Guidelines for Short Term Volunteers at Solborg
1.
“Co-worker meeting”
This meeting is every second Tuesday. All co-workers must attend – if you do
not attend you must notify the leader of the meeting. It is at this meeting that questions
concerning these guidelines can be raised.
The meeting is the place where issues affecting all co-workers must be
discussed.
2.
“Landsbyrĺd” (Village Council)
This is the group of long term coworkers at Solborg
who are committed to the well being and development of Solborg. This group delegates functions and
responsibilities at Solborg.
3.
“Coworker mandate group”
This group, chosen by the Landsbyrĺd, meets at least
every second week and manages all general affairs relating to coworkers
including money issues. This group is
responsible for seeing that these guidelines are functioning and in cases of
breach the place where individuals will be asked to explain why. You may approach one of the members of this
group for advice as to how to bring a matter to this group.
4.
“Ledergruppen” (Management Team)
This group, chosen by the Landsbyrĺd, meets every Monday. This group is legally responsible for Solborg.
5.
Language
Coworkers must, to the best of their ability, speak Norwegian in the
presence of the Villagers. Foreign co-workers
must attend the Norwegian course for
the first year.
6.
Free time
In the first year coworkers get one
free half a day a week from 13.30 until 07.00 the next day or from 22.00 until
13.00 the next day – this free time must be agreed with your workshop
leader and house responsible person.
Some free time on the weekends is
also usually available – speak with the person responsible for your house.
Coworkers may take one free weekend
per month. This begins 17.30 on Friday
until 07.00 Monday. It is possible to
combine this with a free half day.
7. Holidays
Coworkers may take 4 weeks holiday a year. Holidays accrue 1 week after each 3 month
period.
All holidays must
first be approved by your workshop leader and your house responsible person it
should then be notified to the person with the overall work coordination for
final approval. They should also be
mentioned at the co-worker meeting.
8.
Alcohol and Drugs
The drinking of alcohol at Solborg
is generally not an accepted practice and you must never be under the influence of alcohol when
working. Only those drugs which have been prescribed for your use by your
doctor are allowed. The smoking of tobacco is not allowed in the buildings (with
minor exceptions) and may also not be acceptable when you are working but this
varies from one workshop to another.
9. Music
Music from electronic devices must not
be played in working situations with villagers present. Such music must not be played in common areas
without first asking the person responsible in the house.
10.
Training
All new co-workers must take part in the Introduction Year Seminar which
offers a theoretical and practical insight into Camphill and Anthroposophy.
With the exception, where
applicable, of EVS seminars, all other seminars must be considered to be on your free time. This means that if you wish to attend other
seminars for example on a weekend – this must be considered to be your free
weekend.
11.
Solborg Hytte
The cabin is available for use by all co-workers and,
upon agreement by the Co-worker meeting, their guests. If you want to reserve the Hytte you must ask
the person responsible for the Hytte.
The Hytte has rules for use - including how to use the toilet and what
to do upon leaving the Hytte - this information is found in the entrance hall
of the Hytte. It is expected that guests
give a small contribution for their use of the cabin of 100 kroner per night or
other contribution acceptable to the person responsible for the cabin.
.
12. Television
The Management Group of Solborg must approve the use of televisions
at Solborg to view live broadcast television.
The use of the television in Olav Salen for any
purpose is not permitted during events
on the Solborg program or when the hall is otherwise being used by groups. It should also be noted that the television
must not be used from 4 pm Saturday to 12 pm Sunday on weekends where there is
Offering Service (“Handling”) on the program.
13.
Computer
There are computers free for use by co-workers in many
of the houses. These computer are to be
used primarily for sending and receiving email. Each house should make arrangements for how
the computer is shared. In the absence
of such arrangements the general rule is that if someone else asks to use the
computer you are using you must not spend more than 15
minutes more on the computer.
14. Guests
You may invite guests to come to solborg if you ask the
person responsible in your house.
However if a coworker invites more than 2 guests at a time or if the guests
wish to stay more than 4 days the guests will be expected to contribute by
casual work (or make other acceptable contribution) and must be referred to the co-worker
meeting or the coworker mandate group for approval.
15.
Leaving Solborg
You
should give preferably three months but must give at least one month’s
notice before you leave solborg.
Solborg
can require that you leave immediately, after discussing the matter with you, if
you breach these guidelines seriously or consistently– but otherwise must give
you three months notice.
16.
Money
As a new
coworker you receive the following benefits:
ź NOK 1800 each month pocket money
ź Public Transport allowance of up to 400 Kroner per month
(on production of receipts) or use of the collective bus card.
ź Long distance (within
ź NOK 3000 for each year holiday money (this becomes
proportionally payable after co-workers have been here for six months)
ź Travel costs to return home (maximum kr 2000) by the
cheapest form of transport (organised by Solborg) if you stay
at Solborg for one year.
ź Emergency medical expenses or other medical expenses
first approved by the coworker mandate group.
ź Emergency dental expenses
ź The use of a Norwegian dictionary - a Bible - Seminar
books
ź Free entrance to all cultural activities where villagers
attend.
ź Free entrance to the cinema if you personally
accompany a villager - the villager must have the “Ledsager bevis” card with
their photo on it with them)
ź All your food supplied in the houses and basic
toiletries - a towel - sheets etc.
ź you must bring adequate working clothes (including
shoes/boots) for one year and winter clothes but if they get damaged (ie so that you can’t work in
them) we can in exceptional circumstances pay for a new set - or find something
for you to wear.
ź you can get a refund of tollgate charges to and from
ź You may (after qualifying) drive the car to
17. Tax
Unless otherwise agreed on induction at Solborg -
Solborg will take full responsibility for your taxation. If you must pay a tax bill or if you get a tax
cheque these are for Solborg to deal with - not you. In this regard you agree (unless otherwise
excluded at induction) that the Solborg has the right to open all letters from
the tax office in your name - and sign any tax cheques on your behalf.
18.
Telephone/fax/Mail
All co-workers must pay for all private use of the
fax at the office, for all private post and for private long distance telephone
calls. Those responsible in the house
may require you to provide a deposit for your phone bill toward the end of your
stay at Solborg.
19.
“Allmřte og Landsbymřte”
These village meeting occur every second week and all new
coworkers are expected to attend.
20. “Handling”
It should be respected that the hall is not available
for use the before a service. New
coworkers are not expected to attend the services, with the exception that it
may be necessary in order to assist the villagers in attending.
21. “Samling”
It should be respected that activities taking place in
the hall begin promptly at the time agreed.
If you come late the door to the hall may be locked.
22. “Spill”
New coworkers are expected to participate in the plays
at Solborg however they are not required to do so.
23. Bible Evening
New coworkers are expected to participate in the Bible
Evening however they are not required to
do so.
24.
Activities in
General
If a new coworker consistently over
time does not participate in the common activities at Solborg the Coworker
Mandate, group after discussing this issue with the coworker, may ask the
coworker to leave Solborg.
25. The Villagers
As social service providers we
provide care for the villagers in their physical and social needs. We do not nor are we in fact permitted by law
to force the villagers to do anything.
We can make specific agreements with the villagers concerning their
conduct etc. Additionally we are not
legally permitted to stop villagers from going wherever they want.
As a general rule one can expect
that at least one coworker must be “conscious” of a house in which villagers
are left alone for extedend periods of time.
The person responsible in a house will describe to you what this means
in relation to the house you are connected to or the villagers in your house.
On induction to Solborg you must sign a “Declaration of Confidentiality”. This declaration states (in brief) that you
will not discuss any matter relating to the villagers except with other people
who have signed such a declaration.
26.
Exceptions – Disputes etc
At any time if you consider these guidelines are not
reasonable or if you wish to make a specific exception you should make a point
at the co-worker meeting or refer the matter to the coworker mandate group.
If you do something (or fail to do something)
expressed in these guidelines and a potential conflict arises the procedure for
solving the dispute is as follows:
·
you choose a
member of the Lansbyrĺd to accompany you to a meeting with the person with whom
the potential conflict has arisen
·
this group
discusses the problem and has the authority to resolve the dispute.
·
If the problem
continues or in the case of serious conflicts the matter should be referred to
the coworker mandate group.
Specific
Guidelines for Car use.
·
All co-workers
with a licence valid for driving in
ź Where there is a garage available cars at Alm must be
parked in the garage at all times after use.
The cars at Solborg must be parked in the garages available.
ź Drivers must not leave the keys in the car and must
ensure all the doors of the car are locked after use.
ź The driver must fill out the log book in the car after
each use - including the date, the amount of kms shown on the odometer, the
amount of kms they drove, where they drove to, which house or workshop is
responsible for the expense and they must write down their name
ź Drivers must take out any garbage which accumulated in
the car during their use of the car.
ź Cars with less than half a tank of fuel must be filled
up. You can refill the tank at the Esso
Benzin station at Hřnefoss or Jevnaker or any other Esso station by using the
card contained in the key holder. If you
need to refill in another gas station you can use cash and on presentation of
the receipt at the office (signed by you and noting which car) you can receive
a refund for the money.
·
Remember to hang
up the keys after using the cars in the right place - not your pocket.
·
All damage or
defects in the cars must be notified to the person responsible for the car in
question immediately. Any accident must
be reported in the official damage report to be signed by both drivers. This is
required by law, but those who find difficulties with the Norwegian language
may ask for this to be done at the Solborg office with both drivers present. In
the event of any doubt please call the Solborg office before signing anything.
Damage and accidents must be reported also to the Management Group, and the
driver responsible will be invited to share his or her description of the
incident with the meeting.
ź You must write down the use of the car on the white
board at Olav Salen before every use.
Write down clearly the time you will take the car, when you will bring
it back, where you will drive and who you are.
ź If the car breaks
down ring Solborg and try and contact the person responsible - if you can’t get
help you should ring the number for NAF - who can come and try and get it
started or tow it away if necessary. The
number for NAF is on the Dashboard of the car.
ź The trailer must also be written down on the white
board - you must also remember to take the registration papers for the trailer
when you use it - they are with the person responsible for the trailer. You should check with the person responsible
for the cars whether your licence permits the use of the trailer.
·
You must not
smoke in the cars.
·
Do not take any
of the tools or equipment out of the cars.
·
Speeding,
parking an any other fines must be paid by the driver. Please note that parking
expenses are paid for by the village, so no money is saved by illegal parking.
Speeding is a heavy crime in
·
Drinking and
driving don’t mix in
·
Our cars are a
shared resource and a big test of our ability to function as a community.
Respect the car board, write out your car needs and stick to them. Return your
car when you promised to, the next driver may be trying to catch a flight! Put
the keys back where they are supposed to be. It does not help if the car is
there and the keys are gone. It is suggested that you never put them in your
pocket, keep them in your hand until you have put them back.
·
If you want to
take a car overnight you must talk to the car responsible. If you want to take
a longer trip of more than a day, you must take it up at a coworker mandate meeting,
at a co-worker meeting or the management group meeting. We want to avoid a situation where there are
no cars in the village.
·
You must not drive cars between Solborg and Alm. The only exceptions to this rule are to be
handled by the management group.
·
If a driver
breaches these guidelines in a serious manner or consistently breaches these
guidelines or causes serious damage to a car their driving priviliges may, at
the discretion of the Coworker mandate Group, be restricted.