The purpose of chapter training is to prepare each

Training Attendance and Cell Phone Policy

Santa Clara Valley Chapter

The purpose of chapter training is to prepare each AMIGOS volunteer with the necessary information and skills to be safe, healthy, and successful in Latin America during the summer program. At the end of the training program, the Training Staff evaluates each volunteer on his / her preparedness to participate in the summer program in Latin America before his / her departure. If a volunteer is not considered prepared by the Training Staff at the end of training, they will not be permitted to go to Latin America as an AMIGOS volunteer.

Attendance Policy

The Training Staff is responsible for providing the necessary information to prepare the volunteers for the summer program. To that end, they spend countless hours preparing and presenting the information needed to meet all training objectives. It is the expectation of the Training Staff that volunteers will attend all Training Events. If there are extenuating circumstances, and a volunteer must miss part, or all of a training meeting, then that volunteer is responsible for obtaining the missed information on their own. If a volunteer is going to MISS ALL OR PART OF A MEETING, the volunteer must notify the Training Director, Gilda Lange, AT LEAST 14 DAYS PRIOR to the Training Event. This way, the training staff and the volunteer will have enough time to plan how that volunteer will make up the missed information.

A volunteer is not allowed to miss all, or part of, more than two (2) Training Events. This would constitute inadequate preparation for that volunteer, and their health and safety may be at jeopardy during the summer program. The SCVC of AMIGOS will not allow any volunteer to be placed in jeopardy.

If a volunteer misses all, or part of a Training Event WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE to the Training Director, it is considered equivalent to missing all, or part of two (2) Training Events, since this indicates a real issue with responsibility and commitment. This would cause us serious concern about their ability to be responsible and accountable in the field.

If a volunteer misses all, or part of more than two (2) Training Events, then that volunteer will not be allowed to participate in the summer program, since the Training Director will be unable to endorse that volunteer’s preparedness.

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phones, pagers, iPods, etc. have proven to be a distraction during Training Events. Volunteers are required to turn these devices off (not mute or vibrate but OFF) during Training Events. If a volunteer is seen using their cell phone during training, the volunteer will be asked to give it to the Training Staff for the remainder of the Training Event, and it will be returned at the end of the event. Volunteers will not have cell phones for personal use in country for various reasons which will be covered in training. The cell phone policy in training is both a courtesy to the staff, removes distraction from the training, and is preparation for cultural sensitivity while in your host community.

I have read, and will comply with the stated Training Policy for the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of AMIGOS

___________________________________________________ ______________________________

Volunteer Signature Date Signed

Gilda Lange

Training Director

gildamlange@yahoo.com