Volunteering

[Murakoshi]

I did a google search and have looked over the CHP main site, as well as done a thread search on the forums here. Is there a CHP volunteer program that is active in Fresno right now? All I could find was the senior volunteer, which I'm too young for, and then of course the explorer program, which I'm too old for.

Does anyone know of any opportunities? And wouldn't it be possible to still have some of the programs that the state has been cutting out, such as child seat, etc. where there could be one sworn officer and other trained volunteers to help out? I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting on the hiring process who would be willing to volunteer some time to keep the CHP as active as possible in the community events?

Please if anyone knows, or knows who I can contact to try to set something up, please send a reply thread.

Thanks.

[preventable]

The reason for the age requirement for the Senior Volunteers is that they qualify for cover by an insurance program if they are injured while volunteering. I think the minimum, age is 55. The same issues goes for the explorers they are covered by the BSA.

[Murakoshi]

Do you think that there is some way to implement a program which would allow for volunteering for the middle aged category between explorer and senior?

Such as a liability waiver, similar to that which must be signed on a ride along? According to recent articles, CHP has enough applicants in the pipeline to fill academys until 2013? (assuming the academy stays active by then) When that article came out, the academy had not yet been frozen. So according to an estimated calculation, 4 academy classes for 2011, 4 classes for 2012, and 4 classes for 2013 times the 120 average cadets that have been starting the previous academies, that should be about 1,400 individuals in the hiring process right now?

By simply cmposing a new volunteer waiver, CHP can get around the insurance issue with volunteering. And cadets volunteer time within the communities while in the academy, plus officers put in time in the community, granting that the budget will cover it. So why not live part of the lifestyle even prior to getting into the academy? Yes there are many places that you can go and volunteer your time around any town, but when CHP is making cuts in order to meet budget now, why not fill in those positions being cut which could be filled by volunteers?

I'm not saying send a volunteer out to highway construction sites, but community events, community safety check stations, and other interactions that helps take the negative police connotation away from some of the public. As long as the volunteers know that they are volunteers, not yet members of the CHP and do not represent themselves as such, I think that this would be a positive for California residents and for the CHP as well, and all for the cost of composing and printing liability waivers.

Just a thought.

Any way I can contact Sacramento on this idea? If you do know of one, please link me to the info and I'll do what I can from there.

Thanks.

[LadyVol@330]

By simply cmposing a new volunteer waiver, CHP can get around the insurance issue with volunteering.

Being a senior volunteer, I can tell you that we are members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) which is a national organization that keeps track of volunteer hours annually and the totals are provided to the Federal government. The insurance is provided through this group and has nothing to do with the CHP. Many organizations use volunteers from the RSVP, one of which is the CHP. At this time, it is my understanding that the CHP will not be making any changes in their volunteer program. I understand how you feel about wanting to help out, but at this time of budgetary crises in the State government, creating more programs is probably not an option. I would suggest that you contact James Newberry, volunteer coordinator, regarding your interest and he can best answer your questions. His information is on the CHP website.

[Murakoshi]

OK I will find his information and contact him. Thank you for your help and clarifications to me. I just assumed it was a CHP run program. Happy Easter.