The UC California Naturalist Program is pleased to announce the new Volunteer Portal (VMS 3.1) has arrived! Did you know that California Naturalists have logged over 99,000 volunteer hours? Thank you for your efforts! 2016 service pins were sent out over the last 2 weeks. 

Over the last few months a small number of California Naturalist programs have been using the new version of the Volunteer Portal on a limited scale. Later this month, the program will go live for all California Naturalist programs around the state. This announcement provides you with important information to help you prepare for the new release.

 

• On July 12 (Wednesday) starting at 10:00 AM a 30 minute webinar will introduce you to the new Volunteer Portal and provide you with an opportunity ask questions. This will be followed at 10:30 by a similar 30 minute webinar for instructors/administrators only. To log-in to the webinar use the link below (suggested method for following along with the demonstration). If you do not have a computer, you can use the telephone to listen in:

 

• Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android to view the demonstration (you'll need a speaker to listen to the audio and a mic to make comments. If you don't have a mic you can type your questions into the chat):  https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/5307501265
• Or, listen in on the telephone (US Toll): Dial: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 408 638 0968; Meeting ID: 530 750 1265

 

• We hope you will join us for this live webinar, but if you cannot, it will be recorded and made available with our other VMS help resources online.

 

• That same day, a new Help Page will be released at http://calnat.ucanr.edu/Resources/VP_Help/providing PowerPoint and video tutorials for common tasks in the new Volunteer Portal such as updating your profile, entering hours, and viewing your hours. Instructors and Administrators will have tutorials on loading a roster, graduating a course and sending Email.

 

• On July 17 (Monday) the new Volunteer Portal will go live for all users. When you log-in on the 17^thyou will automatically be in the new system. We recommend that you review and update your profile and preferences at that time.

 

The new Volunteer Portal provides a cleaner more modern appearance, increased functionality, is mobile friendly and its use should be intuitive for those familiar with the old version. Many of the improvements came directly from feedback from California Naturalists and Instructors (thanks everyone!!). We believe this new version will make using the VMS easier, help instructors better serve and communicate with their naturalists in training and graduated classes, and help partners and naturalists engage more effectively regionally.