VolunteersInParks Program

1
Volunteers-In-Parks Program
2
Director Mainellas VIP Vision
The Volunteers-In-Parks program is a high
priority for Director Mainella. She wants to
strengthen an already popular program by
conducting an overall program evaluation and
improving record-keeping servicewide for program
efficiency and VIP recognition.
3
(No Transcript)
4
VIP Program Goals
The national office is working to enhance and
expand the VIP program throughout the Service.
Our national goals are to
5
VIP Program Goals
Conduct a Servicewide VIP Program Evaluation to
determine strengths and weaknesses and areas for
improvement at the national, regional, and local
levels.
6
VIP Program Goals
Continue the Take Pride in America NPS Park
Steward Event Program The Park Steward Event
program is an incentive program for parks to
compete for funds to host special volunteer
events throughout the year. 50 parks received
grants in FY2004 and approximately 3000
volunteers participated servicewide.
7
VIP Program Goals

• Update and promote the national VIP Program
  Management Training package
• Ensure that all volunteer coordinators receive
  appropriate training and are certified in
  volunteer management.

8
VIP Program Goals

• Enhance the visibility of the VIP program to
  improve recruitment.
• Expand the existing web-based report system and
  servicewide VIP database
• Update, print, and distribute the VIP brochure
• Create, print, and distribute a VIP Service Log
• Create, print, and distribute a VIP Recruitment
  Poster

9
(No Transcript)
10
VIP Program Categories and Supplies
11
Volunteers-In-Parks
any individual or group that operates under a
signed VIP agreement.
12
Volunteers-In-Parks
Additional VIP supplies including patches,
certificates, stickers, and lapel pins are
available from your regional office or the
Washington office.
13
Master Volunteer Ranger
an elite cadre of VIPs who have made a formal
commitment to volunteer at least 500 hours per
year or any volunteer who has expertise in areas
of particular interest to the NPS such as
archeology, geology, education, natural science,
cultural science, preservation, hydrology, etc.
14
Master Volunteer Ranger
15
Presidential Volunteer Ranger
any volunteer who contributes at least 4000 hours
of cumulative service to the NPS. Recognition
includes a patch, pin, and certificate from the
USA Freedom Corps.
16
Presidential Volunteer Ranger
Proposed Patch
17
(No Transcript)
18
VIP Report System and Database
A web-based report system collects and organizes
volunteer program data and provides a more
accurate record-keeping system. Volunteer Program
Managers servicewide can monitor their local
programs as well as the national program.
19
VIP Program Costs
VIP funds are allocated to the regional offices
and other program areas for distribution. For
FY06, the public investment in the VIP program is
approx. 1.85 million.
20
FY2005 Reported Volunteers-In-Parks Program Costs
by Category
21
FY2005 Reported Volunteers-In-Parks Program Hours
by Category Total 5.2 million hours
22
FY2005 Reported Volunteers-In-Parks Program
Statistics
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
Park Profile Pages http//www.nps.gov/parks.html
26
New VIP Profile Pagehttp//data2.itc.nps.gov/vips
/volunteer.cfm?idabli
27
New VIP Opportunities Pagehttp//data2.itc.nps.go
v/vips/opportunities.cfm
28
VIP Program Current Issues and Activities
29
VIP Program Current Issues and Activities

• Volunteer Program Assessment
• HSPD-12 (Homeland Security Presidential
  Directive 12)
• America the Beautiful Pass

30
VIP Program Assessment

• Internal survey of NPS paid staff complete
• Data summary of internal survey underway
• Awaiting OMB approval for external survey of
  VIPs
• Process to be completed by Summer 2006

31
HSPD-12 Who Needs a Card? If the answer is no, go
to next question, if yes, the individual needs a
card.

• Is the individual a full-time employee?
• Will the individual be granted access to a
  networked computer?
• Will the individual be accessing Federally
  controlled space for more than 180 days on a
  regular basis?

32
HSPD-12 (contd)

• All those meeting the criteria will have
  background investigations completed by 10/27/07
  and smartcards in-hand by 10/27/08
• Costs involved include
• NACI - 80
• Smartcard - 100
• Annual Maintenance - 40

33
America the Beautiful Pass

• Will replace all other passes including the
  National Parks Pass
• Will cost approximately 60 - 80 each
• Will be given to volunteers in recognition of
  their significant service
• Federal Interagency Team on Volunteerism defined
  significant as 500 hours

34
America the Beautiful Pass (contd)

• In order to be eligible for the pass, volunteers
  must create an account and track their hours on
  volunteer.gov/gov
• Park VIP Coordinators will be required to verify
  a VIPs hours once they have reached the 500 hour
  mark (details to be determined at a later time)

35
(No Transcript)
36
VIP Program Capacity
Building the Services capacity to handle the
increase in program funding, volunteers, and
volunteer hours is an immediate and ongoing need
that will be addressed through the evaluation
process.
37
VIP Program Capacity
Currently, the average grade of a volunteer
coordinator in the field is a GS 09 who spends
approximately 25 of his/her time working on the
volunteer program.
38
VIP Program Capacity
Volunteers are members of the staff and require
training, supervision, and recognition. The
National Park Service emphasizes the importance
of providing consistent, high-quality service to
the public. The standard is the same for all paid
and non-paid staff.
39
VIP Program Capacity
Focus on VIP Program Management Training and
Certification increases program efficiency as
well as raises the visibility and professionalism
of the program. An introductory on-line training
course for Park Volunteer Managers is also being
created.
40
(No Transcript)
41
VIP Recognition
Recognizing volunteers for their contributions
and maintaining consistent and accurate records
of their service is a priority.
42
The George Hartzog VIP Recognition Program
The George B. Hartzog, Jr. Awards for Outstanding
Volunteer Service are made possible by a generous
donation to the National Park Foundation from
former NPS Director, George Hartzog.
43
The George Hartzog VIP Recognition Program

• 3 Categories of Recognition
• Individual
• Group
• Park VIP Program

44
Take Pride in America National Awards
Take Pride in America annually awards excellence
in volunteerism in 12 categories. Over the past 3
years, the National Park Service has nominated
over 80 volunteers and paid staff for these
awards.
45
Take Pride in America
Take Pride in America and the Charter Partners
have created a volunteer guide that provides
information and incentives for people to
volunteer on public lands. It is being
distributed to volunteers as a thank-you and
informational piece.
46
Servicewide VIP Newsletter
Part of the National Park Services volunteer
recognition program is the VIP newsletter, The
Steward. With the help of the National Park
Foundation, the National Park Service is
publishing this newsletter twice a year.
47
When a V.I.P. agrees to share his talents,
skills and interests with the National Park
Service, he is paying us one of the highest
compliments possible by offering a most valued
possession his time. George B. Hartzog
Jr. Director, National Park
Service 1963-1972