FAQs

The United Methodist Organizations/Agencies that NOMADS work for provide a safe place for us to park our RVs with RV hook ups (Electric, Water, and some way to deal with sewer). The Agencies plan, organize and supervise the work for the team as well as provide the supplies to complete the work . NOMADS members travel to the project at their own expense, bring their own tools, provide their own meals, and pay for any incidental expenses.

NOMADS use the term "Agency" for any United Methodist organization that hosts NOMADS teams. This could be a church, camp, conference center, college, children's home, community outreach program, or disaster recovery program.

The NOMADS are blessed to have some very generous churches, agencies and individual donors who donate each year from their mission budget or tithe to us to support our work around the country.  Some churches take up collections for NOMADS and many of our own members tithe or make annual donations.  Others donate through the auction each year at our annual meeting in which people donate items such as homemade crafts, new items or gently used items.  You can help by clicking on the donate button on the home page and make a donation online now.  If you would like more information on where our funding comes from, please click here to see the treasurer's report in the February 2010 newsletter.  Our members also pay annual dues which help cover our administrative expenses.  

Over 84% of our expenses in 2009 were for direct support of our project work.  The NOMADS have a very active Grants Funding program in which we use donated monies to help provide building materials to the agencies we support.  At our disaster sites this may be in the form of a new stove for a family, or for funding to help in the construction of a new home to replace a home destroyed by a hurricane.  At the local church we may help provide supplies needed for a family as part of a community outreach effort, or we may help purchase lumber to build a handicap ramp at a United Methodist Church.  If you would like more details, please click here to see the February 2010 newsletter for our Treasurer's report for the new budget year.

No.  Most of our members are United Methodists, because we are part of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.  Our members represent a variety of Christian denominations.   Someother denominations have programs similar to NOMADS.  For a list of those organizations, click on the "Related File" link shown below.

Our membership dues are $25.00 per person per year.  If you are joining as a new member, after completing the application, you will be invoiced separately for your dues.    In addition, NOMADS pay their own expenses to travel to and from the project sites and any incidental expenses during the project.  This includes meals and any associated travel expenses to get to the work site if it is located away from where the team is parked. Many members also participate in our fund raising activities such as the annual auction or making regular donations to support our work.

Yes. The majority of our members do have an RV, but some of the organizations we work for do provide housing.   Housing varies by agency, and may be a room, a cabin, or space in someone's home.  If you don't have an RV, you would need to select  projects at a NOMADS Agency that provides housing. Before you apply for a project, we can give you some basic information on the housing available and will expect you to call the Agency for a detailed description of what they have to offer.

Yes you can. In Disaster Response projects, you can sign up for as little as one week. Some of our regular projects are Revolving Team Projects (the team changes each week) and you can also sign up for as little as one week. Please refer to the Types of Projects button to the left for details.

No. NOMADS Guidelines require that everyone on the team be a current member of NOMADS. However, once you join, you may choose to work for as little as one week on some projects.

Yes you can. We do have single NOMADS and they report that they feel very accepted in the NOMADS community and on projects.

NOMADS has no expectations that new members have a certain skill set. As long as you are willing to work within your abilities and you are willing to learn new skills as you are able, you can join NOMADS. Most NOMADS learn new skills each time they work a project and skilled members are very willing to teach new skills to others.

Some Agencies do not permit pets. Information about pets is in the project list. NOMADS who travel with pets should inform the Team Leader and be sure that the Agency will permit pets on site. NOMADS are expected to be responsible pet owners, pick up afer their pets, and not let their pets run free. Pets are not allowed in any Agency buildings and are not allowed at the work site.

Safety is number ONE. NOMADS team leaders are trained to assess situations as to safety and safety measures that need to be employed and stressed to team members. Team leaders are empowered to tell an agency that a task is beyond the capability of a team or that safety equipment such as scaffolding or a power lift are needed to accomplish a task. Additionally, NOMADS members are encouraged to realize their own limitations. NOMADS should NOT do anything they do not feel comfortable doing related to skills and physical ability/safety.

NOMADS typically work a four day week- Monday-Thursday and work 6 hours a day.  The day begins with devotions and a brief team meeting to outline work and identify any specific needs. Lunch is an hour long and NOMADS take a break in the morning and the afternoon. Breaks are part of the team fellowship time plus an opportunity to get to know the people for whom we are working. A four day work week leaves a 3 day weekend which gives team members time to do personal maintenance- shopping, laundry, etc- and time to explore the area. Sometimes the days of the week vary depending on the needs of the agency.  The work schedule at Disaster Response Projects may vary depending on the work being done and the distance to the work site.  

Most NOMADS are at or near retirement age and many cannot physically work a full 40 hour week without wearing themselves out. At the end of the fourth day, NOMADS have worked hard and are ready for a break. Even so, new agencies are always amazed how much work the NOMADS team accomplishes by working only 24 hours each week.

NOMADS RVs vary from conversion vans to 40 foot  5th wheels and motor homes. If your RV is not fully contained, (for example, no shower), you will want to carefully select projects that do have showers available. The parking at some Agencies does have limits on RV size due to limited maneuvering room. Information such as shower availability and RV size limits are part of the specific agency information provided with each project list.

Most of the time, NOMADS are working in close proximity to where they are parked and will not need a tow car. However, some projects do require daily driving and a tow car is preferred. Car pooling is not always an option as other team members may not have room for additional NOMADS (pick up trucks, cars loaded with tools, etc.). The distance to the work site is included with the project information. If you do not tow a car, we ask that you pick projects that do not require a commute to the work site.

NOMADS project lists are published twice a year. Winter/Spring lists are published the preceding August. Summer/Fall lists are published in the preceding March. Projects are listed by work period and location and are posted in the Members Section of the NOMADS website. Each listing includes a brief description of the work the Agency has requested from NOMADS, the number and type of RV hook ups, availability of shower and bathroom facilities, and other basic information. NOMADS pick projects for many reasons- for the work to be done, the location, the timing, proximity to family, the weather, etc. However, we do expect that NOMADS look at the project description and make sure that they have some of the skills that match the work that will be done. Once you decide which projects you would like to work, there is a Project Sign Up form to complete and return to NOMADS. You will then be notified if you have been assigned to the project.

It varies. Agencies are expected to provide a safe place for NOMADS to park their RVs with hook-ups (electric, water, and some way to deal with sewer).   Agencies deal with this in a variety of ways.  Most electrical hook-ups are at least 30 amp but some are 20 amp and occasionally a team will even boon dock (camp without  hookups). Specific information for each Agency is listed in each published project list so you will know before you sign up.

There is a Basic Tool List for NOMADS.   Most likely you already have most of these tools in your basic RV load. You are expected to bring these basic tools with you on projects. You may also choose to bring specific tools to a project, based on the anticipated work to be done. Most NOMADS are willing to share their tools with team members as long as members take care of them and return them clean and in good condition.

First, please review this web site to help you determine if NOMADS will be a good match for you. If you have any questions, please contact our office at director@nomadsumc.org or 866-466-6237 (866-4NOMADS). You will also be assigned to a member of our Project Coordination Committee who can help you with application questions as well as questions about RV parking and hook ups. The application process is as follows: 1. Submit an application online  2. NOMADS will arrange for a site visit to discuss the work you want to have done, review application details, and assess RV parking. They can also help you plan for  a team. 3. NOMADS and the PCC member will review your application to determine if it is a good match. 4. Assuming it is a good match, your project will be scheduled and published to our members. Members then have the option to sign up to work at your Agency. 5. You will then receive a planning guide to help you prepare for a NOMADS team 6. Once you have a Team Leader and Team Members assigned to your project, you will be notified that the project is a go. We will also send you contact information for your team leader. 7. The Team Leader is the liaison between you and the team. The leader will contact you for updated information to share with the team and also talk with you about your priorities for the work to be done. 8. The Team Leader arrives a few days before the team to become familiar with your agency, the work, the parking, and the area. 9. The Team arrives and starts work on Monday morning.

NOMADS does not require background checks for membership but some of the agencies we work for do require them.  Background check requirements are part of the information provided to NOMADS in the Project Lists so you will know if a project you choose requires one.  If the Agency does require a background check, the Team Leader will contact the Agency to find out exactly what they require and will pass that information on to the team members.  The cost of obtaining a background check is borne by the individual NOMAD.   If one is required, team members must have them in hand before arriving at the project.

If you do not already have RV hook ups at your Agency, your Project Coordination Liaison and/or Site Visitor will be able to answer specific questions based on your situation.

Being on the list is the first step. However, we cannot guarantee that we will have a leader and team members sign up. Sometimes we do have to cancel a project for lack of NOMADS signing up. Should that happen, we will work with you to try and schedule another project.

NOMADS are at or near retirement age or may have already been retired for some time. Our teams work 6 hours each day, 4 days per week. How much work they can accomplish depends on the number of team members, the type of work, the skill set of the team members and, to some extent, the weather, if the work is outdoors. Even so, new agencies are always amazed by how much a team can accomplish.  We encourage agencies to make a long list of work to be done, prioritize the list, and have materials available promptly when the team needs them. The team may not be able to accomplish everything on the list.  Based on the abilities of the team members, they will start with your highest priority and work down.

Absolutely not! NOMADS are expected to be self sufficient once they arrive and have no expectation that the Agency will provide any meals. Please do not feel obligated to do so.