Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When and where is the AIDS Walk?
Q: Can I form a group of volunteers?
Q: Where do I sign in on the morning of the AIDS Walk?
Q: Can I volunteer AND fundraise?
Q: When can I start volunteering?
Q: What is "Cocktail Hour"?
Q: What is phone banking?
Q: How old do I have to be to volunteer?
Q: What is orientation and why is it mandatory?
Q: How do I confirm my volunteer position?
Q: How do I get there? Where do I park?
Q: Can I bring my friends?
Q: Can I walk AND volunteer?
Q: What do I wear?
Q: Is there a place for my purse or backpack?
Q: Are there post-Walk volunteer activities?
Q: When and where is the AIDS Walk?
A: AIDS Walk Los Angeles will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2011 in West Hollywood Park. Please CLICK HERE to view the various times and locations where volunteers should meet on the day of the event. Please note: Some positions require an orientation on the Saturday prior to the event.
Q: Can I form a group of volunteers?
A:Yes! You can form a Volunteer Group and recruit your co-workers, friends, and family to volunteer with you on the day of the AIDS Walk. Volunteer Groups follow special procedures that differ from individual volunteers, so contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Shaun Sheppard, at (213) 201-WALK (9255) or at shauns@aidswalk.net to help get your Volunteer Group organized and registered.
Q: Where do I sign in on the morning of the AIDS Walk?
A: Most volunteers should report to Volunteer Sign-In on the morning of the AIDS Walk. Volunteer Sign In is located in the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, on San Vicente between Santa Monica and Melrose. (We will send out confirmation letters and e-mails in the weeks leading up to the AIDS Walk with specific instructions). If you have not received your confirmation materials, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Shaun Sheppard, at (213) 201-WALK (9255) or at shauns@aidswalk.net.
Please note: Checkpoint volunteers report directly to their Checkpoint on the morning of the event. You will be assigned a location at your required orientation.
Please note: Monitor & Delineator volunteers report directly to San Vicente Boulevard & Santa Monica Boulevard on the morning of the event.
Q: Can I volunteer AND fundraise?
A: YES! It is not a requirement, but we encourage everyone who participates in AIDS Walk Los Angeles to raise funds for the fight against AIDS. Therefore, we credit all of our volunteers with walking 10 kilometers. If you have questions or need fundraising tips, please visit our Fundraising Tips and Tools page or contact one of our fundraising specialists at awlateams@aidswalk.net or at (213) 201-WALK (9255).
Q: When can I start volunteering?
A: You can start volunteering in our office as early as August 8th! We have evening activities, such as "Cocktail Hour" and phone banking, Monday through Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and we can always use your help. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Shaun Sheppard, at (213) 201-WALK (9255) or at shauns@aidswalk.net to schedule a time to come in.
Q: What is "Cocktail Hour"?
A: "Cocktail Hour" is our name for our evening volunteer activities. Join us for our nightly volunteer activity, affectionately known as "Cocktail Hour." Help us push the AIDS Walk campaign into high gear by joining other dedicated AIDS Walk supporters as we assemble thousands of Walker, Team Leader, and Star Walker kits. It is held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening beginning August 8th.
Q: What is phone banking?
A: We need volunteers in the evenings, Monday through Wednesday, to call past volunteers and register them for this year's event. This is a great opportunity for people who have an outgoing personality and love to talk on the phone! Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Shaun Sheppard, at (213) 201-WALK (9255) for information.
Q: How old do I have to be to volunteer?
A: There are several positions in which volunteers must be of a certain age, while others have no age requirement. We recommend that children under the age of nine refrain from volunteering. Any volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Listed below are our day-of-event volunteer positions and their age requirements, if any:
Sign-In: 16 years of age or older
Monitors: 16 years of age or older
Checkpoints: No age requirement
Checkpoint 4: No age requirement
Delineators: No age requirement
Totaling: 18 years of age or older
Strike Crew: No age requirement
Hooplah/Strike Crew: No age requirement
Volunteer Lunch Making: No age requirement
Parking: 16 years of age or older
Route & Venue Green Team: No age requirement
Information Army: No age requirement
Security: No age requirement
Teams: No age requirement
Crowd Control: 16 years of age or older
Q: What is orientation and why is it mandatory?
A: Orientation is held for certain volunteer positions that require specific and detailed instructions for the day of the event. This information is important for the safety of our volunteers and participants. We want to be sure that all volunteers receive the necessary information to complete their volunteer duties and have an enjoyable volunteer experience. CLICK HERE to see if your position has an orientation and when it will be held.
Q: How do I confirm my volunteer position?
A: In order for AIDS Walk Los Angeles to run smoothly, we need verbal confirmation of your attendance. Please call the office at (213) 201-WALK (9255) to confirm that we can count on you on the day of the AIDS Walk. If you have not received your volunteer confirmation materials, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Shaun Sheppard, at shauns@aidswalk.net.
Q: How do I get there? Where do I park?
A: Please visit our AIDS Walk Los Angeles Maps and Directions page for more information.
Q: Can I bring my friends?
A: Absolutely! We can always use more volunteers, and volunteering with your friends is always more fun! They can register right now by CLICKING HERE!
Q: Can I walk AND volunteer?
A: We have several positions that allow you to walk and volunteer on the day of the event: SATURDAY SET-UP and STRIKE CREW CLEAN UP. Please CLICK HERE to see all orientation information for these positions.
Q: What do I wear?
A: AIDS Walk Los Angeles will happen rain or shine, so please dress appropriately; layers are recommended and, for your safety, flip-flops are not allowed. In addition, please be sure to leave all valuables at home. You will also be given a special AIDS Walk Volunteer T-Shirt to wear!
Q: Is there a place for my purse or backpack?
A: There will not be a place for you to keep your purse or your backpack. You should leave all valuables at home.
Q: Are there post-Walk volunteer activities?
A: Yes! We need help in the weeks following the event with certain projects, including unpacking and alphabetizing materials. If you would like to help us post-Walk, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Shaun Sheppard, at (213) 201-WALK (9255) or at shauns@aidswalk.net to schedule a day to come to the office and volunteer.
