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<font color="red">Last update on '6 Volunteer Group Communication Guidelines 2.0', Feb. 20, 2008</font>

This is the leading branch of the orientation handouts. The following shows the titles and version numbers, found in the U.S. handouts kiosk.
'''''If no version has been specified, the most current released version shall apply!'''''

== 1 Objectives 2.1 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

Orientation Objectives 1.0

*to build a team that can help one another with volunteer-related concerns

*to facilitate a learning of volunteerism in a way where each individual volunteer can support his/herself with the knowledge and materials provided to engage residents in need in thoughtful, useful assistance 

*to promote a culture of celebrating volunteering accomplishments

*to empower volunteers with a list of resources and volunteer hot spots to aid in decision making and add purpose to the volunteer mission


== 2 Tao of Volunteer 1.1 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''
''<font color=red>This is the first part of [[Tao_of_Volunteers]]. There will be a complete version later (including the "Consequences") in this folder, these should be jointed (or this one here should better be replaced by the "Tao_of_Volunteers_and_Consequences" notecard, I think! --[[User:Shiva Aabye|Shiva Aabye]] 18:06, 5 February 2008 (PST)</font>''

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ggsWBG5YA

~TAO OF VOLUNTEERS~

-Vision and Mission-

Our vision is to lay the best foundation for volunteerism in Second Life by offering knowledge, assistance, and encouragement to residents in need.  We believe volunteering in any world has the potential to enhance our character while reaching out to those who need us. Our mission is to reach that potential through our individual triumphs as well as team cooperation.

-Volunteer Behavior and Attitude-

Set The Standard

Each Volunteer has the opportunity to create an unforgettable first impression of Second Life for new residents while also helping more seasoned residents with quality assistance. We do it because we want to. We do it because we enjoy it. We do it with a smile. That is how we want such unforgettable moments to be remembered.

Our personal conduct and style sets the standard:

*We will maintain civility when faced with controversy. 
*We will be as empathetic and helpful as we can be in difficult situations. 
*We will give respect to those we help, despite knowing it may not always be returned. 
*We will seek and emphasize the positive in a situation.
*We will work as a team and help each other solve problems.
*We will be reliable, committed, and trustworthy.
*We will participate and share our ideas to improve Second Life.
*We will keep a sense of humor and volunteer when we know we are in good spirits!
*We will keep this labor of love fun!

-Volunteer Goals-

Promote and Grow

As Second Life continues to grow as a global platform we have the ability and responsibility to increase our Volunteer team’s strength and numbers. We should actively speak about what we do and why we do it. While volunteering we should always be open to learning new solutions as well as teaching what we know. We hope to create an open, collaborative win-win situation, one resident at a time. 


== 3 Infohub/WA 1.1 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

Infohubs and Welcome Areas

Infohubs and Welcome Areas are places where Residents congregate and socialize. They are also the entry points on the Second Life Grid's Mainland for new Residents, after they complete Orientation Island, and optionally Help Island. Remember, Second Life Mentors are also given special access to Orientation Island 1-104 and Help Islands 1-14. Put "Orientation Island" or "Help Island" in the World Map search to bring up an available list.

On the World Map, infohubs are represented with blue "i" symbols. Make sure that the "Infohub" radio button on the right-hand legend is checked.
 
Finding Infohubs Through Search:

Click the Search button, then the Places tab and search for "infohub" (it's not CaSe-sensitive). This will show most of the Infohubs, although some are under other keywords.  If you click the "Any Category" drop-down menu, you'll notice "Linden Location" is among the choices. At present, there's sadly not a way to show all of the Linden locations, but if you type in "infohub" or "welcome area" in the search box with this category chosen, many will appear.
 
Is there anything else special I need to know?

The first Infohub you land at after completing the orientation adventure automatically gets set as your home location. You can, infact, set any Infohub to be your home via World menu > Set Home to Here.  You can expect questions of all sorts, ranging from the basic "how do I change my hair?" to the more complex, "I see red and blue cones on everyone and I don't know why!" Remember to work with one another in troubleshooting circumstances, and in the event that abuse is taking place, please abuse report the resident as a group to help us develop case files on problem residents. Remember to have fun! If there are no questions, make friends and congregate at your leisure.

Below is a list of some of the Infohub/Welcome Area locations.  Other locations can be found in the search tool.

*Anzere Infohub - By the Confeder, Anzere (89, 43, 126)
*Ambat Infohub by Osprey T, Ambat (97, 212, 59)
*Bear Dream Lodge Infohub - Bear (26, 181, 110)
*Braunworth Infohub - Braunworth (92, 155, 179)
*Busy Ben's Vehicle Lot and Rezzi, Oak Grove (160, 68, 21)
*Calleta Free Store, Calleta (184, 52)
*emOt(i)Con, the Mauve Infohub - Mauve (218, 191, 43)
*Gukyeol (227, 28, 108)
*Hangeul (26, 28, 108)
*Hanja (228, 228, 108)
*Hyles Infohub - Hyles (41, 31, 21)
*Idu (25, 230, 108)
*Iris (202, 137, 30)
*Isabel Infohub - Isabel (44, 107, 57)
*Korea1 (246, 0, 26)
*Korea4 (9, 255, 27)
*Linden Chalet, Wengen (23, 218, 85)
*Luna Oaks Galleria, Luna (88, 85, 22)
*Mahulu Infohub - Mahulu (58, 193, 85)
*Memory Bazaar @ Ross Infohub-B, Ross (34, 221, 57)
*Miramare Plaza, Miramare (2, 40, 24)
*Nova Albion Infohub - Sistiana, (214, 245, 25)
*Oak Grove Stage, Oak Grove (181, 163, 13)
*Olive infohub, IN DEVELOPMENT B, Olive (224, 186, 55)
*Periwinkle Infohub, Periwinkle (44, 115, 37)
*Plum Welcome Area, Plum (73, 249, 46)
*Pooley Stage, Pooley (239, 11, 50)
*Temple of Iris - Historical Loca, Iris (201, 120, 30)
*Warmouth Infohub - The Nerditori, Warmouth (31, 136, 96) 


== 4 Volunteer Resources 2.3 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

The Help Menu

This tool may change over time, but will always be a great first place to look for answers. At the time this guide was written, the Help menu leads to the Second Life Knowledge Base, Scripting Wiki, the Abuse Report tool, and so on. 

Liaison Volunteer Specialists (VTeam!)
The Liaison Volunteer Specialists are here to build a bridge for communication between residents and Linden Lab, and offer support for volunteer related concerns. For volunteer related or obstructing concerns, Liaison Volunteer Specialists can help. They also have office hours! Please see the volunteer portal (link provided later in the list) at the Second Life wiki for details.

http://secondlife.com/support
This is a great resource, used for those sticky situations where the in-world team cannot readily handle a request for support, or for account pertinent problems such as billing.  Please ask a Liaison Volunteer Specialist on which method of support is best to turn to if a problem’s solution is unclear.

Team Cooperation
If in doubt, ask! Volunteers have to be able to rely on one another.  Please remember the volunteer wiki, SL Volunteer Island, and various infohubs/welcome areas as hotspots for creative collaboration.

Volunteer Wiki
The Volunteer Wiki is a great tool for collaborative work among volunteers. Many volunteers have contributed FAQs and resources to the wiki.  Check out the volunteer wiki/portal which can be found at:  https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Volunteer_Portal

Mentor Scribes:  A new role within the Mentor group created for those who are great at wiki-development! For more details on who our Scribes are, please check out the Volunteer Wiki main page where it links to information about Scribes. They would surely be able to assist in getting you set up in the wiki if that is something you are interested in!

http://blog.secondlife.com
When something global affects Second Life that may disrupt service and requires at-length maintenance to fix, this is where announcements are made on progress. This is the official blog where all official announcements from Linden Lab are made as well.

Mentors Teaching Mentors
Mentors Teaching Mentors is a program within Second Life Mentors that allows Mentors to don the role of a 'coach' and teach residents in a classroom-type setting. All classes are hosted at SL Volunteer HI's sandbox unless otherwise explicitly noted with reason. Check the class offerings regularly for topics of interest and be sure to thank your Coach if you receive help from them!
Class offerings list:  https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Classes_Offered_By_Mentors
To make a class request, please visit this link:  https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mentor_Coach_Class_Request


== 5 Mentor Buddies 1.0 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

For detailed information on the Buddy System and how to sign up to become a Mentor Buddy, please read this wiki page:
https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/SL_Volunteer_Mentor_Buddies

The following notecard is up to date as of August 31, 2007.

1. What Mentor Buddies Are

The primary purpose of the Mentor Buddy system is to help new volunteers get acquainted with the volunteer program by showing them the ropes. Mentor Buddies are seasoned volunteers who opted into this program and are willing to make themselves available to new volunteers. As such, please feel free to contact a Mentor Buddy regarding the following:

*Advice on how, where, and when to volunteer.
*Advice on where to direct a resident concern or how to solve a resident issue.
*Advice on how to respond to unexpected circumstances on the grid, such as abuse related concerns.
*To request a tour of volunteering hot spots, or to show how volunteering may be done in a particular region or setting.

2. How to Find a Mentor Buddy

Edit>Groups>Second Life Mentor>Info>Members & Roles>Members/Roles

[At the top task bar within Second Life, choose Edit > Groups. Highlight the Second Life Mentors group, and click the Info button on the right hand side. Choose the Members & Roles tab next to the General tab along the top of the window. A list of Mentors Online can be filtered through the Members tab, and a list of Mentor Buddies can be found in the Roles tab. We will consider suggestions on how to make this process easier if you have some! This is a work in progress.]

3. Important Reminders

If you contact a Mentor Buddy who is busy, please respect the privacy of the Mentor Buddy. While he or she did opt into this Second Life Mentor role, all volunteers are free to enjoy a Second Life experience outside the realm of volunteering. As such, you may be asked to contact another Mentor Buddy, or may be told simply that the Mentor Buddy is busy and may need to address your concern at a later time. Still, Mentor Buddies are enthusiastic to reach out when they can. Please be sure to thank them for their assistance!


== 6 Volunteer Group Communication Guidelines 2.0 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 20, 2008</font>'''''

The most current and updated communication guidelines can be found at:  https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Volunteer_Group_IM_Guidelines

Below are the communication guidelines as of 2/20/2007.


''The following are the formal guidelines to be followed in the Volunteer Group IMs:''

Please remember, the Mentor Group Instant Message (IM) channel can reach over 1000 people and is not a general conversation channel. Make sure to use the channel only for important issues. Questions and concerns that do not need to be broadcast to the whole volunteer group should be brought up in a separate communication venue (see [[Second Life Mentor Q&A]]).

===IM Policy:===

* If asking a question, please add: "Please IM me" at the end of the question. This will help remind about the correct procedure.
* If there has been a question posted, please refrain from further commentary on the topic.
* If you can answer the question, please send the answer in private IM.

===Use the Channel for Helpful Reference:===

* Do encourage the use of wiki, Knowledge Base and public jira as needed.
* Do contact Linden Support via the Support portal at http://secondlife.com/community/support.php if a Linden is required for support related concerns.
* Do file an Abuse Report via Help->Report Abuse... for abuse, harassment or griefing concerns.
* Only VTeam Lindens will post reminders about the channel guidelines or alternative groups as needed. This is not a volunteer's responsibility in the Mentor channel.

===Use the Channel to Rally Volunteers:===

* Do use the channel if you would like to gather a group of helpers.
* Do use the channel to ask for additional helpers if a volunteer location is very busy.
* Do use the channel if you are seeking a volunteer who speaks a certain language. Only reply to those type messages if you do speak the language.

===Use Channel Etiquette:===

* Do be courteous to your teammates in the group channel.
* Do avoid general conversation...Try other venues for friendly chatter, such as a meetup at SL Volunteer Island.
* Do avoid disputes. Agree to disagree! Please keep debates in Private IMs.
* Please remember....there's no need to respond if your answer is "sorry I don't know."

===Consequences:===

Second Life Mentors are expected to know the group channel guidelines and abide by them. If a Mentor does not follow the guidelines they may be removed from Mentors group back into Apprentice Mentors. At that time they will need to reapply via the website and note the application with "Reapply due to Mentor group channel." Please contact a VTeam Linden after you reapply for volunteer.

*Mentors who have been moved back to Apprentice group more than twice risk losing membership in the Official Mentors group permanently.

===For Mentors moved back to the Apprentice Group:===

* Attend one orientation session.
* Notify a VTeam Linden when you have completed the session. Please have the session date, time and Coach's name. Please allow up to 48 hours to be placed back into the Mentors official group. (If your session took place over a weekend, it may take an additional 48 hours)

== 7 SL Volunteer Island Policies 2.1 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

Below are the policies for SL Volunteer Island attractions as of 10/14/07. For more details on adding decorations, hosting events, and using the islands as a sandbox, please see this link for details:

https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/SL_Volunteer_Island

Interested in hosting attractions of your own? Need a quiet place for a private event? With advanced notice to the VTeam, this is very possible!

To host an event on SLVI that requires a guest list that includes non-volunteers, please give at least one day (24 hours) advanced notice to a Linden VTeam member who can document your need. Such events can occur on SL Volunteer Island, SL Volunteer Island S, SL Volunteer Island SW, and SL Volunteer Island W.

*Attractions that are built on the island that are not created for events must be in the interest of fun, and/or functional, shared experiences. Because the space of the islands are shared by all members of the Volunteer group, parceling of the island, private homes, and private offices are prohibited.
*Selling is prohibited--freebies are okay!
*Land and prim usage are subject to availability. Volunteers are asked to build with consideration. Being a good neighbor and sharing resources reasonably are musts. If you would like a prim count on your objects in one of the regions, please contact a VTeam member, preferably at their office hours.
*Please note the center stage at the corners of SL Volunteer Island SLVIW, SLVISW, and SLVIS is reserved as a meeting/party area, but the rest is open for change.
*Attractions should be documented at the Volunteer Wiki article: SL Volunteer Island (link listed at the top of the page). For help with Wiki additions, feel free to contact a VTeam member. 

The best way to be in touch with a VTeam member is to show during one of the volunteer specialist office hours, which can be found here:

https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Volunteer_Specialist_Office_Hours

If the times are not convenient, you are welcome to send an IM to one of the VTeam members, but please wait for confirmation before hosting the event to avoid any scheduling conflicts.

Help us keep SL Volunteer Island fun and functional! Thank you for your cooperation and participation! 


== HI Related Help Topics 1.0 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

Help Island FAQs:

How do I get to the mainland? 
Find the big green beacon with the green exit sign underneath; click the sign for a landmark.

How do I find _____ ? How do I teleport?
Once the new resident reaches the mainland, the Search tool will be fully functional to allow teleporting, etc. Once Search becomes available, finding things will be far more easy.

How do I do _____ on a mac?
At the Knowledge Base/Solution Finder at secondlife.com Support area, searching for the term 'mac' will come up with a multitude of guides concerning Mac shortkeys and performance information.

How do I change my hair?!
The resident may be wearing both a bald base and a hair attachment. They will likely need to remove the hair attachment and use the Appearance editor to shape hair to their liking. An easy way to find out what one is wearing is by searching "worn" into the Inventory search option in the Inventory window. Object attachments are noted with a yellow cube for an icon.

How do I get rid of the tutorial???
Some residents arrive on Help Island witht he Orientation Guide still intact on their screen. They may need to remove it; searching for 'worn' in the inventory for Orientation Guide, or "worn" and removing object attachments, is the best way to go in this case. If there is some reluctance to move on after the tutorial has not been completed, ensure there are many venues for help and continued assistance on the mainland through Help Island Public, Orientation Island Public, and a multitude of other places found in the Search tool.


== HIP/OIP Related Help Topics 1.0 ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

Help Island Public is where many residents go for general questions. If you can help them with the question they have, please do! If it is a real stumper, feel free to ask them to check for their Support options at secondlife.com in the Support area. Finally, if Help Island Public (HIP) is handling any kind of griefing and a Linden is not present, please abuse report the abusers as a group to help us develop a case file for investigation.

Help Island Public FAQs:

What's the point of SL / what am I supposed to do?
Personalizing this answer is fine! Remember in Second Life there are loads of events to attend, residents to meet, groups to join, places to explore! If a resident hasn't found something of interest, encourage them to make something interesting happen!

Where do I get money / How do I get a job?
The Knowledge Base has some key tips on types of jobs when the term 'jobs' is put in the search field at the support portal/solution finder at secondlife.com's Support area. Encourage the use of the classifieds, which have a section for employment. Feel free to offer suggestions depending on what the resident wishes to supply the community!

How do I stop dancing/(animation)?
If Tools > Stop Animations from the top menu does not work, please click on the Stop Animations objects located around Help Island Public center stage.

Orientation Island Public FAQs:

Why is this Island different than the first one I was on? 
Orientation Island Public is a walkthrough tutorial that does not require a guide.

What do I do here?
Exit the corral area and follow the path marked by arrows on the ground. The path leads you through the stations.

What do I do at the stations?
Click on the green rotating hand near the station for a notecard of information. Click the signs at the stations.

How can I leave this island? Can I come back?
Go to the end of the path, there is a white pavillion. Inside the pavillion are 2 signs.  One takes you to the Mainland, the other to Help Island. Click a sign and use the teleport option. 
If you want to come back to Orientation Island Public:  (Inventory> Library> Landmark Folder> Orientation Island Public > double click on it to open > choose teleport)


== Landmark: SL Volunteer HI (124,124,26) ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''


== Tao of Volunteers and Consequences ==
'''''<font color=green>Feb. 05, 2008</font>'''''

Tao of Volunteers

Vision and Mission

Our vision is to lay the best foundation for volunteerism in Second Life by offering knowledge, assistance, and encouragement to residents in need. We believe volunteering in any world has the potential to enhance our character while reaching out to those who need us. Our mission is to reach that potential through our individual triumphs as well as team cooperation.

Volunteer Behavior and Attitude
*Set The Standard

Each Volunteer has the opportunity to create an unforgettable first impression of Second Life for new residents while also helping more seasoned residents with quality assistance. We do it because we want to. We do it because we enjoy it. We do it with a smile. That is how we want such unforgettable moments to be remembered.

Our personal conduct and style sets the standard:

* We will maintain civility when faced with controversy.
* We will be as empathetic and helpful as we can be in difficult situations.
* We will give respect to those we help, despite knowing it may not always be returned.
* We will seek and emphasize the positive in a situation.
* We will work as a team and help each other solve problems.
* We will be reliable, committed, and trustworthy.
* We will participate and share our ideas to improve Second Life.
* We will keep a sense of humor and volunteer when we know we are in good spirits!
* We will keep this labor of love fun! 

Volunteer Goals
*Promote and Grow

As Second Life continues to grow as a global platform we have the ability and responsibility to increase our Volunteer team’s strength and numbers. We should actively speak about what we do and why we do it. While volunteering we should always be open to learning new solutions as well as teaching what we know. We hope to create an open, collaborative win-win situation, one resident at a time.


Consequences of Not Following Tao 

The Mentor group has grown quite large and all members should be aware there are consequences to not following the Tao of Volunteers. Just as the Community Standards and TOS are the policies and rules of Second Life, the Tao is also the policy and rules of Second Life Volunteers.

* Please Note: The Second Life Apprentice Mentor group is considered a trial period prior to acceptance into the main Mentors group. Apprentice's who do not follow the Tao may be removed without warning.
* Example: An Apprentice Mentor who attends a Mentor class or Orientation session and is disruptive, by their actions or chat, to the class or disrespectful to the host or other attendees will be removed from group. 

Second Life Mentors who do not follow the Tao of Volunteers will be given one warning prior to removal from the Mentors group. Please be aware the decisions of the VTeam are final.

Examples of not following the Tao of Volunteers include but are not limited to:

* Using the volunteer email list to air personal arguments/issues or negative opinions on individual Mentors or   Lindens.
* Aggressive unkind behavior towards new Mentors in channel. If you cannot express help in a productive, nice tone you should not express it in channel nor should you send a private IM to another Mentor to behave in an unacceptable manner.
* Using the Mentor channel to seek a Linden to personally help you on issues that should be addressed via the website support area.
* Using the Mentor title for intimidation/power purposes. Threats of "I know many Lindens so you better do this or that.." are not acceptable.