The Marin Chapter currently offers veteran volunteers, in good standing, an additional $700.00 scholarship provided they take on a leadership role within the Marin Chapter.  All veterans can apply for financial assistance scholarships as well.

The options for veterans are as follows:

•         Marin Chapter veteran with International Office and Marin scholarship.
•         Marin Chapter veteran with International Office scholarship.
•         Correspondent Volunteer program with International Office scholarship.

Each of these options has its different requirements and benefits as described below.

Marin Chapter veteran requirements

WITH A MARIN SCHOLARSHIP and an IO scholarship:

In order to receive a Marin scholarship, the chapter requires that the veteran take on a higher role of responsibility within the Chapter’s training program.  Then the veteran will receive both the IO and Marin Chapter scholarships:

1. Become a Training Staff member.  This requires a commitment to attend all staff meetings, volunteer meetings, and retreats (time commitment will vary each year).  Veteran volunteers have experience with the topics and activities that are covered during training and thus act as an important part of the Marin Chapter training experience, educating the new volunteers and giving back to the chapter. This allows the veteran to take a position of leadership and responsibility in the Chapter’s training program while giving them ample opportunity to further develop their own Amigos skills before a second summer.  The Training Staff members, by attending and actively facilitating all volunteer training events (vol meetings and retreats) will not have any additional training requirements and are considered ready to volunteer a second time. 

2. Become a Training Staff helper.  If you are unable to commit to being on Training Staff, then you must still take a major role in planning and facilitating volunteer meetings and retreats. The Training Director will decide which vol meeting, retreats, and corresponding staff meetings the veteran will need to attend.  This way the veteran volunteer is sure to be updated on any program changes and necessary information.  It also gives them ample opportunity to further develop their Amigos skills before a second summer.  It is the veteran’s responsibility to fulfill this requirement by contacting the Training Director at the beginning of the year, discussing the training calendar, and committing to all required events.

WITHOUT A MARIN SCHOLARSHIP, IO scholarship only:

If a veteran decides that they will be unable to commit to taking on a leadership role in the chapter, they can still be a volunteer again, but with a different set of training requirements from the year before. This veteran will receive the I.O. scholarship, but nothing from the chapter.  The requirements for being a Marin veteran without the Marin scholarship are the following:

1. The veteran will not be required to attend all volunteer meetings and retreats.  However, the veteran must attend at least two retreats and other meetings as designated by the Training Director.  This way the veteran volunteer is sure to be updated on any program changes and necessary information.  It also gives them ample opportunity to further develop their Amigos skills before a second summer.  It is the veteran’s responsibility to fulfill this requirement by contacting the Training Director at the beginning of the year, discussing the training calendar, and committing to all required events.

2. The veteran will receive a copy of the Volunteer Handbook and Program Guide which they must read in their entirety.  They will also be responsible for a few written assignments at the discretion of the Training Director.

ALL OTHER MARIN CHAPTER VETERAN REQUIREMENTS

(with or without the Marin scholarship):

1. All Marin Chapter veterans must also keep track of all “due dates” and submit materials to the appropriate person on time.  You can do this by referring to the Training Calendar, checking the Chapter Hotline, and by keeping in close contact with the Training Staff.  As a veteran, you will not be constantly reminded of these important due dates as you were as a first-year volunteer.  This includes attending any meeting or retreats where forms or binders are due.

2.  Parents are not required to take a “job” the second year.

3. You may participate again with group fundraising such as citrus sales, letter writing, or you may choose to fundraise totally independently or a combination of both.  You can decide to use your own savings, or your parents can even opt to pay all the costs, minus your scholarships.  The choice is yours.  However, if you chose to participate in chapter fundraising, you will again be provided with a data base and cluster leader to help you along.  You must come to fundraising meetings and meet all fundraising deadlines as indicated on the Training Calendar. 

4. You may also apply for additional scholarship money from I.O. or through the chapter.  For I.O. this will be based on financial need.  For the Marin Chapter, we will consider financial need and other issues such as merit, diversity, etc.

5. You are given some priority in country assignment choices, although obviously first choices cannot always be guaranteed.

The Marin Chapter continues to exercise the option of “counseling out” any volunteer that it feels is not meeting the requirements and/or who is inadequately prepared.

International Office Correspondent volunteer program requirementS

AS A CORRESPONDENT VOLUNTEER:

1. You will file your application directly with the International Office in Houston and will not be a part of the Marin Chapter.  You may wish to call Houston at the toll free number 1-800-231-7796, or check the web site at www.amigoslink.org.  The final application dates are significantly later than the standard chapter dates (sometimes as late as Feb or March)

2.  You will not receive a Marin Chapter scholarship. The CV fees appear to be slightly less, but do not include domestic airfare (as do chapter fees) and may end up costing more than if you have a chapter scholarship.

3.  You have NO commitment to participate in chapter training, but there is a required “Intensive” weekend training for CV’s in the Headlands, usually in early May.

4.  You will not receive any fundraising support from the chapter, but will receive some suggestions from I.O.

The Marin Board of Directors and Training Staff recognizes that all our volunteers are exceptional people with very busy lives.  We want to facilitate the return of any veteran to the program for another year if he/she so desires.  We strive to be flexible in meeting family’s needs, as this is the cornerstone of the Amigos philosophy.  We are also dedicated to the growth of youth leadership opportunities within the organization and welcome you back as a very special mentor and role model for the new volunteers.  We hope that you will continue to grow and challenge yourself with the Marin Chapter.