Volunteer Spotlight | Laura Cina Burrington of MRES
The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) is a
member-run, non-profit organization founded in 1978 to promote the use of, and
to engage in advocacy for, renewable energies in Minnesota through education
and the demonstration of practical applications. MRES is involved in education,
awareness, and advocacy efforts for all forms of renewable energy, with a
particular emphasis on solar technologies.
Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on Laura Cina Burrington, Managing Director of MRES, who uses VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets to coordinate volunteers.
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Tell us about your organization.
MRES is a member-run, volunteer-operated charitable non-profit organization dedicated to helping Minnesotans gain knowledge of and access to renewable energy technologies.
Our mission is to advance a sustainable society and a renewable energy economy through education, leadership, and by example.
Our vision is to be a key catalyst in advancing solar energy and in transforming Minnesota's energy landscape to embrace efficiency and sustainability.
Above all else, we believe in planning for the long term to preserve the commons for future generations, providing equitable access to renewable energy for all, effecting change through education and example, embodying excellence and positivity, honesty, science and truth, and perseverance.
How do you use volunteers?
Throughout the year, MRES presents renewable energy classes, workshops and events such as the Solar Boat Regatta, Minnesota Solar Tour, and the Eco Experience solar exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. We need volunteers to help out with all the events. Our biggest need is at the state fair, which runs for 12 days. We host a booth that requires 7 volunteers per four-hour shift, inside and outside. We have about 200 spots that we need to fill for this event.
Volunteers educate the public, keep the space clean, and restock brochures, and interact with fair-goers about solar and how it works in Minnesota, explain about our organization and our partners. This year, we added two new activities; a photo booth, and a kids area.
How did you find out about VolunteerSpot?
Another partner in the eco-building at the fair told us about it. It's been hard to find a system that worked, and since VolunteerSpot was recommended to us by another organization, we figured we'd give it a try.
In the past, volunteers had trouble logging in to other online sites we tried, and kept losing their passwords. So far, with VolunteerSpot, people have been signing up for the past three weeks and I have had NO questions about signing up! Many shifts are already filled…we put the link out there for the public access, so we have more people who can help out.
One thing I love about VolunteerSpot is that I don't have to send out reminders. VolunteerSpot automatically sends the reminders two days before the event, and people can send the information right to their calendar.
Do you have any advice for other volunteer leaders?
We do a training every year before people volunteer, and everyone loves it. Through the training classes, volunteers have the opportunity to network with other people, and they feel more prepared for their volunteer experience because they are not walking in blind. I recommend holding a training or some sort of get together prior to the event to make everyone feel more at ease.
I also encourage readers to support their local chapter of the American Solar Energy Society
We also plan to use VolunteerSpot for smaller events throughout the year like sustainability and college fairs.
We salute Laura and all the other volunteer leaders out there making a difference. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected].