• Q: Will previous volunteer experience/events be posted on Galaxy?

A: Starting from the launch date (September 3, 2019), only events and hours posted from that point on will be recorded. 

If you wish to log hours from events prior to September 3, you can go to your profile in the top right corner and click "Track Hours." From there, follow the prompts to fill out the details for the event you volunteer at, and a site manager will approve the hours.

If the opportunity you volunteered at doesn't appear under the drop-down menu for Hour Type, select No, and provide the name of the event, a Montrose Center staff member who can verify your presence at the event, and their email. For Plus-One Hour, select No.

• Q: Will we still be sending out special event volunteer opportunities via email through Galaxy?

A: Only when necessary. Moving forward, we will gradually transition over to Galaxy as our main correspondence to volunteers. All volunteer opportunities will eventually be posted on Galaxy, so volunteers can browse through them whenever they log in. Whenever someone signs up for an event, they will receive an email notification when they confirm their volunteer shift(s), 1 week before the opportunity, and 1 day before the opportunity.

• Q: Upon creating my profile, will I have to resubmit my volunteer application or attend orientation again?

A: No. Once you have completed both your application and orientation, you are good to go! Galaxy Digital asks all new users whether they have completed the required qualifications (i.e. volunteer application, orientation, waivers) to be a volunteer at the Montrose Center. If you have completed all, reply “Yes” when prompted and a site manager will confirm completion of your application and orientation.

If you have yet to complete your application or orientation, you may fill out your application, sign up for orientation, and e-sign all waivers prior to attending orientation for you to become a volunteer at the Montrose Center.

• Q: What is a user group?

A: (from Galaxy Digital) A user group is a way to group qualifying volunteers under a single "umbrella" so that volunteers and organizations can engage community initiatives as a group and measure group engagement. A user group may be a company, club, church, or other organization whose members volunteer as agents of their larger group. It can also be a group of selected volunteers who have needed expertise or training in an area (for example, volunteers who are veterinarians or are qualified to prepare tax returns).

• Q: What are VIPs?

A: (from Galaxy Digital) Volunteer Impact Pages (VIPs) are an exciting tool available to nonprofits, educational institutions, and corporations who wish to share the impact their volunteers are having on their communities.

• Q: I'm already a regular volunteer at the center. Do I still need to sign up for my regular volunteer shifts through Galaxy?

A: Not necessarily, but you can if you wish! You will still be on the volunteer schedule if you regularly volunteer for the Cyber Center, Hatch Youth, SPRY, or any other program. Signing up for your shifts through Galaxy will allow you to automatically log, review, and submit your hours via your profile. Plus, you'll be able to rack up volunteer hours to start earning volunteer benchmarks to add some pizzazz to your profile!

• Q: I am required to volunteer a certain number of hours for school/internship/community service/etc. and need somebody to validate them. What is the process for that?

A: Inform the volunteer department at your earliest convenience and submit necessary forms for signing via email, at volunteer orientation, or at your first volunteer opportunity. A Montrose Center staff member or event lead will sign off on your forms.

Don't forget that you can also print out your volunteer resume as further proof of logged hours at the Montrose Center. This can be accessed through your Galaxy profile.