# Get a repair cafe volunteer station decision

Example: A repair cafe has more visitors registered for clothing than for electronics. Two volunteers offered help without identifying their work area.

By Righthand Team · 2026-10-16

Source: https://www.righthand.ai/blog/get-a-repair-cafe-volunteer-station-decision

An assistant is an alternative when several replies affect station coverage and visitor planning.

A roster is sufficient when qualified leads already accepted all assignments.

This article is from Righthand. The customer story and result are illustrative.

## The work that the customer wants

A repair cafe has more visitors registered for clothing than for electronics. Two volunteers offered help without identifying their work area.

The coordinator supplies the two volunteer emails and station descriptions. Qualified station leads give a decision about assignment suitability.

The Righthand has its own email address and phone number. You can give instructions by email, text, phone, or Slack. [Righthand introduction](https://docs.righthand.ai/introduction).

For this example, the Righthand uses its own email address. It identifies itself as the team's assistant. Company account access is a different setup choice. [Account connections](https://docs.righthand.ai/guides/adding-your-first-connection).

## The request to the Righthand

> Send each volunteer the supplied station descriptions.
>
> Get each volunteer's available hours and preferred station.
>
> Send the replies to the station leads.
>
> Tell each volunteer that the coordinator will give confirmation of the assignment.
>
> Send the coordinator the result in this conversation.
>
> Use Pacific time for the deadline.

## What the Righthand does

The Righthand sends these questions by email. It sends the reply to the coordinator.

The station leads must give a decision about repair competence.

## An illustrative result

> Both volunteers prefer clothing work. One can attend only the first hour. The electronics station still must have coverage.

The coordinator gets station-lead decisions before giving confirmation of assignments or changing visitor capacity.

## Access and permission

If you want direct account access, connect the account independently. Make sure that the Righthand has the necessary operation and access. A catalog entry does not establish each available action. [Connection Permissions](https://docs.righthand.ai/guides/add-a-connection).

With **Ask**, an outward instruction must identify the recipient and task. New approval can be necessary for a changed commitment. Connection tool permissions are another required control. [Communications Policy](https://docs.righthand.ai/security/external-communications).

## Try the procedure with one task

1. Give the Righthand one task with a teammate as the contact.
2. Make sure that the teammate receives the permitted email.
3. Tell the teammate to reply with a different request.
4. Compare the returned decision with that reply.
5. Examine the email records in [Activity](https://docs.righthand.ai/guides/working-with-your-righthand).

[Compare plans](https://www.righthand.ai/pricing). [Get a Righthand](https://teams.righthand.ai).