Disaster Responder Intent

Disaster Cycle Services · Volunteer Connection

How To Record Availability And Intent

Two boxes. Both matter. One without the other leaves planners guessing.

Availability is when you can go — your dates. Intent is how you prefer to serve — home, drive, fly, or virtual. Availability is not Intent.

When

Availability

Your calendar. Fill the dates you can go, check how you can respond, then click Confirm Availability.

How

Intent

Your assignment style. Click the faint gray Edit button, set intent on each GAP — Primary counts — then Save and Confirm Responder Intent.

Start On Your Home Page

Sign in to Volunteer Connection. On the home widget, open DCS Responder. That is the door to both cards.

1

Open DCS Responder

Look for the red badge icon labeled DCS Responder. Do not use Enter Hours. That is a different task.

Open My DCS Responder Page

Volunteer Connection home widget with the DCS Responder link in the left column, under OneSource.
Click the boxed DCS Responder. Skip Enter Hours.

Availability — When You Can Go

This is the Disaster Responder Availability card. It is your dates, not your assignment style. You can forecast up to 90 days out.

2

Fill The Dates And Check How You Can Respond

Start Date is the first day you can go. End Date is the day you return home. Check every box that fits — Shift Work, Home, Driving Distance, Air Travel CONUS, Air Travel OCONUS, or Virtual.

Disaster Responder Availability card showing an Available date range and the Virtual checkbox selected.
Gray Edit first, then dates and how you can respond.
3

Confirm Availability

Click the red Confirm Availability button. The Last Confirmed Date updates. That is how you know the dates stuck.

Confirm Availability
The same Availability card, with Confirm Availability boxed in red at the bottom and Last Confirmed Date visible.
Confirm Availability · the date proves it worked.

Intent — How You Prefer To Serve

This is the GAP & Responder Intent card. GAP means Group, Activity, and Position — the jobs you are trained for. Responder Intent is your preferred assignment style. It does not limit where you can actually be assigned.

4

Click Edit GAP & Responder Intent

It is a faint gray button in the top-right corner of the card. Easy to miss. Most people stop here.

Edit GAP & Responder Intent Most people stop here
GAP and Responder Intent card with a faint gray Edit button in the top right, a GAP table, and Confirm Responder Intent.
The gray Edit button, boxed. Easy to miss.
5

Set Intent On Each GAP

Under Set Responder Intent For Each GAP, click the box next to every job and pick one or more styles. Your Primary GAP is the one the campaign counts.

Edit modal titled GAP and Responder Intent, with Set Responder Intent For Each GAP and Virtual selected on two jobs.
Set intent in the boxed fields. Primary counts.
6

Save, Then Confirm Responder Intent

The red Save button is at the bottom of the window. Then, back on the card, click Confirm Responder Intent. Today’s date appears as Last Confirmed Date — that is how you know it worked.

Save Confirm Responder Intent
The same edit modal with Close and a red Save button boxed in red at the bottom right.
Red Save at the bottom of the window.
GAP and Responder Intent card with Confirm Responder Intent boxed in red.
Then Confirm Responder Intent on the card.

For Your Email Signature

September is Register Intent Month. Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) volunteers. Copy a banner and paste it into Classic Outlook. Optional: select the picture → add a hyperlink to Volunteer Connection. The PNG itself has no URL.

Mac: Outlook → Settings → Signatures. Windows: File → Options → Mail → Signatures.

1

Paste The Banner

Copy Image or Download PNG above. Open Classic Outlook signatures, click in the box, then paste — or Insert → Pictures.

Paste
2

Select The Picture

Click the banner so the handles and border show. The link goes on the picture, not on the PNG file.

Select Picture
Compact Register Intent Month banner with a red selection box.
Select Picture
3

Insert Hyperlink

With the picture selected, open the link box.

Insert Hyperlink
4

Paste This URL

Paste the DCS Responder page. Then OK.

Paste This URL
https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=pg_profile_dcs_responder
5

Default Signature

Leave it on your default signature so new mail carries it.

Default Signature