U.P. Volunteer Network

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day

Volunteer for an opportunity on DisneyParks.com, and get a Disney park ticket

The U.P. Volunteer Network is excited to announce its participation in the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day campaign. Beginning January 1, 2010, volunteers who take part in a participating organization’s opportunities are eligible for a free ticket to one of the theme parks of the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort. A million Disney tickets will be distributed, and the program will continue until they are gone or until December 15, 2010, whichever comes first.

For volunteers who want to participate
To be eligible for a ticket, volunteers must be at least 6 years of age and pre-register for a volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Each volunteer is eligible for only one ticket. Up to nine household members may participate. An adult must accompany 6 to 17-year-olds while they volunteer.

For organizations that want to participate
In order for an organization’s volunteer opportunities to qualify, organizations need to opt into the program by going to vop.handsonnetwork.org. The opting-in process is free and only takes a few minutes.

Participating organizations should be sure to have all their volunteer opportunities listed on UPvolunteer.org, as those opportunities will then be fed to the Disney Parks website and become eligible for the program. After a volunteer participates in an opportunity, the organization must verify the volunteer’s participation within three business days of the service. There is no minimum requirement for the duration of the opportunity, but it must serve the community.

For questions about Give a Day, Get a Disney Day, check out the frequently asked questions page at www.handsonnetwork.org/disney/faq or contact Laura Michaletz, U.P. Volunteer Network VISTA, at 906-228-8919 extension 27. Organizations wishing to promote the program to volunteers may download Give a Day, Get a Disney Day web banners and link them to disneyparks.com.

2009 U.P. Volunteer Network Service Awards

- U.P. Service Awards Highlight Volunteerism Throughout U.P. (Press Release)

- U.P. Service Award Honorees:

Youth Award:
Alix Rugg

Adult Award:
Barb Siira

Senior Award:
Tom Ewing

Volunteer Program Award:
Bell Hospital Auxilliary
(from left, Maureen Mitchell, JoAnn Betts, Diane
Betts, Kaye Frederickson, Mary Mitchell, Bonnie Kimball)

Business Community Leader Award: Coleman Engineering
Company
(from left, Mark Girard,
JoAnn Matonich,
Marie Ross, Brian Game,
Kevin Trevillian, Toni Strutz, Myron Berry, Tom Gordon)

Volunteer Connect Award:
AMCAB
(from left,
Rose Bullis, Karen Duquette)

U.P. Volunteer Network and UPvolunteer.org
The people of the Upper Peninsula are known for lending a hand where needed. But oftentimes residents who want to volunteer don’t know where to offer their services. Likewise, many community organizations need help but don’t know where to find volunteers.

Enter the U.P. Volunteer Network, an initiative that brings volunteers and organizations across the U.P. together.

The network is a new variation on a tried and true concept -- a volunteer center. Like its name implies, it is a collaborative effort. Core partners include the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, U.P. 2-1-1, United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Volunteer Center, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Volunteer Center of Dickinson and Iron Counties, RSVP of Delta, Menominee, Schoolcraft and Marinette counties, and RSVP of Marquette County.

The cornerstone of the network is the Web and phone-based 1-800-Volunteer system, which helps match volunteers with the needs of organizations.

By logging onto UPvolunteer.org, organizations can post and update their volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are then able to review and respond to those opportunities.

Organizations are able to manage volunteer schedules and communicate automatically with their volunteers through custom e-mails, reminders and thank you notes. They can verify hours of volunteer service and run reports.

If your organization would like to post volunteer opportunities, click here.

Volunteers can receive e-mail notifications of opportunities that match their interests or availability, manage their personal volunteer schedule and record their volunteer service hours.

If you’re interested in volunteer opportunities in your community, click here, or use the search box near the top of this page.

If you’d prefer to use the phone to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-Volunteer, and you’ll be able to speak directly to a representative who can tell you what opportunities are available and help you find ones that match your qualifications, interests and availability.

For more information about UPvolunteer.org or the U.P. Volunteer Network, e-mail upvolunteernetwork@glcyd.org or call Linda Remsburg at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, 906-228-8919 ext. 26.