Volunteer Spotlight | Volunteer of the Year | MAIN Boosters

MAIN depends on volunteers!

You can help make your community network grow

As a nonprofit Internet cooperative and community network, MAIN depends heavily on volunteers from its 13-county service area. Approximately 300 people from across the region currently serve as MAIN volunteers. But we are a growing community network, and our volunteer needs are many.

Please take a few moments to review the following list of volunteer opportunities . . . and get involved! It's fun and fulfilling!

Also, take a look at our current volunteer openings.

Immediate Needs

Automotive mechanic volunteer to assess and maintain four-wheel-drive MAIN company vehicle. For details, please email: volunteer@main.nc.us or call 255.0182.
Office volunteers able to work in downtown Asheville during business hours on a regular basis. No experience necessary! Responsibilities include answering phones, filing, simple data entry, etc. What a great opportunity to learn about Internet technology while serving your community!
Technical support volunteers to assist MAIN users in all 14 WNC counties with Internet/connectivity/email support issues. Work from home! Training will be provided; no experience required.
Writers to author short, user-friendly how-to guides for configuring various operating systems (Mac OS 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x -- Windows 3.x, 2000) to connect to the Internet and receive/send email.
Volunteers with an eye for community happenings to scan online calendars, local weeklies and public kiosks for WNC's "can't miss" events on the MAIN calendar. Links to WNC event sources will be provided, but information of regional or local interest is always welcome. This can be done from your home Internet connection -- or in our Asheville office --on a weekly basis.
Technically savvy, experienced volunteers to upgrade MAIN's databases: MS Access (forms, queries, etc.) plus pgSQL and/or ODBM. Linux experience will also be prized. You'll gain valuable development experience, and your contribution will become a significant part of MAIN's continuing operations.
Dependable trouble-spotters to alert our Network Administrator of specific server problems in each county served by MAIN. No technical experience necessary; however, a brief orientation of each hardware location facility is required. Trouble-spotters must be available and physically able to go onsite when needed to perform simple resetting or troubleshooting functions as instructed by MAIN's Network Administrator.

REBOOT

MAIN belongs to a coalition of nonprofits called REBOOT, which provides computers to those in WNC who would otherwise not be able to afford them. If you have enthusiasm for combining technical work with direct community service, you're a perfect match for REBOOT.

Volunteers are needed to evaluate donated equipment for placement potential; to prepare computers for placement (either in your place or ours);to deliver and set up systems; orient fledgling users to their new computer; and outline basic Internet use. Working as a REBOOT volunteer is a wonderful way to give back to your community while learning more about computer hardware and software. REBOOT meets every two weeks and welcomes your participation in the meetings, but attendance is not required for volunteer participation. Contact volunteer@main.nc.us to learn more or to sign up.

Help Desk

Join the MAIN staff as we help subscribers get and stay connected. Experience configuring Windows and/or Mac systems to connect to the Internet and knowledge of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express are preferred.

Volunteers can choose to answer phones in our office, have calls forwarded to their homes, or help others via email. Volunteers are also occasionally needed to make house calls to MAIN users who are unable to solve their connection problems through our phone and email support systems.

Training Assistance

Put your facilitation and design skills to great use in your community by leading workshops ranging from basic use of the Internet to simple and advanced web page design. We'd love to have your help in extending our workshops throughout our 14-county service area. Workshops could even include basic "how to surf the web" sessions at MAIN's public access terminals across WNC.

Building Content

MAIN provides free webpages to local nonprofit organizations, and we need volunteers to assist with this effort. Volunteers may help a favorite nonprofit construct and maintain its webpages, or MAIN can match volunteers with a nonprofit organization ready to build a site. Knowledge from basic, HTML-only authoring up to advanced scripting welcome!

Office Assistance

MAIN welcomes volunteers who can help during office hours with simple tasks such as filing, database management, mailings, and answering the phone. Technical expertise is not required! We value your help at any skill level.

Community Outreach

MAIN seeks volunteers to call or visit local nonprofit organizations and civic clubs to explain how MAIN can support and promote their community-building efforts. If you enjoy communication, collaboration and building community, here's a great opportunity to do so!

Brochure Distribution

Help spread the word about MAIN in your community by regularly supplying brochures to local gathering places like coffee shops, community centers, bookstores, Chambers of Commerce, visitor centers, etc.

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