Guiding Principles of SWAA Volunteerism

For volunteers of the SWAA when working on projects 

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  1. We believe that wellness leads to healthy communities.
  2. We believe that our community known as the SWAA, helps create a healthy environment in which individuals and communities are better able to enjoy spa and wellness activities.
  3. As an organization and sometimes as chapters, we plan wellness community-based activities such as support groups, and other networking events, which bring us together.
  4. We trust in the inherent wisdom of wellness. We do our best to meet their needs, guiding them on their terms not ours.
  5. We care deeply for our community and engage in activities which reflect such human caring.
  6. We believe that, as volunteers, self-care, self-awareness, and self-compassion as well as ongoing education are crucial to our community’s well-being. Thus, we commit to strive toward good self-care and ongoing educational opportunities when available to us.
  7. We strive to offer uniquely individualized support that creates healing environments for our clients. We are not constricted by rigid guidelines or rules which do not, ultimately, result in best care practices.
  8. If we have a concern or complaint about another volunteer or leader in the group, we first approach that person with kindness; if we cannot resolve our issue, we will work together to seek council from trusted leaders within the organization; we will ask ourselves before we speak: Is this kind? Is this necessary? Does this improve upon the silence? Is it being said with love or with anger? And we will not speak of the experience with others in such a way that it promotes gossip or in any way undermines the value and worth of the other person.
  9. We recognize the efforts of many other volunteers, just like us, and their tireless labor of love and grief. Thus, we invite you to remember to express gratitude to others within the organization for this beautiful work which we are all privileged to do and to exercise patience at all times. We are doing the best we can with the resources we have. Imagine, for a moment, if we heard that the person we are aggravated with- or the person we dislike- or the person who frustrates us- died today. Imagine how it would feel to leave the relationship in this way. This feeling is an invitation to mindfully adjust the ways in which we choose to think about, experience, and treat others.
  10. We are here to behave in ways which honor all our children. When we fail to meet the guidelines of these principles, and we will fail because we are human, we accept responsibility for our actions and we offer a sincere apology to those we have hurt; When someone apologizes to us for hurting us, we accept their apology with grace; We are part of an unwilling community of brothers and sisters here to embrace and manifest their collective legacy. Guided by the ethics of human compassion, we serve, we care, we nurture, we exude kindness. Above all things, be love.

TERMS OF VOLUNTEERING

I understand that the role for which I am volunteering requires the following:  
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  1. Volunteer training, which I will complete within given time …………….of acceptance.
  2. If I have not completed training within the given time frame, I understand I will be removed from “active volunteer status.” Return to active status will be at the discretion of the volunteer coordinator.
  3. Additional ongoing “continuing education” is offered. We request that all volunteers make an effort to attend these additional trainings when possible.
  4. That I will respond to any contact from my volunteer coordinator within 72 hours.
  5. If I do not respond, I understand I will be removed from “active volunteer status.” Return to active status will be at the discretion of the volunteer coordinator.
  6. I understand (Facilitators) that I am expected to communicate with the interChapter home office of the SWAA within a reasonable period of time should they initiate contact with me. If I do not, I understand that my support group’s status may be revoked and my information may be removed from the website.
  7. If I am unable to fulfill any or all of my role for any length of time, I will notify my volunteer coordinator. Volunteers who request to be moved to “inactive status” can return as active volunteers whenever ready.
  8. That I understand that confidentiality must be maintained at all times. Confidential information should not be shared via regular email, Facebook, other social media platforms, or with anyone outside of the SWAA  .
  9. That I will be given a SWAA email address. To maintain help confidentiality, contact with members and other volunteers should be made through that SWAA email.
  10. That I understand personal boundaries are important and I am willing and able to set them for myself and respect those set by members and other volunteers.
  11. That I understand that our members and volunteers information is sensitive. Any concerns I have can and should be discussed with my volunteer coordinator at any time.

VOLUNTEER CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

WHEREAS, the SWAA is a nonprofit corporation chartered under the law of  Mauritius; and WHEREAS, SWAA is not limited to the borders of the Mauritius; and WHEREAS, the Volunteer is desirous of advancing the SWAA in Mauritius and othercountries than Mauritius ; and WHEREAS, SWAA is governed by certain legal and moral restrictions on its nonprofit activities, and SWAA owns certain property, both physical and intellectual, some of which is protected by copyright and some of which is not; NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto enter into the following agreement;  

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  • That the Volunteer is provided a SWAA Training Program.
  • That the SWAA allows said SWAA Volunteer to use the SWAA name and logo for any and all SWAA business, but only for SWAA business.
  • That the Volunteer shall provide support services to the best of its ability to the target population of its selected service area.
  • SWAA agrees to provide support to the Volunteer in the form of technical assistance and training in providing SWAA services. At the discretion of SWAA, such assistance may or may not include financial contribution.
  • That the Volunteer recognizes that the value of the SWAA services and the SWAA name are dependent upon the quality of the services provided and that Volunteer agrees to do nothing that may tend to detract from the value or reputation of SWAA.
  • That the Volunteer shall not speak with members of the press, submit a letter to the editor, or otherwise participate in any media contact regarding SWAA without the prior express written approval of the Chief Executive Officerof SWAA.
  • That the Volunteer shall not conduct fundraising activities on behalf of SWAA without the prior express written approval of the SWAA Chapter. If SWAAChapter provides Volunteer with prior approval, the Volunteer shall retain all records of all fundraising activities including all contact information of donors, dates and amount of donations and, unless prior arrangements have been made, immediately provide all funds to SWAA, at Head office in Mauritius or another address as may be specified by SWAAChapter. If prior arrangements are made for the receipt of the aforementioned documents, send to the ChapterSWAA with detailed descriptions of how the funds were used. Failure to do so may result in litigation against the SWAA by the Internal Revenue Service. If any litigation occurs due to the Volunteer’s action, conduct or negligence, Volunteer shall indemnify and hold harmless the SWAA for any damages, taxes, penalties and interest associated with such action.
  • That, unless previous arrangements have been made, any money received by the Volunteer specifically for support services shall be accounted for and immediately delivered to SWAA, Head Office in Mauritius or another address as may be specified by SWAA.
  • Additional financial terms between SWAA and the Volunteer may be arranged by separate agreement.
  • At any time, SWAA may request the Volunteer to provide an accounting of any and all funds and in-kind donations collected or spent by the Volunteer relating to SWAA activities. Said accounting shall be audited and conform to generally accepted accounting principles.
  • The nature of the services to be performed by Volunteer for SWAA may require SWAA to disclose confidential and proprietary information to the Volunteer. “Confidential Information”, for purposes of this agreement, includes any information of any kind, nature, or description concerning any matters affecting or relating to Volunteer’s services for SWAA, including but not limited to SWAA’s curricula, business operations, processes, staff, clients, client families, volunteers, donors, suppliers, products, services, business plans, methods of operation, manner of service delivery, fund raising information and other financial information, as well as any and all SWAA intellectual property.
  • The Volunteer recognizes that SWAA Confidential Information is proprietary and in the sole property of SWAA. The Volunteer agrees to keep such Confidential Information in the strictest of confidence and shall not disclose any Confidential Information until and unless Volunteer receives the prior express written consent of SWAA to do otherwise. Confidential Information shall only be used for the purposes of performing services as a Volunteer to the SWAA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent Volunteer from providing services as described in paragraph 4, or to otherwise advance the SWAA Chapter.
  • Volunteer will, upon the request of or termination of its relationship with SWAA, deliver to SWAA any paper or electronic drawings, notes, documents, equipment and/or materials received from SWAA or originating from the activities for SWAA, including, but not limited to Confidential Information. This includes all client/family information, photographs and correspondence. At no time is the Volunteer eligible to personally retain any funds or in-kind donations secured while in service to the SWAA.
  • SWAA retains exclusive rights to all creative work, including business plans, curriculum or other creative work designed and created by or on behalf of SWAA by Volunteer, and/or received by Volunteer, while performing services for SWAA.
  • SWAA reserves the right to take any action, up to and including termination of Volunteer for violations of this agreement. Additionally, if Volunteer violates any of the terms of this agreement, SWAA may enforce this agreement by means of an injunction, restraining order, money damages and any other available legal remedy. Volunteer agrees to pay all attorney’s fees and costs incurred by SWAA in pursuing enforcement of this agreement.
  • This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of  Mauritius, and the jurisdiction and venue for any litigation involving this agreement shall be in any court of the Mauritiusor a Federal District Court located within Mauritius.
  • Any waiver by SWAA with respect to any breach or violation of this agreement or of any provision hereof by Volunteer shall not be deemed as or operate as a waiver of any subsequent breach or violation.
  • This agreement shall not be modified, amended, or supplemented except in writing signed and dated by both Volunteer and SWAA.
  • The provisions of this agreement are severable and if any one or more of the provisions may be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision (or portion thereof) shall be amended so as to be enforceable. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this agreement shall not affect the other provisions and this agreement shall be construed in all respects as if any invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted.