WHAT IS VOLUNTEER CONNECTION?
Volunteer Connection is the official American Red Cross platform used by all volunteers and clubs. It is expected that each members uses this platform to log hours from their meetings – allowing them to remain a member in the club and receive Service Learning Hours. If it is not in Volunteer Connection, it didn’t happen!
CREATING AN ACCOUNT
HOW DO I CREATE A VOLUNTEER CONNECTION ACCOUNT?
- Open your school’s designated VC address on your phone or computer web browser
- Optional: Download the Volunteer Connection app
- You must use the link in order to connect your account to your school
- Scroll down to Create a Red Cross ID and enter ALL information accurately
- Enter your full legal name
- Enter the postal code for your home address
- Enter your personal email (one you will check reguarly)
- Remember your email and password (this is how you will log in)
- Select Create My Red Cross ID
- Enter ALL information accurately into the Provide Contact Information section
- Select Verify Contact Information and enter ALL information accurately
- Select Send Me The Code and proceed to enter the verification code
- Select Submit and Agree to Policies
- Optional: Submit the optional questionnaires provided
- Select Continue to Terms and Conditions
- Agree to all policies
- You must click each blue hyperlink and scroll to the bottom to select AGREE
- If on computer, you must right click on each link and select Open In New Tab
- Select Submit Parental Consent Form and enter ALL information accurately
- Please provide your parent/guardian’s information
- The guardian email MUST BE DIFFERENT from your personal email or it will not let you continue
- Select Submit Application
- Your account will not be activated until your parents submit the Parental Consent Form
- Check their spam if you don’t see it in the inbox
- The Parental Consent Form must be submitted within A FEW DAYS of Creating An ID or the account will reset
- Your account will not be activated until your parents submit the Parental Consent Form
HOW DO I FILL OUT THE PARENTAL CONSENT FORM?
You cannot and SHOULD NOT fill out the parental consent form. This form is emailed to your parents to complete. Ask them to check their inbox, spam, or junk folder for the email and complete the parental consent form.
WHAT DO I DO IF I PUT MY EMAIL FOR THE PARENTAL CONSENT FORM?
You will need to email NCGCClubVCTech@redcross.org, and CC your club President with the following:
Subject: VC Account and Parental Consent Form
Email: Hello! My name is ______________ and I am a Red Cross member at _______________. I created my Volunteer Connection account and put my personal information in for my Parental Consent Form portion of the account. I need my account to be erased so that I may make a new account with the correct information. My email I used for Volunteer Connection is ______________.
Thanks,
(Your Name)
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM A RETURNING MEMBER AND MY ACCOUNT IS NOT ACTIVE?
First, shame on you for either not logging your hours or not participating in events!!!
DO NOT USE THE “REACTIVATE MY ACCOUNT BUTTON”. You will need to email NCGCClubVCTech@redcross.org, and CC your club President with the following:
Subject: Volunteer Connection Account Reactivation
Email: Hello! My name is ______________ and I am a Red Cross member at _________________. I am a returning member for the 2023-2024 year and my account needs to be reactivated. My email I used for Volunteer Connection is ______________.
Thanks,
(Your Name)
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY SCREEN SAYS “PAGE EXPIRED”?
- If you are using your phone, try using your computer instead.
- If you are using your computer, exit the tab and refresh the page.
This just means that there are too many people on the site at once.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF WHEN CREATING AN ACCOUNT, IT SAYS “CONTACT LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR”?
If you are using your phone, try using your computer instead and restart the process. If still not working:
You will need to email NCGCClubVCTech@redcross.org, and CC your club President with the following:
Subject: VC Account Error Message
Email: Hello! My name is ______________ and I am a Red Cross member at ______________________. I created my Volunteer Connection account and received the message “Contact Local Administrator”. My email I used for Volunteer Connection is ______________.
Thanks,
(Your Name)
HOW DO I KNOW IF I SUCCESSFULLY CREATED AN ACCOUNT?
Log into Volunteer Connection, hover over the “My Groups” tab, and look for the “Red Cross Club: {YOUR SCHOOL}”.
LOGGING HOURS AND EVENTS
HOW DO I LOG HOURS?
- Go to https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/ and Sign In to your account.
- If you are using the app on your phone:
- Click on the circle arrow that looks like a clock in the first row of the home page.
- If you are using the website:
- Click the red button that says “Add Hours”.
- Enter the time you participated in the activity.
- If it is under 1 hour, be sure to put a 0 in the hours section.
- Type in the activity name as directed by your club.
- Always select worked under “Hours Type”.
- Select “Red Cross Club: _____ Member” under position.
- Finally click “Submit Hours” and you’re done!
HOW DO I LOG CLUB EVENTS (FOR CLUB LEADERS ONLY)?
- Go to your club’s GroupShare and click the 9-button square menu bar
- Click on ‘Club Events’
- Scroll down to the bottom and click ‘Add’
- Insert all information as accurately as possible
*Reports can be edited if information needs to be added*
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOGGING HOURS?
- You can log hours for ANY Red Cross related-activity you complete including General Session meetings, committee meetings, outside-school events, volunteer work, making posters/cards, completing applications, etc.
- Hours must be logged in order to be counted as a member and given service hours.
- Hours CANNOT be rewarded as incentives! You may only earn hours for the amount of time worked (during a meeting, going to a club event, etc.)
- It is required that an active Red Cross member logs hours at least once in a 90-day-period, or they will be inactivated in accordance with the national standards.
- New Volunteer Connection Feature: Log each mission-related activity under a ‘Program Credit’. You can log to the closest option listed, or select ‘other’.
SPECIAL FEATURES
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I TURN 18?
Once you turn 18, you will receive an email from the American Red Cross requesting a background check in which you can choose to accept or reject. If you choose to accept, you can log into Volunteer Connection and fill out the information accordingly. Your status will eventually be changed. If you do not complete the background check, your account will be deactivated (you have three chances). Remember, if you do not respond to the email, your link will not show up.
HOW TO FIND EDGE TRAININGS?
EDGE is an online opportunity to expand training outside of club events. They do not count for club hours, but can count for individual hours and are very useful to both yourself and the region as a whole.
HOW DO I ENABLE NOTIFICATIONS?
Stay up to date with Volunteer Connection announcements by selecting the bell in the top upper right corner of the GroupShare Home page.
OTHER QUESTIONS / CONCERNS
- Check School Platform: Did your club post a reminder that already answered your question? Review their PowerPoint presentations with Step-By-Step instructions.
- Check the NCGC Blog: Located at the top of the screen is a page that says Volunteer Connection. Check to see if your question is answered there.
- Email Executive Board: If you are unable to find the answer to your question elsewhere, email your club President and Technical Lead with your Name, Grade, Member Status, and screenshot of issue (if applicable).
- Email Regional Team: If all else fails, refer to NCGCClubVCTech@redcross.org where the Youth Advisory Board Technical Team will assist you.
NCGC Youths 