Before diving in, there is some information with which you should familiarize yourself. Reading and learning this information will help you work smoothly with your fellow volunteers and more effectively provide opportunities to the youth and adult participants in Bworks’ programs.

byteWORKS Volunteer Manual

We have an increasing need to set up DSL modems for our Earn A Computer graduates, both adult and students. Volunteers would go to customers' houses, and help with installing DSL modems and configuring additional machines with Internet access.

Byteworks has a very popular adult class with machines that run Windows. We have a high demand for someone who has or is willing to learn the following skills:

• Prepare adult student machines (hardware checks, modems, install Windows, Microsoft Office, Firefox, etc)
• Maintain the Windows partitions on the classroom computers. Byteworks uses the same computers for both adult and student classes, and the Windows partitions are often out of date and different from computer to computer.

One of the main volunteer opportunities at ByteWorks is taking old computers that have been donated, testing them, and then using the computer or its parts in the various ByteWorks programs. The Childrens Earn A Computer program currently uses Debian Etch Linux, and the computers built for the Adult Classes program are loaded with Windows.

Volunteer Opportunities for Building/Refurbishing Computers:

• Obtaining computers – Pursue businesses/organizations to donate used computers to byteworks.
• Pick up / deliver computers and parts
• Test / troubleshoot donated computers.
  • Peform hardware checks and install system software.
• Build students computers
  • Prepare students computers for use by installing necessary software.

• Please see the Childrens Earn A Computer for more details on the setup/installation process for children's Machines.
• Please see Adult Classes for the details of the setup/installation of machines for the adults.

Byteworks can always use help organizing and presenting updated information regarding Byteworks. Opportunities include:

• Maintaining the Website
• Maintaining / Improving this Wiki
• Selling Bytworks Shop items on e-bay

The Earn-A-Computer program run on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Byteworks can always use additional teachers and teacher assistants for these classes.

See childrens earn a computer for details on the various classes that are taught.

In addition, the Adult Classes run on Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in teaching adult classes is welcome to donate their time.

See Adult Classes for more information on what classes are taught in the adult class.

• Computer Sales
• Answering the phone
• Registering people for Adult classes
• Registering people for Children’s classes
• Network Infrastructure

General cleaning and housekeeping is always needed. Floors need to be swept, mopped, or vacuumed. Bathrooms definitely need cleaning! Classrooms need to be kept clean, especially during cold/flu season. Trash cans need to be emptied. During warm weather, the flower pots outside need watering and tending.

Byteworks has two workshops that are being planned:

• Byteworks Workshop
• Photography Class

We need volunteers to perform the following tasks:

• Gather interest information in either workshop.
• Contact interested parties to begin workshops.
• Teach/assist with workshops once under way.

See the bicycleWorks link on www.bworks.org

There are also lots of resources on this wiki that can help you complete volunteer tasks like those listed below. If you learn something along the way that isn’t shared here, be sure to add it using the edit buttons!

Effective Fundraising