or by phone at (800) 281-9176.
How do I apply for a project?
Once you have selected projects based on the descriptions, you can apply via our web page, by fax, or through the mail. All applications come directly to the PIT Clearinghouse. When we receive the application, we will send you confirmation of receipt by email or mail. You will not hear any more until after the application deadline for the project or projects you’ve selected (see below, “When do I find out if I’m selected?”).
How many projects can I apply to?
You may apply to as many projects as you can work into your schedule! When applying, please pay attention to the project dates. If you want to work on consecutive projects, remember to allow time for travel. If you are applying for two projects that fall on the same dates, please list which is your first choice and which is your second choice. This will ensure that we submit your application to the correct project.
When do I find out if I’m selected?
Volunteers are notified of their acceptance status approximately three weeks after a project application deadline. Project leaders select the people to participate on their projects and contact potential volunteers by email, telephone, and letter. They want to make sure that you are still interested and available for their project. If they cannot contact you within a week’s time, they will have to find someone else from their list to fill the position. So, if you plan on being out of town for several weeks after an application deadline, please provide the clearinghouse with contact information. We will make sure the project leader is kept up to date. If you are not selected, the clearinghouse will notify you and provide a list of projects still accepting applications (see below, “What if I’m not selected?”).
How do project leaders pick their crews?
Selecting volunteers is a very difficult task. In many cases, there are more volunteers applying to a project than there are spaces available. All applications received by the application deadline are considered equally. Project leaders look for a balance. They try to bring people to the project from the local area and from across the country. They like a balance of men and women. If children are accepted, they look for families as well as individuals. They accept people with experience and those who have never worked on an archaeological project in their lives. And they look for past PIT volunteers as well as new people.
What if I’m not selected?
If you have applied to more than one project, the PIT Clearinghouse will automatically forward your application to your second choice. If you have applied for only one project or if all of the spaces for your second-choice project are filled, the clearinghouse will notify you directly and provide a list of projects still in need of volunteers.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email at
or by phone at (800) 281-9176.
Why the moose?
The moose in the PIT logo reflects the program’s origin in real moose country—Minnesota—and comes from a pictograph, an ancient painting on a rock face. Gordon Peters, the originator of PIT, best explains how the PIT moose came to be.
I have a disability. Will I be able to participate in the project I’m interested in?
We try to make PIT available to as many people as possible. The level of accessibility ranges from most difficult to easy depending on the activity and location of the project. If you have specific questions about accessibility or physical requirements for any project, please call the Clearinghouse at:
| (800) 281-9176 (voice, TTY) |
| (505) 896-0734 (local calls), or email at |
|
If they can’t answer your questions, they will put you in touch with the project leaders, who will do their best to accommodate your needs.
Can I deduct expenses associated with volunteering on a PIT project?
Volunteers may deduct certain unremimbursed expenses incurred in connection with their volunteer service from their reported income on Federal income tax returns. Examples of expenses that can be deducted include mileage to the project, gas, and meals while on the project. Information on this subject is available from Internal Revenue Service taxpayer assistance offices.
What is the SRI Foundation (SRIF), and why is it the clearinghouse?
The PIT Clearninghouse is managed by the SRI Foundation (SRIF) http://www.srifoundation.org through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Forest Service (FS) that benefits both organizations. The Foundation is located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The mission of SRIF is to advance historic preservation through education, training, and research. To meet these goals, SRIF has assembled a team of individuals with diverse backgrounds in historic preservation law and complicance, education and outreach, tribal issues, and archaeological and historical research. The Foundation's activities include continuing professional educational courses, public outreach, regulatory and compliance consulting, and research projects and overviews for a great variety of clients. Serving as the PIT Clearinghouse for the FS provides SRIF with a wonderful opportunity to fulfill its goals and commitment to public service, and provides the FS with considerable professional expertise and assistance in achieving their public outreach goals.