• 2024 Volunteer Information

    2024 Volunteer Information

    Version 1.6 Mar 2024

  • That speakers and visitors to Senior Scholars at Queens frequently praise the professionalism that underlies our activities is gratifying. That the individuals who deliver those professional-level services are all volunteers is utterly remarkable. We're proud of all we do and how well we are able to do it.

    But to continue our high level of service we need your assistance.

    Will you join the team, volunteer a bit of your time, draw on the skills you've accumulated in the course of a productive life to help us take Senior Scholars to new levels of excellence?

    We ask you to fill out and submit the form below to let us know your areas of interest and expertise. The information you offer will be sent to the contact person identified in each section who will contact you to explore the possibilities.

    What can we offer in return? Camaraderie, the satisfaction that comes from working with good people who understand the importance of giving back. Not to mention the satisfaction that comes when you're able to stand back and look at a job well done.

  • These committees may be interested in your skills and interests as we share tasks and time together to support Senior Scholars.

    These committees may be interested in your skills and interests as we share tasks and time together to support Senior Scholars.

  • A/V Technical - Jack Gill

  • The A/V technical team is ...

    Responsible for the technical aspects of the weekly meetings.  We manage the technical aspects of the meeting including hardware, internet connectivity, Zoom webinars, and PowerPoint slide shows.

    It's a 4-5 person team effort with a member from a system security background, software and hardware consulting, and business experience. For us PowerPoint is easy, Zoom webinars have been learned in the last year. Members has either Apple and PC experience and interface with the Speaker's technical team. 

    We start and end the Friday meetings, create records that are given to the webmaster to be added to the archives. And when we have a Zoom Speaker meeting on Monday to practice with the Speaker.

    If you want to be in the thick of it, consider joining us in a relaxed, high visibility function. We rehearsal so that meetings are prepared. 

    Chair - Jack Gill, VP Technical Services; Co-chair - Alan Mathews.

  • Curriculum Committee - Steve Lauer

  • The Curriculum Committee is looking for two volunteers to be program managers to help identify and recruit speakers.

    • Arts (art, music, literature, popular culture, cinema, theater, art history, and entertainment) 
    • Business/Government (entrepreneurs/owners, and policymakers)

  • Email Coordinator - Jane Howard

    Website Support - Aimee Hite

  • Email Coordinator 

    Works with the President and others to put together the weekly email to members. This is an excellent way to learn about all the activities of Senior Scholars while providing timely information to our members.

    Website Support 

    1. Work with the webmaster to update our custom WordPress website: seniorscholars.net and add recordings to Vimeo.

    2. Send out twice-weekly emails to the membership using Benchmark email software. Update emails with the current speaker information, copied from our website. Import an Excel contact list into the Benchmark solution.

     

  • Field Trips & Lunch Bunch - BG Metzler and Carol Kesmodel

  • Field Trips are an important part of Senior Scholars ... 

    Senior Scholars plans for 2 or 3 field trips in the Spring and Fall. (This was suspended during the Pandemic.)

    The Field Trip Leader is responsible for all aspects of the trip. This includes identifying the destination/event, coordinating with the venue as needed, providing material for posting on the website and in emails, making announcements at meetings, and conducting the trip.

    Trips are funded by the participants. Senior Scholars may be provided a discount. Often a named restaurant is provided where members have a 'Dutch Treat' lunch and can share their experience.

    Skills preferred.

    An individual who enjoys leadership can identify places to visit and communicate with members. Prior experience leading field trips or family outings is preferred. 

    Field Trip Leader - BG Metzler & Carol Kesmodel

  • Meeting Moderators - Carol Kesmodel

  • Moderators are part of a team. Moderators will be assigned once a month.

    On Friday, of the meeting, 2 moderators deliver questions to the speaker during the Q&A session. They help queue the audience members who have questions for the speaker. They select questions from the member's Q&A questions to relieve the Speaker from responding to the screen. This eliminates duplication and provides the meeting with a well-thought-out Q&A session.  

    Friday's presentation. the moderators are invited to meet the speaker and participate in a practice session.  At that time or immediately afterward they are provided with a copy of the Speaker's presentation.

  • Marketing and Cultural Diversity- Patty Kahle

  • Senior Scholars may be the best-kept secret in Charlotte. Thirty-one lectures from leaders, presidents, scholars, published authors etc. for $25 per year.  The marketing team will address that issue, by increasing our footprint in the community and extending membership beyond a line-of-sight methodology.

    Skills required ...

    Prior marketing experience and an interest in joining a new team.

  • Membership & Directory - Pam Nemecek

  • The Membership & Directory Team is a key contributor to our 1000 member's satisfaction.  They are ofter the first and most contacted area to deal with membership.

    They staff the membership table to accept new members, visitors and answer questions about the organization. They maintain the database of member information in a timely and organized fashion. This year they will implement an online directory saving $1,000 a year over past expenses.

    The team coordinates with Finance to ensure that the membership fees are processed and reported accurately. The 2022 Membership System is the source for member names used on our weekly emails.

     

    Skills required...

    Good People Skills. Prior experience and comfort with Excel spreadsheets is a start, expect to be trained on the specifics of our system.

     

    Membership Chair - Pam Nemecek

     

  • Meeting Support - Kathy and Tom

  • Meeting Support 

    Are part of a team that rotates monthly.  We check people at the door, answer questions, and provide directions to Wolfe Hall, restrooms, etc. Additionally, responsibility may be assigned as fire marshall or count the people who enter Wolfe Hall.

    Skills required...

    Good People skills,

     - 2nd VP

  • Social Committee - Nancy Stancil

  • Social Committee 

    Volunteers help with the coffee service each week. They are assigned only one week a month. Volunteers can also help with the Christmas and end-of-year luncheons.

  • Wildacres Retreat - Laura Little

  • The Wildacres Retreat is one of the highlights program ... 

    The 4-day retreat (Monday PM - Thursday AM) to Wildacres Retreat Facilities in Little Switzerland, NC is carefully planned so that members can enjoy hiking, reading, playing bridge, and having family-style meals while attending lectures from notable speakers in the company of other members.

    The committee identifies speakers, entertainment, and logical support to make the retreat a success.

    We are looking for individuals who can work with a team to assist in the retreat's planning and execution at the retreat. 

    - Identify potential speakers and topics for the 2025 retreat. This can include reviewing archived lectures.

    - Facilitate a discussion group along with the speaker at the retreat.

    - Help with preparations for the social hours at the retreat.

    - Plan a small group activity as an option for the free afternoon at the retreat. This can include a craft, walk or hike, trip to a nearby point of interest, etc

    Retreat Leaders - Jeanne Smith & James Gronquist

  • The entry will be sent on.

  • Thank you for your interest.

    This team is not currently looking for additional volunteers.

    You may review the committee description on the website.

    Your contact information and brief description will be added to our Volunteer Database.  This may be reviewed by the Membership Committee at a later date.

    We encourage you to check for new opportunities in the future.

     

     

  • After "Review Answers", and "Submit" have been entered,  the screen will change to the Committee page so that you can register for a meeting.

  • Standard Practice will be to contact you by email or phone.

    Several areas will be setting up Zoom meetings prior to the Friday speaker.  

    Registration for this meeting will be provided in the weekly emails.

  • Instructions:

    1. Select the button "Review Answers" to see your entry on the screen.

    2. Select the button "Print"   If you wish to have a copy.

    3. Select the button "Submit" to send emails to choices

    4. If you have not been contacted in a week, please send an email to 

        Len Norman  - President @ lennorman@ymail.com

     

     

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