Q: What is the Team Captain’s job?

A: Team Captains play an important role in Servathon! As a Team Captain, you’ll help your team to:

• Decide on a name;
• Recruit team members;
• Set and meet a fundraising goal;
• Select a project; and
• Celebrate at the party!

Think about all the groups you’re involved with: your sports teams, alumni group, church or spiritual group, colleagues, school, book clubs, etc. Be a leader. Get them involved!

Q: Are Team Captains responsible for organizing or leading the team’s project?

A: No. Team Captains are NOT responsible for organizing or leading the team’s project. Greater DC Cares plans all Servathon projects and provides trained Project Managers and Project Leaders to lead and supervise the work at each site. Some businesses will provide a manager for their projects.

Q: How do I register to be a Team Captain?

A: Once the group decides who will be the Team Captain, that person goes to www.servathon.org, clicks on Register Now and follows the easy-to-use steps for creating a team:

• Read the Waiver/Agreement, then click “I Agree.”
• Select “Start A Team.”
• Complete the online registration form and name your team. All fields marked with an * are required.
• Click “Continue” once the form is completed. A confirmation screen will appear and a confirmation email will be sent to you.

Q: How do I recruit family, friends and colleagues for Servathon?

A: The Servathon website (www.servathon.org) makes it easy to send email to friends, family and co-workers to tell them about Servathon by providing automated tools, including sample email, that you can use as they are. If you prefer, you can customize the message, add your photo or make other changes. Once registered, you can check ‘My HQ’ for sample emails.

Q: Once I recruit team members, how do they join my team?

A: It’s easy!

• Make sure they know the team name and your name as Team Captain.
• Then they visit www.servathon.org, click Register Now and follow the steps for joining a team.

Q: How many people should each Team Captain recruit?

A: A team is any group of 2 or more volunteers. We encourage each Team Captain to recruit 5–15 volunteers, but no more than 30. If you have more than 30 people on your team, we may have to send the team to more than one site. If you have more than 30 people in your group, we recommend that you select another team member to be a Team Captain and split the group.

Team names on t-shirts were such a big hit last year, we are bringing them back in 2010! All teams with 25+ people who register by Monday, March 17, 2010 will be able to get their team name printed on their Servathon t-shirt. We will also be having a contest for the best team name, with prizes being awarded at the after party!
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Q: Can I recruit volunteers under the age of 18 for my team?

A: Yes, but children aged 12–17 must be accompanied by an adult. Click here for more details about age requirements.

Q: Can my team members register the day of the event?

A: No. All team members must pre-register.

Q: How do I start a team at my office?

A: Starting a team at your office is a great idea! It’s always best to engage top-level management, if possible. Contact managers and/or your human resources department to let them know you’re interested in organizing a team. They’ll be glad to know you’re helping your company serve the community. Describe the event and gain their endorsement. Some companies are willing to provide a matching donation for the amount of money you raise.

You can also consider asking your company to become a sponsor. Click here to get more information about company sponsorships.

Here are some tips for successful recruiting in the office:

• Once you gain senior management endorsement, let co-workers know that the company is supporting this day of service.
• Send email inviting colleagues to get involved.
• Discuss Servathon at a staff meeting.
• Place a recruitment ad or note in your company newsletter, internal Web site, bulletin board, or company calendar.
• Encourage a healthy competition among floors, departments and/or divisions to register the most volunteers.
• Broadcast your recruiting success. As you sign up co-workers, others will become more interested in participating.
• Tell recruits about the fun party afterwards! There’s free food andbeverages. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other volunteers and share success stories! The location is still TBA, so check back.
• Send everyone on your team a reminder the week of the event.

Q: What should I set as the team’s fundraising goal?

A: Talk with your team members about setting a goal. The sky’s the limit! We encourage each volunteer to raise $100 or more. It’s not mandatory but we  greatly appreciate their help! And they’ll make a huge impact on the region. Once you are registered, you will to see some of the easy-to-use resources we will provide to help in your online Headquarters (MY HQ)! So, if your team members agree, you could estimate your team goal at $100 x the number of volunteers on your team.

The two most important things to remember about fundraising are:

• People give to people they care about: your family, friends and co-workers will donate because Servathon and volunteerism are important to you.
• The #1 reason people donate is because you ask them.

So tell your team members not to be shy!

Q: Can I collect donations in the form of cash or checks, rather than through the www.servathon.org?

A: Yes, although we prefer that they use the website. If that’s not possible, we ask that people make their donations via check, and that you mail checks to us. Please do NOT send cash through the mail. Click here to print out our pledge form and mail your form and all checks to:

Greater DC Cares
ATTN: Servathon Manager
1156 15th St, NW Ste 840
Washington, DC 20005

If necessary, you may bring your form and any contributions to the Come As You Are After Party; please give them in a sealed envelope to a Greater DC Cares e staff member.

Q: Do my team members need to bring anything to the site?

A: Greater DC Cares provides all tools and supplies for the projects. We’ll provide a Servathon t-shirt when you check in at your project site. Please note that your team members MUST bring a photo I.D. for the Come As You Are After Party.

If your project is outdoors, you will, of course, want to wear weather-appropriate work clothes, including a long-sleeved shirt.

Q: What if one of my volunteers signs up for the wrong team or wants to switch teams?

A: No problem! The volunteer just needs to send an email to servathon@greaterdccares.org with the following information:

• Name
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• The name of the current team
• The name of the team he/she wants to switch to

Q: Can all my team members come to the after party?

A: Absolutely! All volunteers will receive an official Servathon t-shirt, which is their ticket to the party. Volunteers under 21 will not be able to drink alcoholic beverages. PLEASE NOTE: EVERYONE MUST BRING A PHOTO I.D.