This page contains responses to the agency survey for January 1, 1999.

Click here to see the same responses organized by question.

Click here to see a list of responding organizations' names together with their location and date of response.


January 1, 1999

Earthwatch Institute
Organization Name
Earthwatch Institute
Organization City
Watertown (nr.Boston)
State/Province
MA
Country
USA
Organization's Geographic Service Area
International-51 countries
Number of full-time and part-time employees (paid staff)
47 in the US
Respondent's Name
Mary Blue Magruder
Respondent's Position
Director of Public Affairs
Organization's Web Site Address
http://www.earthwatch.org
Respondent's Role in Working with Volunteers at Organization
This nonprofit organization recruits volunteers to work with field scientists all over the world. A network of 90 Field Representatives, connected via email helps us with outreach and public education events around the country. Each of those regional Reps has a committee of email connected volunteers. Some volunteers also help specific projects..eg. tracking sea turtle migration via satellite. My role is media relations, and more volunteers are needed to register our work with search engines, etc.
How did you hear about this Project?
Was attached to a mailing I received re:tree planting.
What other staff have involved volunteers virtually at your organization?
Stephanie Andelman, primary...Manager of Field Reps and Events.
Approximately how many of your online volunteers provide technical assistance to your staff or to other volunteers?
No response
Please describe the kinds of activities these technical assistance volunteers provide to your organization:
No response
Approximately how many of your volunteers provide direct support to clients / recipients of service via the Internet?
90 Reps
Please describe the kinds of volunteer activities these direct contact volunteers provide to your organization:
Writing articles, posting information on their web sites, networking with others, setting up online chats with scientists on Talk City, etc
How did you recruit the volunteers you involve(d) via the Internet?
Word of mouth, mailings to volunteers returning from field projects.
How did you screen/orient the volunteers you involve(d) via the Internet?
We start with 4,000 volunteers who've returned from 2 weeks helping a field scientist, and those recruit known friends and colleagues to work with them, us.
How do you supervise and recognize/reward online volunteers for their contributions?
We do an annual award at our annual meeting at Harvard's Science Center
Supervision...is frequent, informal, by phone and email.
Have you ever surveyed these online volunteers about their experiences with your organization?
Not formally
What factors in your organization have promoted the success of your virtual volunteering program?
On site training
What factors in your organization have impeded the success of your virtual volunteering program?
The former, primarily...but once the Field Reps are known, not a problem.
Please add any other comments you would like to send to us:
No response


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