Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

The answer to whether or not an 18 year old student needs to be screened is covered in the following thread.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23144

indieFan

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

A little birdie has told me that some common sense is about to prevail. No one should make any irreversible decisions, or do any unnecessary work, until we hear the final word. Stay tuned.

-dave

-----------------------

14 days to go!!!

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

Anyone know a good place to have a tattoo removed? :eek:

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

Well, Finally a glimmer of hope. I've been quietly trying to decide just how to handle this issue. It is very difficult to seperate the "overwhelmingly objective arguement of protecting the well being of the students" from the "overwhelming number of privacy, legal, and moral arguments against".

So, after many hours of discussion with my fellow mentors and team leaders I can only conclude;

FIRST should require each team to monitor and maintain their own screening records. FIRST should establish the requirement in broad terms - and then, just as they do with everything else - rely on the GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM of each team's leadership to assure compliance.

Perhaps a policy statement is more appropriate, than a requirement that is so specific, yet leaves far too many things undefineable and unenforceable.

As a team leader (from the company side of the partnership, not the school side), I hope and pray the leadership at FIRST comes to there senses and re-thinks the approach they are taking on this subject.

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

Like many in the CD community, I've been following this thread closely. So many good points have been made by some of the most respected names in FIRST. Of all comments that have been made here, Brian Beatty's comments hit closest to home for me. Let's not take steps backwords in the quest to help bring about major cultural change. It's also tough to argue with Ben Franklin's wisdom. Some system may be necessary on some level (local - through schools, perhaps), but let's hope Dave Lavery's birdie comes in the form of the voice of reason - soon.

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

It seems more and more likely that something big is coming down from FIRST in the way of a revision for the youth policy.
The links that were given out in the email blasts, (http://www.usfirst.org/volunteers/youthprotect for example) do not seem to be functioning right now (at least not for me...)

Is this currently true for anyone else?

Bill Cloyes
677 Team Lead

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

None of the links are working for me.


Wetzel

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

And with the clicking came the ticking of the page that was no more.

Quoth the server, 404

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

http://www.usfirst.org/volunteers/youthprotect/

FIRST has withdrawn the policy.

Thank goodness. Common sense prevails for a change.

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

Thank you Dave Lavery, and everyone else who has worked to get this policy changed. FIRST has had some serious growing pains over the years, and this was only one of a series of Incredibly Bad (if perhaps well-meaning) Decisions on their part. Its good to see that TPTB at FIRST do listen to the community, and will put the needs of team leaders and mentors before their legal fears. I am impressed that they reversed this policy. Not every organization is humble enough to do that.

As a community we still need to keep an eye on what's going on in Manchester (in fact two eyes, as often as we can spare them), but its good to see that we can affect change.

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

Well, I'm still going to check up on all of you and give Santa Claus the scoop.

Just kidding - have a great holiday!

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

heck, using google.com, i can get someones home phone and address for free, using just their name and the state they live in. and i can get the same info by putting in thrir home phone....
kinda gives me the jiblies...

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

{sarcasm}

I know what you mean! I saw this book the other day. Just by knowing someone's name you could find their address and their phone number!! I think it was called a phone book.

{/sarcasm}

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

[being serious] A few monthes ago i was searching with my dad for something, i cant remember off the top of my head, but it was family related. We stumbled upon one page, ill try to refind it, but you could obtain anyones address, phone number, backround search, family history, a few oher things and their SS # for a few bucks. Now come on for $10 someone can obtain all the info needed to steal my identity, now thats scary.[/being serious]

~Mike

Re: Volunteer Screening?
 

I am ALL FOR screening - it should be required by evey school that has their name on a team, and every corporation that sponsors them. As an adult leader and volunteer I am also not a bit 'offended' by the requirement and would be concerned about those who oppose it.

I have worked with youth athelic leagues and had checks completed before I could coach.

My wife and I lead a CHURCH YOUTH CAMP and all of our volunteers (includeing us) are required to have a background check every two years. These are people who we have known for years and are church members.
We follow a very specific policy regarding being with groups of kids.

Programs such a this one (Robotics) require students and adults to work closely together, sometimes late hours and with few others around. A background check doesn't guarantee nothing will happen, but it can be an effective first level screen.

Don't fall for the "we've know them for years..." line. Read the papers :yikes: