Volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage natural resources
Forms and Documents
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all documents are in PDF format to maximize compatibility and readability and require the most recent version of Adobe Reader. The latest version of Adobe Reader can be downloaded for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Publicity | Program Policy | Communications | Volunteer Management | Record Keeping | Risk Management | Introduction to the VMN Program
Publicity Documents
Program Policy Guidlines
- Volunteer Policy Handbook : This document should be used by individual volunteers and by chapters. It details expectations for volunteer conduct, training, service projects, reporting, etc.
- Chapter Chartering Guidelines: This document details each step of the chapter chartering process and is for use by Local Coordinating Committees and individuals interested in starting new chapters.
- Guidelines for Basic Training: This document is for use at the chapter level. It details the statewide guidelines for chapter training courses. It also includes the core and complete sets of curriculum objectives for these courses.
- Chapter Operating Handbook (MS Word): This document is a template for use at the chapter level. It details the duties of each officer and the Board of Directors for a chapter. This is just a starting point; chapters should adapt it as needed. Here is one example of how a chapter has adapted it to make it useful: Rivanna Chapter Operating Handbook
- Chapter Bylaws (MS Word): This document is for use at the chapter level. It details the rules by which the chapter will be governed. In order to get their official charter, chapters should draft and adopt their own bylaws based on this template document. The highlighted sections of the document indicate areas in which the chapter should set its own policies. The unhighlighted sections indicate statewide policies.
Communications
- Listserv Procedures: This document has details on how to subscribe to and use our Chapter Coordinators Listserv. We maintain a Virginia Master Naturalist Program Chapter Coordinators listserv that provides efficient communication between the state Program Coordinator and the Board members of local chapters, and connects Board members of local chapters with each other, encouraging the exchange of ideas, information, and best practices for leading a successful Virginia Master Naturalist chapter.
Volunteer Management
- Course Completion Certificate (MS Word): This document may be used as a template for making certificates to provide to program participants upon satisfactory completion of the course and assessment.
- Certificate and Nametage Procedures (MS Word): This documents explains the procedures for ordering certificates and nametags for the individuals in the chapter who have completed all the requirements to become Certified Virginia Master Naturalists.
Record Keeping
Risk Management
- Volunteer Enrollment Form: This document is for use by individual volunteers and at the chapter level. They include the minimum information required to officially enroll volunteers in the program. Chapters may choose to add additional questions to this form. They may also choose to use a separate application form for their trainings or to adapt this form to meet those purposes.
- Volunteer Incident Report Form (MS Word): This document should be used under the guidance of the chapter advisor in the event of an accident or indicent involving a Virginia Master Naturalist program participant (either a volunteer or a participant in a program led by a volunteer).
- Suggestions For Conducting Reference Checks (PDF): This document contains suggestions for interviewing applicants and their references.
- Every Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer should receive basic training relating to risk management as part of the 40 hour basic training course. Any chapter coordinator or advisor is qualified and welcome to use this Powerpoint presentation, script, and set of handouts to provide the risk management training.
Introduction to the Virginia Master Naturalist Program Presentation
Here is a model for presenting an introduction to the program, typically the first class of the basic training course. It takes approximately 60-75 minutes to present, including the scenarios activity described in the handout. Any chapter coordinator or advisor is qualified and welcome to use this Powerpoint and set of handouts to provide the introductory training.
Last revised on Thursday, April 05, 2012
