A Bill of Rights for Volunteers

1. The right to be treated as a co-worker - not just free help, not as a prima donna.
2. The right to a suitable assignment with consideration for personal preference, temperament, life experience, education, and employment background.
3. The right to training for the job - thoughtfully planned and effectively presented.
4. The right to know as much about the agency as possible - its policies, its people, its programs.
5. The right to continuing education on the job as a follow-up to the initial training, information about new developments, and training for greater responsibility.
6. The right to sound guidance and direction - by someone who is experienced, well-informed, patient, and thoughtful - by someone who has time to invest in giving guidance.
7. The right to a place to work, an orderly, designated place, conductive to work and worthy of the job to be done.
8. The right to promotion and a variety of experiences, through advancement to assignments of more responsibility, through transfer from one activity to another, through special project assignments.
9. The right to be heard, to have a part in planning, to feel free to make suggestions, to have respect shown for an honest opinion.
10. The right to recognition in the form of promotion and awards (or some tangible evidence) through day-by-day expressions of appreciation and by treatment as a bona fide co-worker.