6. Why does "Email address provided is already in use by another user" appear when I try to register?

7. How do I change my password or email address?

8. Why do I need to remember another login and password?

9. Why do I get a message that says my account is restricted or I need to attend an orientation when I try to sign up for a project?

10. How do I get the contact information for a Project Leader?

11.How do I remove myself from a project I don't wish to or cannot attend?

12. Why does my volunteer history not list all the projects I've participated on?

13. When should I create a team using the new Volunteer Tampa Bay website?

14. How do I create a volunteer team?

15. How do I sign my team up for a project?

16. How do I update which team members will participate on individual projects my team is signed up for?

17. How do I update my team information and invite new team members?

18. Can I bring other people with me to a project and how do I sign them up? What about my children and/or spouse?

19. How do I find projects suitable for volunteers of different ages?

20. Who do I contact for help in using the Volunteer Tampa Bay website?

21. What if a project I want to sign-up for is full? Can I get on a wait-list?

22. How can my non-profit, school, or group list our volunteer needs on your site?

What are the advantages of using the Volunteer Tampa Bay website?
The website gives you anytime access to upcoming volunteer projects and allows you to search for projects based on issue served, geographic region and date. You can immediately find out if a project you're interested in still needs volunteers. You can quickly and easily sign up for projects and project details (including directions) are e-mailed to you immediately. You will receive a reminder e-mail before the project with a link to cancel if you're unable to attend. You can view and modify your personal information including contact information, skills and interests. You can easily view your volunteer and donation history.

How do I create a new website account?
Simply, click the "Register" button, complete all the required information indicated by an orange asterisk and click "Register Now" at the bottom of the page. In order to verify your e-mail address, you will receive an automatic e-mail asking you to click on the link provided to activate your account. If you do not click on this link, you will not be able to sign-up for any projects other than orientation. Once you've clicked on the link, volunteer orientation becomes optional, and not mandatory for you.

If I have multiple e-mail addresses, which e-mail do I use to login?
You may provide multiple e-mail addresses, but you may only have one primary (default) e-mail. Your default e-mail address is your login and the address to which you will receive communications from Volunteer Tampa Bay. Please e-mail hot@uwtb.org to find out what your default e-mail address is.

What if I've forgotten my password?
When you first created your account you were asked to pick a password. If you've forgotten yours, go to the log-in page at http://volunteertampabay.com and look for the "Forget your password" section in the gray area. Enter the email address associated with your account, and then click "Email Me My Password Now" (your password will be emailed immediately to you).

Why don't I receive system-generated e-mails (i.e., password request, registration or project confirmation)?
You may have a junk e-mail block set-up on your e-mail service. If you have a block configured, e-mails sent from the Volunteer Tampa Bay website may automatically go to your junk mail folder or be deleted. Please configure your e-mail account to allow you to receive messages from volunteertampabay.com.

Why does "Email address provided is already in use by another user" appear when I try to register?
This means you already have an account created and need to obtain your password to login. To do this, click on http://volunteertampabay.com and go to the "Forget your password" section in the gray area. Enter your email address and then click "Email Me My Password Now" (your password will be emailed immediately to you).

How do I change my password or email address?
After you login with the system-generated password you received via email, click "Personal Information" in the upper right-hand corner and then click "Email & Password." Make your changes and then click the "Update Information" button at the bottom of the screen.

Why do I need to remember another login and password?
You don't! When you login, simply click the box to the right of the login section titled "Save my password so I don't have to enter it again." The website will automatically log you in when you access it from the same computer.

Why do I get a message that says my account is restricted or I need to attend an orientation when I try to sign up for a project?
You may get this message if you have not activated your account by clicking the activation link that was sent to you by email. You'll be told that you must attend orientation. Look for the missing email, or call the HOT office at (813) 274-0999 during business hours. We can activate your account for you by the following business day. Your account may be missing some required personal information. You may update your personal information under the Member Center section once you have logged in. Be sure your date of birth and other required information is entered into your personal account information. Required fields are marked with an orange asterisk.

How do I get the contact information for a Project Leader?
After you sign up for a project, you will receive a confirmation e-mail that includes the phone number and/or e-mail address for the appropriate Project Leader (PL). If you have questions about a project, please sign yourself up for the project to get the PL's contact information. If you decide that you do not want to attend the project after communicating with the PL, simply remove yourself from the project.

How do I remove myself from a project I don't wish to or cannot attend?
Go to the Member Center, click on "My Projects" and then click "Remove Me" from any projects you are unable to attend. Please do this as early as possible so that your volunteer slot becomes available for other volunteers to fill.

Why does my volunteer history not list all the projects I've participated on?
Your volunteer history should include all the projects you've volunteered on since the new Volunteer Tampa Bay website was launched in May, 2006. Volunteer Tampa Bay makes every effort to insure that this information is complete and accurate. If there are any missing projects, please contact the Volunteer Tampa Bay office at (813) 274-0999.

When should I create a team using the new Volunteer Tampa Bay website?
If you have a group of people who want to volunteer together for projects, then you should create a team. A team can be as small as two people (i.e., parent and child) or can be larger for corporations, civic groups, places of worship or Girl Scout/Boy Scout troops. All teams have a designated team leader. The team section of the Volunteer Tampa Bay website makes it easy for the team leader to invite people to join the team, sign the team up for projects, manage team participation at projects and communicate with team members.

How do I create a volunteer team?
Click on Member Center on the left menu, and log-in using your email address and password. (If you're not already registered, you will need to go through the registration process to sign yourself up on the website.) Once logged in, click on the "Create a Volunteering Team" button on the member center page. You will be prompted to give your team a name, a brief description, and decide whether the team is open for the general public to join. If you want to make it easy for others to join your team, keep it open. Alternatively, you can choose to only allow team members you invite. When you create a team, you will need to provide the full names and either an email address or phone number of every person you would like to invite to be on your team. After you create a team, the system will automatically send an invitation to join your team via e-mail to all the people you have invited. To join the team, individual team members simply need to click the link provided in the e-mail to confirm their team membership. A team member may decide to remove themselves from the team at any time. Be sure to go through the entire process and click the FINISH button at the end. If you do not click FINISH, your invitations will not be sent and all the information will be lost.

How do I sign my team up for a project?
After you login and locate the project you are interested in, click "Sign My Team Up." When you sign up your team for a project, you will be able to select which individual team members will be participating on that project. All team members you select that have confirmed their participation on your team will receive a confirmation e-mail with details about the project including directions. The e-mail will also give a link to cancel if team members are unable to participate. If team members are invited, but not yet confirmed, they will not be able to receive email from the system yet. Therefore, you must take the responsibility that any invited, but not yet confirmed, team members know you've signed them up for the project. Be sure to call or email them personally, and if they are unable to attend, you must take the responsibility of removing them from your team's sign-up list.

How do I update which team members will participate on individual projects my team is signed up for?
Click "My Projects" in the Member Center and then click "Manage Team." Make your updates (marking who will and will not participate in the project) and then click "Update Team Signup" at the bottom of the page.

How do I update my team information and invite new team members?
Go to the "My Teams" section in the Member Center and click on your team name to modify the team information and invite new members. When you are done, click "Finish" to save your changes.

Can I bring other people with me to a project and how do I sign them up? What about my children and/or spouse?
In the best of all worlds, we prefer each volunteer to sign-up on the Volunteer Tampa Bay website with his or her own email address. Sometimes this is not possible. If your spouse does not have his or her own email address, you should phone or email the Project Leader and tell them you are bringing your spouse. The Project Leader will reserve space for them at the project and note it in the total volunteers on the website. Alternatively, you can create a family team and register your entire team. See "How do I create a volunteer team" above. Children under the age of 13 are unable to sign-up for projects on the website (Federal Law prohibits this). If the project is designated as Family or Kid-Friendly" then it is suitable for you to bring your children. You should sign yourself up on-line, and then must phone or email the project leader to tell them the names and ages of any children you are bringing along. The PL will reserve space for them at the project. You'll also need to fill out a separate, downloadable, Minor Consent Waiver for each minor child. A link to it is in every family-friendly project description. Please fill this out and bring it with you and your child to the project.

How do I find projects suitable for volunteers of different ages?
Volunteer Tampa Bay Projects are always suitable for volunteers age 18 and older. We also rate projects as:
Family Friendly ­ Children 5 and up accompanied by parents
Kid Friendly ­ Children 8 and up accompanied by parents
Teen Friendly ­ Kids 13 and up, who may attend without parents, but must bring a signed Minor Consent Waiver for a minor child.

To find projects suitable for one of these age groups, go to the project calendar page on the website, and use the drop-down menu "Filter by Project Attributes." Only projects that fit that age range will be displayed. Or, for a precise answer -- you can SEARCH based on a specific age: Click on Project Calendar in the left menu, and then the Search Project tab on that page. This will take you to the Search page. On the Search page click on Advanced Search. Click here to go directly to the advanced search. The last item on that page is Search for projects where a volunteeer is ___ years old can volunteer. Then click Search and you'll get a complete list of only those volunteer opportunities that are age appropriate.

Whom do I contact for help in using the Volunteer Tampa Bay website?
If you have any questions or need further assistance on using the Volunteer Tampa Bay website, please feel free to e-mail info@volunteertampabay.org or call 813-274-0999.