Today, we wanted to spotlight Donate Life Illinois’ hard-working Volunteer Coordinator, Jane Lee-Zimmer. Check out below to learn more about how to get involved and what it means to be a volunteer for DLI.
-Scott
In a nutshell, what’s your role as the Volunteer Coordinator for Donate Life Illinois?
Jane
As the Volunteer Coordinator for Donate Life Illinois, I am responsible for maintaining and managing the volunteer program.
I have been developing a new volunteer training, structure, meeting schedule and (of course!) appreciation. I am responsible for training and educating our volunteers about organ/tissue donation, teaching volunteers how to speak in public and scheduling volunteers for events. All of our events are brought to us by other volunteers or our partners in the community so it is often a matching game to find the right ‘match’ so that our message is most effectively heard. Additionally, I am responsible for coordinating the Donate Life Illinois High School Program where we educate high school students about organ/tissue donation.
Does one have to have a personal tie to organ/tissue donation to volunteer?
No. Many of our volunteers just realize the importance surrounding organ/tissue donation and want to volunteer and be an advocate for the cause.
What types of events and activities do DLI volunteers participate in?
When DLI participates in events, our goal is to register people in our state’s organ/tissue registry; that’s how we can help the 100,000 plus people waiting nationally.
The majority of our events are brought to use by our volunteers—donor registration drives at workplaces, schools, houses of worship, community health fairs and etc. Some of our other events are speaking engagements where we have requests from other volunteers and our partners in the community who want to hear directly from a recipient or donor family on what their experience with donation and transplantation was like.
What’s the best way to get involved?
Join us! Fill out the volunteer application, come to a training and set up a registration table! It’s that easy! Whether you are an avid knitter, runner, or a biker, maybe there is a place where you can register people to be an organ/tissue donor. From your workplace, house of worship to community festival, there may be other opportunities for you to help register others. Your circle of influence can help us get the word out about organ/tissue donation! Just give me a call or shoot me an email (see below) and let’s chat!
I am excited to invite you to Donate Life Illinois Volunteer Network’s volunteer training sessions! Each training session will go over the same material: organ / tissue donation, what it means to be a volunteer for Donate Life Illinois, volunteer expectations, and a speaker’s training. Lunch will be provided during each session.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 10:00am – 2:00pm
Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall
406 S. Eldorado Road
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Or
Saturday, November 7, 2009 10:00am – 2:00pm
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network
425 Spring Lake Road
Itasca, Illinois 60143
*Please note, this is the NEW office*
Please note if you have never been to a Donate Life Illinois Volunteer Training, you must attend a volunteer training before you will be able to participate in any Donate Life Illinois events.
RSVP’s are required if you will be attending.
Please email Jane at jlee-zimmer@giftofhope.org or leave a message at 630.758.2740 by Monday, October 19, 2009.
Today, we wanted to spotlight Donate Life Illinois’ hard-working Volunteer Coordinator, Jane Lee-Zimmer. Check out below to learn more about how to get involved and what it means to be a volunteer for DLI.
-Scott
In a nutshell, what’s your role as the Volunteer Coordinator for Donate Life Illinois?
Jane
As the Volunteer Coordinator for Donate Life Illinois, I am responsible for maintaining and managing the volunteer program.
I have been developing a new volunteer training, structure, meeting schedule and (of course!) appreciation. I am responsible for training and educating our volunteers about organ/tissue donation, teaching volunteers how to speak in public and scheduling volunteers for events. All of our events are brought to us by other volunteers or our partners in the community so it is often a matching game to find the right ‘match’ so that our message is most effectively heard. Additionally, I am responsible for coordinating the Donate Life Illinois High School Program where we educate high school students about organ/tissue donation.
Does one have to have a personal tie to organ/tissue donation to volunteer?
No. Many of our volunteers just realize the importance surrounding organ/tissue donation and want to volunteer and be an advocate for the cause.
What types of events and activities do DLI volunteers participate in?
When DLI participates in events, our goal is to register people in our state’s organ/tissue registry; that’s how we can help the 100,000 plus people waiting nationally.
The majority of our events are brought to use by our volunteers—donor registration drives at workplaces, schools, houses of worship, community health fairs and etc. Some of our other events are speaking engagements where we have requests from other volunteers and our partners in the community who want to hear directly from a recipient or donor family on what their experience with donation and transplantation was like.
What’s the best way to get involved?
Join us! Fill out the volunteer application, come to a training and set up a registration table! It’s that easy! Whether you are an avid knitter, runner, or a biker, maybe there is a place where you can register people to be an organ/tissue donor. From your workplace, house of worship to community festival, there may be other opportunities for you to help register others. Your circle of influence can help us get the word out about organ/tissue donation! Just give me a call or shoot me an email (see below) and let’s chat!
I am excited to invite you to Donate Life Illinois Volunteer Network’s volunteer training sessions! Each training session will go over the same material: organ / tissue donation, what it means to be a volunteer for Donate Life Illinois, volunteer expectations, and a speaker’s training. Lunch will be provided during each session.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 10:00am – 2:00pm
Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall
406 S. Eldorado Road
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Or
Saturday, November 7, 2009 10:00am – 2:00pm
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network
425 Spring Lake Road
Itasca, Illinois 60143
*Please note, this is the NEW office*
Please note if you have never been to a Donate Life Illinois Volunteer Training, you must attend a volunteer training before you will be able to participate in any Donate Life Illinois events.
RSVP’s are required if you will be attending.
Please email Jane at jlee-zimmer@giftofhope.org or leave a message at 630.758.2740 by Monday, October 19, 2009.