ME³ Communities In Action program: What is a Communities In Action (CIA) Agent?

What is the ME³ Communities In Action (CIA) program?
Communities In Action (CIA) is a 'databank' of individuals in Wake County, NC, who have signed up to make a difference through
local organizations. Individuals who sign up for CIA are connected to opportunities to help out that match their skills, interests, and
availability and are guided through the volunteer process by CIA Agents.

What role does the Communities In Action (CIA) Agent play in the program?
As a 'CIA Agent', you would be the contact person between ME³'s CIA Coordinator and a small group of volunteers, ensuring that
each one gets the timely, personalized, friendly communication they need as they get started volunteering. You would be there to
answer their questions, address their concerns, and communicate issues or ideas to ME³ to improve the CIA program. You would
update the volunteer's progress in an online database and meet with ME³ leaders once a month to offer your feedback as a CIA
Agent. Occasionally, you may also have the opportunity to participate in ME³ volunteer projects or social events! Training is provided
to become a CIA Agent and use the online CIA database.

Why is the Agent important to the program? Why is being an Agent an important volunteer opportunity overall?
Being a CIA Agent means you have the opportunity to make volunteering a good experience for others. Every new volunteer you
guide, befriend, and help is like giving yourself an extra pair of arms to help the community. By helping 10 others volunteer, you are
volunteering times 10! You are increasing your own impact on the community.

Over 85% of charitable organizations in the U.S.A. say that volunteers perform crucial operations and tasks in their organizations;
without these volunteers, these efforts to make the world a better place would suffer and ultimately fail. By ensuring that
individuals know how to get started in helping out, and have good volunteer experiences and feel connected to the causes they
help, we play a part in keeping these charitable causes up, running, and growing, helping more people and solving more social
issues every day.

If I wanted to be a Communities In Action (CIA) Agent, what criteria would I have to fit? How much time would I have to
volunteer as an Agent?

Agents must fit the following criteria:

Must be 18 years of age or older.
Must be an 'experienced volunteer' - somebody who has volunteered for at least one other organization in the past, who
knows ups and downs of volunteering, who can empathize with and anticipate other volunteers' needs whether they are
experienced volunteers themselves, or individuals who have never volunteered before.
Must have phone and/or internet access from your own computer, and willing to call or email your volunteers.
Must be personable, friendly, and outgoing.
Must be willing to attend a one to two-hour training before you get started.
Must be able to devote up to 3 hours a week to contact your volunteers and update the online database.
Must be willing to attend monthly meetings as often as possible, to be held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.
Must be willing to attend and participate in the occasional Communities In Action group service project or social event.

Am I expected to recruit volunteers to the Communities In Action program as an Agent?
Agents are not expected to recruit volunteers to Communities In Action, but we certainly wouldn't object to it (as long as they live in
Wake County, NC, and are over 15 years of age).

Is the Communities In Action (CIA) Agent a paid position?
Agents are volunteers for Communities In Action. Your reward is the great feeling you get from knowing you are having a big impact
on your community! And a nifty tee-shirt with your name on the back.

How can I apply to be a Communities In Action (CIA) Agent?
Easy! Just fill out our online application, here. Then, an ME³ representative will contact you to discuss further details, answer any
questions, and see if you are a good fit for our program.

Why do I have to apply? Can't I just be a Communities In Action (CIA) Agent?
Because of the importance of this position in Communities In Action operations, we have opted to screen potential Agents before
getting them started. As Agents, you are the "face" of our Communities In Action program and ME³ to individuals in Wake County
who come to us to get started in helping out the community - With great power, comes great responsibility! And also, an application
process.