VOLUNTEER APPLICATION Please return to: Paper Houses Across the Border, PO Box 604, Houston, TX 77001-0604

Date: _____________________ Personal Information

ARE YOU AGE 18 OR OVER? (YES / NO) IF NO, YOUR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN MUST SIGN THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION, THE YOUTH VOLUNTEER AUTHORIZATION AND LIABILITY RELEASE , AND THE YOUTH VOLUNTEER INFORMATION FORM PRIOR TO SERVICE.

Name: ____________________________________________________ Birth Date: ________________

Street Address: _____________________________________________ City: _____________________

State: ____ Postal Code: ________________ Email Address: __________________________________

Home Phone: _________________________ Mobile or Work Phone: ____________________________

Reference: ___________________________ Phone: ____________________ Relationship: _________

Emergency: __________________________ Phone: ____________________ Relationship: _________

Have you been convicted of a felony? (Yes / No) If Yes, please explain ___________________________

How did you learn of Paper Houses Across ? ______________________________________________ If you are volunteering through church, school, business or other agency, please list organization name:

____________________________________________________________________________________

Qualifications

Education/Training: ____________________________________________________________________

Employment: ________________________________________________________________________

Volunteer Service: ____________________________________________________________________

Skills/Hobbies: _______________________________________________________________________

Languages: _________________________________________________________ Speak / Read / Write

Volunteer Interests (Please check all that apply).

Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc.

Edit Web Site

Convert Web to Spanish

Telephone Mission Participants

Data Entry

Write Story About Your Mission Trip

Edit and Rename Photos

Create Photo Displays

Distribute Materials Organize Yard Sale Host Home Presentation

Copy web pages to MS Word, edit the pages, E-mail edited pages to Paper Houses.

Copy web pages to MS Word, re-write pages in Spanish, E-mail edited pages to Paper Houses. This is a large undertaking, but once the Spanish version is complete - the only thing needed will be updates each month that will probably be a few new stories or a few lines on each page of the site.

Telephone up to 30-people to remind them about mission issues

If you have a PC with Excel - you can help by entering information into a spreadsheet.

Write a 500 word story about you mission experience with Paper Houses.

Hundreds of photos each month need to be edited and renamed using our naming rules.

Create photo poster boards and electronic shows of our photographs.

Volunteer Agreement

Volunteer Signature________________________________________ Date: ________

Parent/Legal Guardian Signature _____________________________ Date: ________

I have read the Mission, Purpose, Goals, Values and Objective statements of Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. and will conduct myself in compliance with those statements. I will not make any political statements while representing Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. or make any statements not in compliance with the Mission, Purpose, Values, Goals or Objectives of Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. I agree to maintain the confidentiality of all information received and will not disclose the names or personal information of donors, recipients, volunteers that are revealed to me during my service as a volunteer. I will not share or use photographs received as a result of my volunteer activities unless authorized by Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. I will not provide information or interviews without the written authorization of the Director of Paper Houses, Inc. I will not make promises or statements not expressly authorized by Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. I have studied the web site and understand that the public will expect me to answer questions about the organization. I will answer the questions and explain that I am a volunteer and suggest that the people visit the web site and EMAIL the director for more detailed information or clarification. I accept and assume all responsibility for my actions and any and all risks of property damage or personal injury which occur during or result from my participation, including potential injury while participating in activities, traveling and walking. With the above in mind, I fully understand and agree that Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc and all its entities, staff, and agents, its board of directors, and volunteers shall not be responsible or liable in any way for any accident, loss, death, injury or damage to myself or my property, in connection with the volunteer experience or any portion of the volunteer experience even if said injury or action is due to the alleged negligence of the Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc., its representatives or volunteers. Further, I do hereby agree to indemnify and hold Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc harmless against and from any and all liabilities, damages, claims, suits, judgments and associated costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) of whatsoever kind in connection with the volunteer experience or any portions of the mission experience. Further, I make this agreement on behalf of my heirs, agents, fiduciaries, successors and assigns. I waive, knowingly and voluntarily, each and every claim or right of action I have now or may have in the future against the Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. related to the mission experience, even if any such claim or right of action is caused by Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc.'s alleged negligence. This includes automobile accidents, regardless of driver negligence.

Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc.

Youth Volunteer Authorization and Liability Release

Required for Minor Age 17 or Less – Page 1 of 2

As the parent/legal guardian of _____________________________________________

[print minor’s name], who is ______ years old, I authorize him/her to serve as a

It has been explained to me and I understand the liability waiver, the Mission, Purpose, Goals, Objectives and Values of Paper Houses and accept responsibility for my child's actions as a volunteer. I hereby agree to release Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc, its officers, volunteers, director from any and all claims of liability of any kind whatsoever, including claims of negligence and or personal injury to above-named minor in connection with his/her volunteer service. I understand that by signing below I am waiving any and all such claims of liability.

Dated:

Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian: __________

Printed Name of Parent or Legal Guardian: _____

PURPOSE

Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc. was founded to provide Americans the startling experience of mission and selfless charity in the colonias of Mexico.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Paper Houses Across the Border, a non profit 503(c) charity, is to improve the quality of life for American families and for the impoverished families living in the colonias of Mexico by working cooperatively with the families and institutions in the colonias.

Values

1. Respect the culture of the people in the colonias 2. We shall uphold this country's democratic values as embodied in the constitution and shall dedicate ourselves to the preservation of liberty and justice for all. 3. Improve the quality of life 4. We shall strive to improve the quality of life by working as partners with the people of the colonias and linking Houston families with families in the colonias. 5. Respect for the dignity of work and self-achievement 6. We shall strive to improve the quality of life in the colonias by working with people to support projects that help our friends succeed in business, home ownership, and programs that provide food, shelter and love for the most neglected. 7. We shall always engage in behavior that is beyond ethical reproach and reflects the integrity of police professionals.

Principles

1. Life and individual religious beliefs are sacred and respected. 2. We value customs and traditions. 3. Our role is to provide support, friendship, material, and guidance to help the people of the colonias resolve problems. Our role in the lives of Houston families is to facilitate a meaningful relationship with the people of the colonias that improves the spiritual life and promotes happiness. 4. Our focus is the colonia (neighborhood) and we work with the residents at the basic neighborhood level 5. The children of the colonias are our most valuable asset. 6. We exist to work in partnership with the people of the colonias by serving their needs and within their guidelines. 7. People should be treated fairly and equitably in recognition of basic human dignity and as a means of enriching life.

Method of Operations

Primarily, we are searchers. We search at the community level for ways we can fulfill our mission, establish goals, and create projects. We work with the people at the bottom. We work with individuals, families, churches, educators, neighborhood leaders, business people and government officials (in that order). Note: when people are hungry, we don't need a committee. We need a sandwich. And we need a plan for them to feed themselves. We also operate with the understanding that self sufficiency and education are the keys to resolving many problems. Pride in self and pride in self accomplishment are important. We do not exist to support poor people. We exist to learn from the people of the colonias, help them through situations they cannot handle alone, and we exist to help the poor to escape poverty. Most of these people are already doing their part. They need education, small loans, encouragement, and a little help. Face to face encounters, through mission experiences, are the best way to accomplish our purpose and mission. (Please read this sentence 100 times).

Members of the Board, Volunteers and Contributors

Every suggestion, activity, goal, objective and plan must align with our mission, values, purpose and goals. We are searchers. We continually improve and expand as we find new information and better ways to work. If an issue is not in conflict with our purpose, mission, values and principles, the only limit is our imagination and ability to deal with an idea. Read the Sermon on the Mount and the works of mercy to better understand our goals. We prioritize and focus on projects where there is a reasonable chance of success. We are fiscally responsible. However, we are not afraid to fail.