Room in the Inn Ministry at St. Stephen United Methodist Church

RESPONSIBILITIES OF VAN DRIVERS
Click here for a printable version of this list.

Per Urban Ministry Center policy, and given seating limitations in the church van, a MALE DRIVER is required. Moreover, given space limits created by the elimination of the rear seat in the church’s vans, there is no longer any room for a driver and a passenger assistant. Thus, passenger assistants are no longer required or needed.

For icy/snowy conditions, contact Tim Keesling for contingency/emergency plans.

Each driver must be registered and certified by the church following: (a) completion of short video training at the church or on an individual basis, (b) passing an on-line test, and (c) completion of a DMV driving check. The church’s insurance company requires this. You must complete and pass this training prior to driving the church van (a printed certificate from the insurance company's web site must be provided to the church).

A list of current certified van drivers is contained on the church’s website via a link on the home page. If you are not presently on this list and wish to drive, please contact Julie Platte to make arrangements for training prior to your scheduled time to drive the van. Please allow sufficient time to schedule and complete such training.

PM Driver - Arrive at St. Stephen no later than 5:20pm on Friday/Saturday night, for scheduled departure at 5:30pm.
Pick-up keys for the Red Van from the RITI cabinet in the Fireside Room kitchen on Friday/Saturday night or the Drop In coordinator for the evening. (Drop In Coordinator should be here at this time – Call Brian Barger 704-343-2072 (w) or 704-841-8936 (h) if questions).
Driver will drive to the Urban Ministry Center (UMC) to pick-up Guests by 6pm.
Please stay in a single file line at the UMC. After turning around at the end of the drive, when facing back out, pull up along the right hand curb on the side of the new UMC facility (opposite from the old rail depot where we previously picked up guests). Drivers should remain in the van and allow UMC staff to load Guests and belongings. Address of UMC: 945 N. College St., Charlotte, NC.
You will obtain a Guest transportation form from a volunteer at the UMC. (Hold onto this and give to the Overnight Host for review and placement in the folder in the RITI Cabinet in the Fireside Room Kitchen). Use this list to do a Guest "roll call" before leaving the UMC for the church and vice-versa the next morning before returning downtown to make sure everyone is present and accounted for (and that you do not have unregistered add-ons who have slipped into the boarding line).
Guests are boarded. Note: The maximum number of Guests we can accept is 10.
Per church policy, we do not allow Guests with cars to follow the van to the church. If this is requested when loading, advise the UMC staff member of this policy and ask for an alternative Guest.
Proceed to St. Stephen. Introduce yourselves to the Guests. First names are appropriate. Introduce your church and what part of Charlotte you are taking them.
Upon arrival at church, hand Overnight Host the van keys and the transportation form from the UMC.
AM Driver - Arrive at St. Stephen by 7:45am for scheduled departure shortly thereafter (you may want to arrive early on cold mornings to warm up the van).
Obtain van keys from the Overnight Host or from the RITI Cabinet in the Fireside Room kitchen.
Board Guests and take a return "roll-call" prior to leaving the church. Return Guests to the Uptown Transit Center (and only the Transit Center).
Drivers will be supplied with a map and directions to the UMC and the Uptown Transit Center. A map and directions may also be obtained in the RITI cabinet in the Fireside kitchen.
If gas tank needs filling, please fill and leave the receipt with Julie Platte in the church office for reimbursement.
Upon return to St. Stephen, use the church key to enter the Fireside Room, and leave keys in the RITI cabinet.

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