Tao of Volunteers

Out of Date

The volunteer information on this page is now out of date and will be kept for historical purposes. Please do not update information on this page.

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Vision and Mission

Our vision is to lay the best foundation for new residents 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 helping those who need us. Our mission is to reach that potential through our individual triumphs as well as team cooperation.

We feel a special affinity for the newest residents of Second Life; the residents who come to us in their first hour curious and looking for answers, focus and suggestions on how to make Second Life their own. We provide a bridge to value in Second Life, a link to knowledge should they choose it, advice on the many experiences that Second Life provides and ways for them to find their peers inworld. We educate new users in how to search and find for themselves more information on all of these things.

Second Life Mentors provide a vital link between those of the Second Life community who are so often the new user's first contact and Linden Lab by bringing valuable input to the new user planning process.

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.