Volunteer Information

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.

The Coffee Table Committee is a great way to meet members and welcome new members. Volunteers make the coffee, prep the table before members arrive and clear the table and store the equipment at the end of the meeting. Say some hellos, answer a question for a new member and help members enjoy the experience of good coffee and good talk.

The Curriculum Committee seeks volunteers to be program managers to help identify and recruit speakers on a variety of topics including Arts (art, music, literature, popular culture, cinema, theater, art history, and entertainment); Business/Government (entrepreneurs/owners, and policymakers); Science and other topics.

Email Coordinator - Bill Griesmyer and Shannon Smith 

Works with the President and others to put together the twice-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 - Aimee Hite

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 Benchmark solution.

 

Field Trips are an important part of Senior Scholars. 

Senior Scholars plans for 2 or 3 field trips in the Spring and Fall. 

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

Moderators are part of a team. Moderators will be assigned once a month.
At the Friday meeting, two 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 submitted by members attending the meeting by Zoom. This eliminates duplication and provides the meeting with a well-thought-out Q&A session.
Before the actual presentation. the moderators are invited to meet the speaker and participate in a practice session. At that time or immediately afterward, they are provided a copy of the Speaker's presentation.

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 seeks to increase the organization's footprint in the community and extend membership beyond a line-of-sight methodology.

Skills required are prior marketing experience and an interest in joining a new team.

The Membership & Directory Team is a key contributor to our 1,000 members' satisfaction.  They are often 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 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.

Meeting Support members 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 are good people skills.

The Queens Liaison is responsible for meeting with Queens administrators and seeking cooperation on matters of mutual interest. These matters include encouraging professors’ participation in Senior Scholars programs and providing members with information on upcoming events at Queens.

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

The Wildacres Retreat is one of the highlights program of Senior Scholars. 

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 next 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.

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.

 

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

Steve Lauer - President @ slauer@carolina.rr.com