continue in you chosen role at Echuca Neighbourhood House. To become an official member of our inclusive team at Echuca Neighbourhood House, you are then able to order one of our dazzling purple uniforms—a t-shirt for summer and fleece vest for winter with the Echuca Neighbourhood House logo. This also enables easy identification by our visitors. As part of this VIP program, we celebrate your birthday with a small token of our appreciation. We truly value our volunteers here at Echuca Neighbourhood House. Without you we would not be able to continue to operate. Should you have any concerns, whatever they are, please don’t hesitate to chat to the Coordinator or other staff member. We want to ensure that your time here is as rewarding and valuable for you as it is for us. OUR VISION A vibrant, inclusive and empowered community. OUR MISSION To advocate with and support our community by providing opportunities for participating, connecting, learning in an inclusive environment. OUR VALUES Inclusiveness To offer an environment where people feel they belong as it includes and is accepting of all people regardless of race, age, gender, ability or life choices. Compassion To remain approachable and offer support and understanding, and provide an environment where people feel Safe. Respect To respect all people with honesty, integrity, and high ethics, and to foster respect through self-belief and motivation. Growth To encourage social, physical, emotional and educational growth and well being, that builds a sense of purpose, creates opportunities, and strengthens relationships. Professionalism To promote and operate under a professional code of conduct that has integrity, is transparent, diligent, efficient, remains compliant, visionary, creative and innovative, and strives for the highest standards. Sustainability We aspire to environmental sustainability and being a role model for the community. History of the Echuca Neighbourhood House 1992 to 2013 In December of 1992 an Annual General Meeting was held at Kanyana to decide office bearers for the new Neighbourhood House committee of management for the new year. Noel Maughan took the chair and elections progressed with a dedicated team of volunteers eager to run full steam ahead. They had 13 committee members and all office bearers were elected unopposed. Margaret Lothian became president and stayed president for around 3 years. The committee also learned at this meeting that Community Services Victoria would fund them for a paid coordinator. Eileen Park was appointed. Also in December of ‘92 the committee of management had to reconstruct the constitution and come up with a name for the Neighbourhood House. Some of the names suggested were Parkside Neighbourhood House and Echuca Community House. It was then decided that a competition would determine the future name of the House. In February of 1993 the name Echuca Neighbourhood House became the official name. On the 24th of February 1993, we were offered a house at 261 High St (our current location) and it was agreed to take the house at a special meeting. By the 3rd of March we were in possession of the keys and maintenance works were carried out. What was to follow in 1993 was the beginning of something amazing. Through 1993 the Echuca Neighbourhood House became incorporated and our coordinator was here only 5 hours per week while volunteers kept the house opened 4 days a week. There wasn’t any equipment to begin with so the committee of management and tireless volunteer workers requested donations from everywhere. Things were found at auction and garage sales until there was enough equipment for the running of the newly formed community group. The tenants group helped largely by absorbing half the cost of most items bought. On Wednesday the 5th of May Noel Maughan opened the house. This year new coordinator Pauline Gordon was employed in August. Over the next years the House consolidated its position in the community, but went through a period of change and unrest during 2000. That year saw the arrival of some new blood on the committee and a renewed commitment to improvement and growth. In 2001 Pauline Gordon resigned after seven years of service and Ev Holzer and Carol Binney shared the role of coordinator for a number of months. At the beginning of 2002, Liz O’Byrne, who was already in the same role at Tongala Community Activities Centre and had worked at the Girgarre Community Cottage, was employed as the coordinator. At the AGM in 2002 the Constitution was reviewed and the model rules adopted to bring the House into line with current legislation. Because of the shortage of space, in ……………..the courtyard was built in to become another classroom – the Multi-Purpose room In 2005 the Office of Housing gave the House a full-on face-lift with new windows, staircase, carpets, kitchen and paint and we installed a child-proof front fence and air-conditioning. In 2006 we took over the running of programs at the Rochester Community House to help them out until they receive Neighbourhood House Coordination funding themselves. This ceased at the beginning of 2008 when a Coordinator was employed in Rochester In 2007 we started a No Interest Loan Scheme and in 2008, another for the Indigenous community. In 2009 we became the pilot organisation for a NAB initiative called AddsUP In recent years we have received funding to improve our reception office, to extend our kitchen and to upgrade our NILS facilities. We are very grateful for all the support that we receive for these projects Now in 2013 we are stronger and more committed than ever. We have many new programs to add to the ones we are already running where we cater for all walks of life. Some of these programs include: Yoga, Craft, Cooking, Monday lunches, Computers, Creative writing, Walking Groups, Tai Chi, Sunday Games; Art …………………..and many others Our activity and support groups include an MS Support Group, Carers Group, Mature Age Social Group and St Lukes Peer Support Cuppa & Chat for people experiencing a mental illness. Our community services include Information and referral, community garden, computer and internet access, fax and photocopying service, scanner, laminator and bookbinder, rooms for hire, parenting resource worker, Commonwealth Carelink information and much more Our commitment is to respond to the needs of our community as they arise and so our programs and activities are continually changing as these change. Please enjoy your time here as you make your contribution to our history. Day-to-Day Staff Networks Day-to-Day Governance Funding Other Clients ANHLC ACFE ACFE Visitors Students Coord’s Assistant RANCH Courses and House Activities Tutors Campaspe NH Cluster Shire of Campaspe Volunteers ACE Cluster Cleaner Co-ordinator Committee of Management Members of the Echuca Community Department of Human Services Echuca Neighbourhood House Organisational Chart Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual Some Common and Confusing Acronyms DHS Department of Human Services State government— and this department funds us for the NHCP NCHP Neighbourhood House Coordination Program This program funds every Neighbourhood House for the coordinator’s position ACE Adult Community Education We are an adult education facility ACFE Adult Community Further Education Funded by the state government to support ACE organisations that deliver suitable training We are registered and receive 1000 SCHs SCH Student Contact Hour Funding from ACFE for SCHs allows us to keep our course costs low but the reporting is annoying! ANHLC Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres Our peak body who lobby on our behalf to government etc RANCH Regional Association of Neighbourhood and Community Houses Our local network where Neighbourhood Houses from Loddon Mallee region get together to share resources, information and stories NILS No Interest Loans We have two programs running and a number of funding sources AGM Annual General Meeting We hold ours around October each year and celebrate the year gone and plan for a great year coming up Universal Declaration on Volunteering Volunteering is a fundamental building block of civil society. It brings to life the noblest aspirations of humankind the pursuit of peace, freedom, opportunity, safety and justice for all people. In this era of globalization and continuous change, the world is becoming smaller, more interdependent and more complex. Volunteering either through individual or group action is a way in which: Human values of community, caring and serving can be sustained and strengthened. Individuals can exercise their rights and responsibilities as members of communities, while learning and growing throughout their lives, realizing their full human potential. Connections can be made across differences that push us apart, so that we can live together in healthy, sustainable communities, working together to provide innovative solutions to our shared challenges and to shape our collective destinies. At the dawn of the new millennium, volunteering is an essential element of all societies. It turns into practical, effective action, the declaration of the United Nations, that we, the people have the power to change the world. This Declaration supports the right of every woman, man and child to associate freely and to volunteer regardless of their cultural and ethnic origin, religion, age, gender and physical, social and economic position. All people in the world should have the right to freely offer their time, talent and energy to others and to their communities through individual and collective action, without expectation of financial reward. We seek the development of volunteering that: • elicits the involvement of the entire community in identifying and addressing its problems; • provides a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves; • enables others to participate as volunteers; • complements but does not substitute for, responsible action by other sectors and the efforts of paid workers; • enables people too acquire new knowledge and skills and to fully develop their personal potential, self reliance and creativity; • promotes family, community, national and global solidarity. We believe that volunteers and the organisations and communities that they serve have a shared responsibility to: • create environments in which volunteers have meaningful work that helps to achieve agreed upon results; • define the criteria for volunteer participation, including the conditions under which the organization and the volunteer may end their commitment, and develop policies to guide volunteer activity; • provide appropriate protections against risks for volunteers and those they serve; • provide volunteers with appropriate training, regular evaluation and recognition; • ensure access for all by removing physical, economic, social and cultural barriers to their participation. Universal Declaration on Volunteering Taking into account basic human rights as expressed in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, the principals of volunteering and the responsibilities of volunteers and their organisations in which they are involved, we call on: All volunteers to proclaim their belief in volunteer action as a creative and mediating force that: • builds healthy, sustainable communities that respect the dignity of all people; • empowers people to exercise their rights as human beings and thus to improve their lives • helps solve social, cultural, economic and environmental problems; and • build a more humane and just society through worldwide cooperation. The leaders of: all sectors to join together to create strong, visible and effective local and national “volunteer centres” as the primary leadership organisations for volunteering; government to ensure the rights of all people to volunteer, to remove any legal barriers to participation, to engage volunteers in its work and to provide resources to NGO’s to promote and support the effective mobilization and management of volunteers; business to encourage and facilitate the involvement of its workers in the community as volunteers and to commit human and financial resources to develop the infrastructure needed to support volunteering the media to tell the stories of volunteers and to provide information that encourages and assists people to volunteer; education to encourage and assist people of all ages to volunteer, creating opportunities for them to reflect on and learn from their service; religion to affirm volunteering as an appropriate response to the spiritual call to all people to serve; NGO’s to create organisational environments that are friendly to volunteers and to commit the human and financial resources that are required to effectively engage volunteers. The United Nations to declare this to be the “Decade of Volunteers and Civil Society in recognition of the need to strengthen the institutions of free societies; and Recognize the “red V” as the universal symbol for volunteering. IAVE challenges volunteers and leaders of all sectors throughout the world to unite as partners to promote and support effective volunteering, accessible to all, as a symbol of solidarity among all peoples and nations. IAVE invites the global volunteer community to study, discuss, endorse and bring into being this Universal Declaration on Volunteering. Adopted by the international board of directors of IAVE, The International Association for Volunteer Effort at its 16th World Volunteer Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, January 2001, the International Year of Volunteers. Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual The Areas where Volunteers work in our House and what they do RECEPTION As the reception volunteer you are the smiling face and friendly voice of the Echuca Neighbourhood House. Some of the jobs that you may do are: Greeting visitors as they come in and finding out what they are here for Answering phones and checking for messages Picking up and recording mail Keeping track of money as people pay, and writing receipts Taking bookings for classes and contacting students Photocopying and collating as needed Sending faxes Making cuppas and lots of other things NO INTEREST LOANS INTERVIEWS We have a number of volunteers who interview for the No Interest Loan Scheme. This work takes empathy and acceptance but is extremely rewarding for those who are involved. TAX HELP You don’t have to have a background in accounting to be trained by the Tax Office to help people do simple tax returns from July to November HOUSE MAINTENANCE There are always things to be done around the House such as keeping outside tidy, cleaning outdoor toys sweeping windows cleaning and lots more. GARDEN We have flower and veggie gardens that always need attention and if gardening and growing is your passion enjoy the tranquillity of our gardens while you give in to your creative flair KITCHEN We are lucky to have a happy and skilled number of volunteers who produce our weekly Community Lunch. You may want to join them helping prepare the meal and we are always looking for people to help with the clean-up afterwards!. TUTORING If you have a skill or knowledge you would like to pass on, you may want to become one of our volunteer tutors COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT The Echuca Neighbourhood House is run by an active and involved committee of management. If you think that you would like to be a member of this committee and bring your skills and interest to help with the running of the House and planning for the future, let us know. Personal Bill of Rights 1. I have the right to ask for what I want 2. I have the right to. say no to requests or demands I can't meet. 3. I have the right to express all of my feelings, positive or negative. 4. I have the right to change my mind. 5. I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect. 6. I have the right to follow my own values and standards. 7. I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe or it violates my values. 8. I have the right to determine my own priorities. 9. I have the right not to be responsible for others' behaviour, actions, feelings or problems 10. I have the right to expect honesty from others. 11. I have the right to be angry at someone I love. 12. I have the right to be uniquely myself. 13. I have the right to feel scared and say '1'm afraid." 14. I have the right to say '1 don't know. 15. I have the right not to give excuses or reasons for my behavior. 16. I have the right to make decisions based on my feelings. 17. I have the right to my own needs for personal space and time. 18. I have the right to be playful and frivolous. 19. I have the right to be healthier than those around me. 20. I have the right to be in a non-abusive environment. 21. I have the right to make friends and be comfortable around people. 22. I have the right to change and grow. 23. I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others 24. I have the right to be treated with dignity and respect 25. I have the right to be happy. Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual Your Rights as a Volunteer To work in a healthy and safe environment To be provided with a job description and have agreed working hours To be informed about the goals of the Echuca Neighbourhood House To be provided with orientation to ENH To have your confidential and personal information dealt with in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 To be assigned tasks that are worthwhile and provide satisfaction To receive respect and support from co-workers To share responsibilities and be involved in decision making when appropriate To receive proper training and assistance to develop new skills To receive direction and on-the-job supervision including debriefing where necessary To be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses To be covered by insurance while undertaking your duties as a volunteer To have access to clearly defined channels of communication and accountability To have access to a grievance procedure To be trusted with confidential information Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual Volunteers have Responsibilities to be dependable and reliable to be loyal to the organisation to understand the rules and guidelines of ENH to accept support and supervision to work as a team member to treat all information regarding visitors as strictly confidential to respect the privacy of everyone who comes to the House to refrain from putting personal views and standards onto others to make appropriate suggestions and recommendations to treat visitors fairly to be willing to undertake training and be involved in regular reviews to carry out the specified job description to be aware of your own and visitors safety in performing tasks Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual When Problems Come Up ( Grievance Procedure) If the problem is with the work you have been asked to do or the times that you are rostered on, please speak to the House Coordinator. Our aim is to work with you on ironing these issues out as they arise with the best solution for both you and everyone at the House. We know that circumstances change constantly and that what is OK for you today may not suit tomorrow. If the problem is with another worker at the House, express your feelings about the issue to the other person if you can. Do this in a calm and reasonable manner, knowing that your thoughts and feelings are important. Try to work out a solution together If this direct approach is difficult, speak to the Coordinator about the issue. There may be ways to mediate between you to resolve the conflict, or the matter may need to be dealt with privately If your problem is with the Coordinator then you must take up the issue with a Committee of Management member, preferably the President. It is better to actively seek a solution to a problem than to let it fester and become a major headache. Try to resist the temptation to talk to a lot of other people about it before speaking to the person involved or the Coordinator. Committee 2013—2014 Name Position Phone email Gwen Smith President 54842151 smithgwen@bigpond.com Ev Holzer Secretary 0499228610 richriverparenting@gmail.com Kerry Meiers Vice-President 0458362168 kmeiers@bendigohealth.org.au Trevor Crane Treasurer 0400581122 topcat.tjc@bigpond.com Kim McLaughlin 0415685063 albt@live.com.au Kevin L’Huillier 0407101263 jankev@live.com.au Jo Mason 0400533883 jomason1969@hotmail.com Jim Galea 54801120 (w) j.galea@stlukes.org.au Bev Knight 0432579597 banntroyoz@hotmail.com 54826914 0418391773 lizob@exemail.com.au Liz O’Byrne ex-officio Coordinator ECHUCA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE VOLUNTEER MANUAL Dealing with Distressed People Introduce yourself and say “I'm here to help", then calmly say what you are going to do, for example, “I’m going to sit with you and we can talk about the best way to help”. Say what you notice, for example, “it appears that you are upset”, then ask how you can help. Ask what has happened, how they feel, what they need. Keep what you say simple – you may need to repeat yourself. How to help someone who is upset Good listening. Give people time to talk. Give them space too. Make appropriate eye contact. Remain physically still and relaxed. When speaking, use a calm voice. Don't interrupt! Avoid false reassurances, such as, "everything will be OK". Offer non-verbal encouragement—"mmm" etc. A good way to show that you have understood is to reflect what the person has said, for example, “so, you’re very worried about that”. Don’t argue or disagree with them. If you think something else is advisable, such as a medical check-up, calmly explain why. Create a sense of safety and an atmosphere of calm. Manage the situation with respect, privacy and dignity. Be aware of who is around and do not ask unnecessarily personal questions. What to avoid Don't try to jolly people up and get them to look at the funny side. Don't say things like, "I know just how you are feeling, the same happened to me". Don't hurry the next action. Remember that an upset person is vulnerable and probably not in a state for successful decision-making. Treatment When the time is right, move to the next step by providing options, thoughtfully and sensitively. Avoid telling someone what to do. Gently encourage them by asking who and what might help them, for example, contacting supportive others, such as family and friends. You could suggest further assistance such as a GP, or helplines such as Lifeline, Suicide Help Line, Kids Help Line etc. Look after yourself too! Do not forget your own needs. Speak to someone you trust afterwards about how you feel and what you did. Providing such support can create many familiar and unfamiliar emotions, such as sadness, anger, worry and fear. If you continue to feel distressed, consult your GP. ECHUCA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE VOLUNTEER MANUAL Dealing with Aggressive People Ensure that you identify a clear and safe exit for yourself and your colleagues. Give them space – at least their arm’s length (not your arm length). Use physical barriers if necessary, for example, a desk or table. Consider moving the person to another suitable location, for example, near other staff members or volunteers where it is not isolated. Seek assistance from another staff member, volunteer or the Coordinator for support or advice. Respond, as opposed to reacting (please remember not to make it personal). Keep your voice low but speak clearly and slowly (often if you lower your voice they will need to stop yelling to hear you). Speak with your hands with palms up (but not if you are holding something). Actively listen and respond carefully – give appropriate physical signals?/body language, for example uncrossed arms, good eye contact and nodding. Rephrase their comments back to them so that they are aware you are listening. Use silence as a calming tool – a 5 or 10 second pause gives you time to think. Make notes of conversations – allows you to gather your thoughts and shows the person you are willing to do something about the issue. Ensure that you follow up though otherwise you could make the situation worse. Try to determine the real issue. ECHUCA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE VOLUNTEER MANUAL Dealing with Aggressive People Use positive language, for example stating what we can do to assist and suggesting options Avoid glaring or staring at the person Avoid walking backwards when confronted—sideways is preferred Don’t stand straight-on in front of the person, standing to the side on an angle is preferable Be aware that not every situation can be resolved. If all strategies listed above don't have the desired effect, don't continue trying to negotiate. It’s essential that you consider your personal safety and that of your colleagues. If all else fails: Explain to the person that their behavior is unacceptable and ask them to modify it Ask the person to leave Physically remove yourself from the threat Press the panic button to alert police go to a secure and safe place. Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual SAFETY IN THE HOUSE Don’t be here on your own, or if you are keep doors locked Keep your belongings in a safe place Do not give out your address or phone number, even if asked Know the fire drill Know where emergency numbers are Know how to deal with aggressive people Know how to deal with distressed people Know what to do if you are being bullied or harassed Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual SAFETY IN THE SHED & GARDEN Don’t be here on your own, or if you are keep gate locked Know the fire drill Be careful of spiders and do a regular spider check under chairs, in equipment etc Know where emergency numbers are While gardening wear gloves, sturdy shoes, hat in the summer While working with power tools, know and follow the safety policies of the House POLICY AND PROCEDURE re VOLUNTEERING at ECHUCA NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE Ratified Committee of Management meeting Dated: Overview Volunteering is a two-way street with the benefits to the organisation equally balanced by the benefit to the individual. Neighbourhood Houses rely on volunteers for a wide range of reasons: for reception, cooking, maintenance, gardening, NILS interviews and marketing, to name just some. In return volunteers must feel valued and supported and gain the training they require to perform their tasks to the best of their ability. At the same time they will be making new connections in their community and building up their own skills for future employment if that is their requirement. Policy Our policy is to recruit and utilise the skills and experience of a wide range of volunteers to offer volunteer workers support, recognition, and celebration of their skills and experience to train volunteers in all aspects of the jobs they have selected to do to give volunteers adequate orientation and induction on coming to the House to provide volunteers with a job description to give all volunteers regular feedback on their performance to allow volunteers time to voice their concerns to supervise volunteers so they feel safe and valued to celebrate when volunteers move on in their lives Lifeline 1300 65 12 51 13114 132 289 Centre Against Sexual Assault Sexual Assault, Parentline 24 hours 24 hours 24 hours 54410430 24 hours 10 am—10 pm w/ends 8 am—12 pm w/days 54821417 Alateen For parents needing help 1800 55 18 00 Kids Help Line For children aged up to 18 years Suicide Help Line When people are desperate, perhaps suicidal 1800 065 976 Men’s Referral Rural Mental Health Service Gay and Lesbian Switchboard Gay and Lesbian Mental Health Alanon Family Drug and Alcohol Help 6 pm—10 pm 1800 184 527 1300 131 114 54821417 1300 660 068 54427699 Men’s Business (Anger Management) Drug and Alcohol 1300 789 978 9.30 am—5.30 pm 1300134 130 Men’s Line Exchange Women’s Information and Referral Women’s and Men’s Information Emergency Numbers THE INVITATION It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living I want to know what you ache for I dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are, I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive. It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon, I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals, or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of future pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I wan to know if you can be with JOY, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, or to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true, I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it’s not pretty every day; and if you can source your life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours or mine, and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the moon “YES!” It doesn’t interest me to know where you live, or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children. It doesn’t interest me who you are, or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me, and not shrink back. It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else fades away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments. Echuca Neighbourhood House Volunteer Manual A VOLUNTEER’S PRAYER Dear Lord, So far today I am doing all right I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. However, I am going to get out of bed in a few moments, and I will need a lot more help after that. Amen. THE FOUR AGREEMENTS Be impeccable with your word Speak with integrity Say only what you mean Avoid using words to speak against yourself or to gossip about others Use the power of your word in the direction of love and truth Don’t take anything personally Nothing others do is because of you What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others You won’t be the victim of needless suffering Don’t make assumptions Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama With just this one agreement you can transform your life. Always do your best Your best is going to change from moment to moment It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to when you are sick Under any circumstances simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.
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