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Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer handbook webinar

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Volunteer  Handbook    

       

                                 

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Table  of  Contents:    General  Information  ………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………  Page  3     Contacts  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  3     Emergency  #s  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  3     Parking  ……………………………………………………………………………………..…...…………………………………  Page  3  

Dress  Code  ………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….  Page  3  Representing  VBN  …….……………………………………………………………………………………………………….  Page  3  Ending  Volunteer  Services  …………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  3  Harassment  Policy  ………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………  Page  3  Smoking  Policy  ……………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………  Page  4  Solicitation  ……………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page4  Registration  Services  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page4  

Getting  Around  Buffalo  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  5  Taxi  Service  ……………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  5  Train  Stations  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….  Page  5  Car  Rentals  ……………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  6  Downtown  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  6  Airport  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  6  Bus/Rail/Thruway  Information  …………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  6  

 Stores/Shopping  …………..………..……………………….……………………………………………………………………………  Page  7  

Shopping  Malls  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  7  Downtown/Elmwood  ……………………..……………………………………………………………………………….    Page  8  Downtown  Markets  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….  Page  8  Amherst  ……………………..…………………….……………………………………………………………………………….Page  9  

What  To  Do  ………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  10  Festivals…………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  10  Live  Music  ……………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………  Page  10  Movie  Theatres  …………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  10  Banks  ……………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………….  Page  11  Coffee  ………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………….  Page  12  Entertainment  ……………………..………………………………………………………………………………………….  Page  13  Ice  Cream  ………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………….  Page  14  Parks  ……………………..……………………………………………………………………….……………………………….  Page  14  

Niagara  Falls  Information  ……………………..…………………………………………………….………………………………  Page  15     Niagara  Falls  Attractions…………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page16  

Directions  from  Buffalo  Niagara  Convention  Center  …………………….…………………………………  Page  17  Directions  from  Northtown  Center  ……………………..………………………….………………………………  Page  18  Directions  from  Buffalo  International  Airport………………………………………………………………….  Page  19  Notes  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..  Page  20  

   

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General  Information  Visit  Buffalo  Niagara  617  Washington  St  Suite  200  Buffalo,  NY  14203  716-­‐852-­‐2356  1-­‐800-­‐283-­‐3256  www.visitbuffaloniagara.com    Contacts  Cindy  Kincaide                716-­‐218-­‐2943      Cell  716-­‐445-­‐6114  Karen  Cox                                716-­‐218-­‐2925      Cell  716-­‐998-­‐1601  Tracy  Martell                    716-­‐218-­‐2934      Cell  716-­‐994-­‐6675  Jay  Josker                                716-­‐2182932        Cell  716-­‐983-­‐5499  *Note  these  are  personal  cell  phone  numbers,  please  do  not  give  out    In  case  of  an  emergency  call  911  Erie  County  Sheriff        716-­‐858-­‐7608  (non  emergency)  Poison  Control  Center        716-­‐878-­‐7654/1-­‐800-­‐888-­‐7655  US  Coast  Guard          716-­‐843-­‐9560    If  you  are  unable  to  make  your  shift,  please  call  your  VBN  contact.    Parking  Information:  

-­‐ VBN  will  reimburse  up  to  $5  for  parking  with  receipt  per  shift  worked.    Dress  Code:  

-­‐ Summer:  Black  or  khaki  pants,  long  shorts,  or  capris;  Buffalo  Ambassador  shirt;  name  tag  on  lanyard;  comfortable  shoes  

-­‐ Winter:  Black  or  khaki  pants;  Buffalo  Ambassador  shirt;  name  tag  on  lanyard;  comfortable  shoes;  dress  according  to  weather-­‐  name  tag  must  always  be  visible.      

 Representing  Visit  Buffalo  Niagara:  

-­‐ Ambassadors  are  only  authorized  to  act  as  a  representative  of  the  VBN  if  specifically  tasked  with  this  responsibility.    Please  consult  with,  and  receive  permission  from  your  VBN  contact  before  engaging  in  any  actions  which  may  affect  or  hold  the  organization  liable  including  but  not  limited  to,  public  statements  to  the  press,  signing  contracts  or  entering  into  financial  agreements,  or  lobbying  or  forming  partnerships  with  other  organizations.  

 Ending  Your  Volunteer  Service:  

-­‐ You  may  resign  from  your  volunteer  service  with  the  VBN  at  any  time.    We  request  that  you  notify  your  VBN  contact  ideally  two  weeks  prior  to  your  next  shift.      

 Policy  Against  Harassment:  

-­‐ Visit  Buffalo  Niagara  is  committed  to  maintaining  a  work  environment  free  of  unlawful  harassment.  The  VBN  policy  prohibits  harassment  based  on  sex  (including  sexual  harassment,  gender  harassment  and  harassment  due  to  pregnancy,  childbirth  or  related  medical  conditions)    

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and  harassment  based  on  race,  religion,  creed,  color,  national  origin  or  ancestry,  physical  or  mental  disability,  medical  condition,  marital  status,  age,  sexual  orientation  or  any  other  status  protected  by  federal  or  state  law  or  local  ordinance  or  regulation.    All  such  harassment  is  unlawful.  Visit  Buffalo  Niagara’s  policy  applies  to  all  persons  involved  in  the  operation  of  the  VBN  (both  employees  and  volunteers)  and  prohibits  unlawful  harassment  by  any  volunteer/employee  of  the  VBN  including  supervisors  and  co-­‐workers.  

-­‐ Examples  of  sexual  harassment  may  include,  but  are  not  limited  to:  o Physical,  unwelcome  touching;  o Verbal  conduct  such  as  epithets,  derogatory  jokes  or  comments,  slurs,  or  unwanted  sexual  

advances,  invitations  or  comments;  o Visual  conduct  such  as  derogatory  and/or  sexually  oriented  posters,  photography,  

cartoons,  drawings  or  gestures;  o Threats  and  demands  to  submit  to  sexual  requests  as  a  condition  of  continued  

employment,  or  to  avoid  some  other  loss,  and  offers  of  employment  benefits  in  return  for  sexual  favors;  

o Inappropriate  conduct  or  comments  consistently  targeted  at  only  one  gender,  even  if  the  content  is  not  sexual;  

o Retaliation  for  having  reported  or  threatened  to  report  sexual  harassment.  -­‐ This  behavior  is  unacceptable  in  the  workplace  itself  and  in  other  work-­‐related  settings.  

 Smoking:  

-­‐ In  response  to  New  York  State  laws  and  building  code,  smoking  is  not  permitted  indoors.  -­‐ If  coverage  allows,  you  may  go  outdoors  and  find  a  designated  smoking  area  to  smoke.  

 Solicitation:  

-­‐ Solicitation  by  non-­‐staff  members  for  any  reason  on  company  property  is  not  allowed.  Employees/volunteers  may  solicit  or  distribute  literature  of  Visit  Buffalo  Niagara  for  various  groups,  organizations  for  reasons  including  charitable  ones.  

 Registration  Services:  

-­‐ Visit  Buffalo  Niagara  provides  on  site  staff  for  conventions,  meetings,  and  tradeshows  when  requested.    Shifts  can  range  from  3-­‐8  hour  shifts.    Ambassadors  will  be  paid  from  the  time  they  report  to  duty  until  the  end  of  their  shift.    VBN  follows  New  York  State  guidelines  for  breaks.      

-­‐ All  time  sheets  must  be  signed  and  submitted  at  the  end  of  the  last  scheduled  work  day  and  be  turned  into  a  VBN  representative.  

-­‐ Prior  to  working  your  shift,  an  I-­‐9  form  must  be  filled  out  at  Visit  Buffalo  Niagara.      

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Niagara  Falls  Information    

Bridges:        *MUST  have  a  valid  passport,  enhanced  driver’s  license,  or  NEXUS  card  to  cross  the  border*    Information  on  traffic  delays  on  all  international  bridges  in  Buffalo  Niagara    (800)  715-­‐6722    Peace  Bridge,  Buffalo,  NY  716-­‐884-­‐6744  Authority  716-­‐885-­‐3367  US  Customs  www.Peacebridge.com    Rainbow/Queenston-­‐Lewiston/Whirlpool  Bridges,  Niagara  Falls,  NY  1-­‐800-­‐715-­‐6722  www.niagarafallsbridges.com    Canadian  Customs  at  Peace  Bridge    (905)  994-­‐6330  www.ccra-­‐adrc.gc.ca    Passport  Information:    Buffalo  Passport  Agency    111  Genesee  Street  Suite  101  Buffalo,  NY  14203  http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_5149.html      To  make  an  Appointment  call:  1-­‐877-­‐487-­‐2778    Appointment  Hours:    Mon,  Tues,  Thurs,  Fri  –  9:00  to  3:00  Wed  –  10:00  to  3:00  Excluding  Federal  Holidays