Volunteer With ASI

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Share Your Skills. Preserve Our Heritage. Help Build What Comes Next.

 

Building a nonprofit takes people with many kinds of knowledge, experience, and dedication.

 

ASI is developing a volunteer initiative to support its educational mission, preserve Portuguese and Cape Verdean maritime heritage, strengthen its organizational foundations, and advance the refit of S/V American Saudade.

 

Some contributions may involve research or writing from home. Others may involve photography, administration, community outreach, or carefully supervised work aboard the vessel. A well-organized file, a translated caption, a researched grant opportunity, or a documented maintenance task can each make a meaningful difference.

 

You do not need to be a mariner or historian to contribute. You need an interest in the mission and a willingness to work responsibly with others.

 

A Developing Initiative

 

ASI is a young organization building its programs and capacity step by step.

 

This page identifies areas where volunteer assistance could support that growth. It is an invitation to express interest—not a statement that every position is currently open or that every activity is ready to begin.

 

Assignments will depend on project readiness, supervision, resources, qualifications, and appropriate legal and insurance review. Some responsibilities may require paid professionals or contractors.

 

Where Your Skills Can Make a Difference

Administration and Organizational Development

 

Help establish the practical systems that allow ASI to operate consistently and responsibly.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Administrative assistance and correspondence

• Meeting preparation, scheduling, and minutes

• Records organization and document management

• Volunteer coordination and orientation

• Project planning and progress tracking

• Policy research and procedure development

• Committee support and succession planning

• Equipment inventories and purchasing research

 

Board and officer positions follow separate appointment procedures and responsibilities. A volunteer assignment does not automatically confer organizational authority.

 

Marketing, Advertising, and Communications

Help people discover ASI’s mission and understand its developing work.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Communications planning and audience research

• Social media content and scheduling

• Newsletters and email communications

• Press releases and media outreach

• Graphic design and promotional materials

• Advertising research and campaign planning

• Website copy and educational storytelling

• Community engagement and event publicity

• Translation and accessible communication

 

Public statements, advertising expenditures, and use of ASI’s name or branding will require approval.

 

Fundraising, Grants, and Development

Help ASI prepare for sustainable support of its charitable and educational activities.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Grant research and opportunity tracking

• Proposal drafting and supporting documentation

• Project budgets and funding narratives

• Sponsorship and institutional prospect research

• Donor communications and acknowledgment support

• Campaign planning and event development

• In-kind equipment and professional-service outreach

• Grant reporting and deadline tracking

 

Fundraising activities will begin only with authorization and appropriate compliance review. Volunteers may not independently solicit money, promise tax benefits, sign agreements, or receive contributions through personal accounts on ASI’s behalf.

 

Finance, Accounting, and Accountability

Help build reliable financial records and transparent reporting.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Receipt organization and expense documentation

• Bookkeeping assistance under approved supervision

• Budget preparation and project cost tracking

• Donation-record administration

• Financial reporting support

• Internal-control and purchasing-procedure development

• Compliance-calendar organization

 

Access to financial systems will be limited to approved duties. Payments and commitments require designated authorization. Professional accounting, tax, and assurance services must be handled by appropriately qualified people.

 

Research, Archives, and Historical Collections

Help preserve the evidence and stories that make heritage meaningful.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Historical and maritime research

• Source identification and bibliography development

• Fact-checking and editorial review

• Archival scanning and cataloging

• Collection descriptions and metadata

• Family Albums research and photograph identification

• Oral-history preparation and transcription

• Portuguese and Kriolu translation

• Permissions and provenance documentation

• E-Library and Book Store research

• Digitization, backup, and preservation planning

 

Research contributors will be expected to distinguish evidence from interpretation, identify uncertainty, credit sources, and respect copyright and access restrictions.

 

Education and Program Development

Help turn research and experience into accessible learning.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Educational articles and lesson materials

• NAV 360 and 360-DEEP™ content development

• Maritime science and engineering explanations

• Lecture, interview, and discussion planning

• Virtual classroom and webinar support

• Student resources and educator outreach

• Program evaluation and participant feedback

• Accessibility and multilingual learning materials

Activities involving children or vulnerable participants will require additional safeguards before assignments begin.

 

Photography, Video, and Creative Production

Help document ASI’s work and share its stories.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Vessel-refit and event photography

• Archival image preparation

• Restoration or colorization with contributor approval

• Video recording and editing

• Audio recording, narration, and sound editing

• Captions, subtitles, and transcripts

• Interview production and documentary planning

• Media cataloging and rights management

 

Photographers and editors must respect consent, privacy, and historical accuracy. Permission to document an activity does not automatically authorize every future use of the resulting material.

 

Website Development and Technology

Help make ASI’s digital resources useful, accessible, and dependable.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Wix page development and maintenance

• Mobile layout and navigation review

• Accessibility improvements

• Search engine optimization

• Forms and approved integrations

• Website testing and content organization

• Analytics and performance reporting

• Account security and access management

• Digital backups and technical documentation

 

ASI will use individual access permissions wherever practical. Volunteers should not share passwords, install unapproved services, or publish changes without authorization.

 

Community Outreach and Partnerships

Help develop respectful relationships across communities and institutions.

 

Potential contributions include:

• Museum, school, and library outreach

• Maritime organization and veterans’ outreach

• Community-event coordination

• Translation and cultural liaison work

• Partnership research and meeting preparation

• Volunteer recruitment

• International project planning

• Development support for future initiatives

 

Introductions and proposals do not constitute confirmed partnerships. Only authorized representatives may make commitments on ASI’s behalf.

 

Help Refit S/V American Saudade

Refitting ASI’s sailing vessel offers opportunities to apply practical skills while helping document a developing maritime education project.

 

Potential assistance may include:

• Refit planning, scheduling, and cost research

• Parts identification and equipment inventories

• Maintenance records and technical documentation

• Cleaning and approved surface preparation

• Woodworking and interior restoration

• Mechanical and marine engineering consultation

• Electrical and renewable-energy planning

• Rigging and sail-system assessment

• Navigation and communications-system research

• Safety-equipment inventories

• Photography and educational documentation

 

Vessel assignments will be matched to demonstrated competence and the level of risk involved.

 

Electrical work, fuel systems, structural repairs, lifting, rigging, hot work, hazardous materials, confined spaces, work aloft, and similar activities require specific approval, suitable supervision, and qualified personnel. Certain tasks will be reserved for professional contractors.

 

Before hands-on work begins, ASI must confirm site permission, applicable coverage, safe access, protective equipment, emergency arrangements, and task-specific procedures.

 

Anyone may stop work and report an unsafe condition. Volunteering on the refit does not automatically qualify someone for a voyage, sea trial, or crew position; those opportunities require separate selection and preparation.

 

How Participation Will Work

 

ASI intends to use a straightforward process:

1. Express interest. Tell us which areas interest you, your relevant experience, and your availability.

2. Discuss a suitable assignment. Together, identify a manageable task with a clear purpose.

3. Complete appropriate screening. References, credentials, or background checks may be required according to the role.

4. Agree on responsibilities. Confirm the assignment, supervisor, schedule, permissions, and expected outcome.

5. Receive orientation. Review conduct, confidentiality, safety, reporting, and relevant procedures.

6. Review progress. Check what is working, address difficulties, and adjust the assignment when needed.

 

Opportunities may be remote, local, occasional, or project-based. Volunteers may decline assignments or end their participation, with reasonable notice where possible to support an orderly handover.

 

What Volunteers Can Expect From ASI

 

As the initiative develops, ASI intends to provide:

• Clear assignments and realistic expectations

• A designated point of contact

• Orientation and appropriate supervision

• Respectful communication

• Access to the information needed for approved tasks

• A process for raising concerns

• Recognition consistent with the volunteer’s preferences

• Honest communication about organizational capacity

 

Volunteer participation will not carry a promise of future employment, travel, certification, or reimbursement.

What ASI Expects From Volunteers

 

Volunteers will be asked to:

• Treat others with courtesy and respect

• Work within their approved assignment and competence

• Communicate changes in availability

• Protect confidential and personal information

• Follow safety instructions and report incidents promptly

• Disclose relevant conflicts of interest

• Respect copyright, consent, and source attribution

• Obtain approval before spending or making commitments

• Return records, equipment, and account access when an assignment ends

• Avoid presenting personal opinions as official ASI positions

 

Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, misuse of funds, and unsafe conduct are incompatible with the program. ASI may pause or end an assignment when conduct, safety, or operational concerns require it.

 

Responsible Participation and Legal Preparation

 

ASI will develop written role descriptions and volunteer agreements before activating assignments. These will explain the voluntary nature of participation, responsibilities, confidentiality, expenses, permissions, and relevant risks.

 

Calling a position “volunteer” does not by itself determine its legal status. ASI will review the actual duties and circumstances, including distinctions between charitable service, employment, internships, professional services, and commercial activities.

 

Book Store or Ship’s Store operations, compensated arrangements, and similar activities require particular review before being offered as unpaid assignments.

 

ASI will also review insurance based on the activity. ASI will not assume that volunteers are automatically covered by workers’ compensation, personal insurance, or a general liability policy. Risk acknowledgments do not replace safe procedures, appropriate coverage, or legal responsibilities.

 

Expenses and Professional Services

Expenses must be approved in advance if reimbursement is expected, with receipts and records submitted under the agreed procedure. Volunteers should not assume that ASI can repay purchases made without authorization.

 

Donated professional services may require a separate agreement, verification of credentials, and appropriate professional coverage.

 

Students and Younger Volunteers

Student participation will be developed through suitable supervision and, where appropriate, coordination with schools and parents or guardians.

 

Assignments must suit the participant’s age and experience. Hazardous vessel work will not be treated as an informal student activity. Academic credit depends on the participating institution, and any future paid role will be arranged separately.

 

Research, Images, and Creative Work

Before publishing volunteer-created material, ASI and the contributor will agree on ownership or licensing, credit, permissions, and permitted uses.

 

Participation will not be treated as automatic permission to use a volunteer’s photograph or personal story in publicity.

 

Building the Initiative Step by Step

ASI’s preparation priorities include:

• Appointing a volunteer coordinator

• Identifying a manageable first group of assignments

• Developing role descriptions and orientation materials

• Establishing conduct, confidentiality, and reporting procedures

• Reviewing legal status, insurance, and vessel-work safeguards

• Preparing permissions and expense arrangements

• Creating secure records and access controls

• Beginning with a small group and learning from experience

 

The program will grow as ASI’s ability to support volunteers grows.

ACTA NON VERBA

Deeds, Not Words.

 

Preserving heritage and building an institution require practical contributions, made consistently and with care.

 

Whether you offer a few hours, a professional skill, a historical insight, or assistance with a defined project, your contribution can help ASI move forward.

 

Bring your experience. Share your curiosity. Help build something that future generations can use.

 

Take the First Step

Contact ASI with your areas of interest, relevant skills, approximate availability, and whether you prefer remote or local participation.

 

Please do not send identification documents, background-check records, or sensitive personal information through an initial inquiry.

 

Explore Related Pages

• Current Projects — See where ASI is developing its work.

• S/V American Saudade — Follow the vessel and refit.

• SubSafe to SailSafe — Explore the safety principles informing the project.

• NAV 360 — Contribute maritime, naval, scientific, and engineering knowledge.

• 360-DEEP™ — Support research and informed inquiry.

• Family Albums — Help preserve photographs and family stories.

• Education — Assist with learning resources and outreach.

• Partnerships — Explore institutional collaboration.

• Transparency Policy — Review ASI’s accountability commitments.

• Privacy Policy — Learn how personal information is handled.

• Contact Us — Express interest in volunteering.