• 2022 Volunteer Information

    Version 1.4

  • 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'd ask you to fill out and submit the form below to let us know about 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.

  • A/V Technical - Gordon Haymond and Alan Mathews

  • 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 - Gordon Haymond VP Technical Services; Co-chair - Alan Mathews.

  • Curriculum Committee - Len Norman

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

    Arts (art, music, literature, popular culture, cinema, theater, art history, and entertainment)

    Health (fitness, health, exercise, disease management, medical history, and developments.)

    Business/Government (entrepreneurs/owners, and policymakers.)

  • Website and Email Support - Mitzi Czapla, Aimee Hite and Chris Pouler

  • Technology Assistance:

    1. Content updates to our WordPress website: SeniorScholars.net. Updates include text, images, files, links to audio and video files, etc.

    2. Document the procedures for a specific technology volunteer task including image capture.

    3. Future when we return to in-person meetings. Copy/paste content from the website to Eventbrite. Pre-register the speaker, their guests and weekly volunteers required to be onsite for the weekly presentation.

    4. Evaluate our audio, video, and document storage needs currently on SoundCloud, Vimeo, and DropBox to recommend cost and/or efficiency improvements.

    5. Craft emails sent to the membership. Learn Benchmark email marketing solution which includes: copy/paste content from contributors adding impactful images to emails, apply sort/filter rules to CSV export to create a distribution list, and stage emails to be sent twice per week.

  • Field Trips - John Ferguson

  • 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 - John Ferguson

  • Lunch Bunch - BG Metzler

  • Taking requests to attend, set up restaurant(s), and host a group.

  • Marketing - Jane Howard

  • The Marketing / Diversity Team is our newest committee.

    Senior Scholars may be the best-kept secret in Charlotte. 31 lectures from leaders, presidents, scholars, published authors etc. for $25 dollars 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, Sue Gill, Sophie Marshall and Bob Metzler

  • 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 spreadsheet is a start, expect to be trained on the specifics of our system.

     

    Membership Chair - Pam Nemecek, Database Support Sue Gill and Sophie Msrshal, meeting Support Bob Metzler.

     

  • Meeting Venue Support - Jane Howard

  • Meeting and Venue Support 

    Putting together hybrid meetings at Providence United Methodist Church is a challenge that this team solved every week.  With the goal of safety first, contract tracing, masks, and social distancing the standards were raised.

    We still need Fire Marshalls and a member at the door to Wolfe Hall. Now need members checking for tickers, vaccination status, membership status, masking and asking about recent symptoms of exposures at each meeting.

    We do offer these volunteers assured ticketing to the events they are assigned to work.

    Skills required ...

    Good People skills and ability to use procedures, access to apps on a phone.

     

    Meeting and Venue Support:  Chair - Jane Howard, 2nd VP

  • Social Committee and Meeting Moderators - Carol Kesmodel

  • Social Committee

    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 or end of year luncheons. No social volunteers will be needed until we have in-person meetings.

    Moderators 

    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 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 throughout the Q&A session. 

    They have access to both the member's Q&A questions, and when possible an early copy of the speaker's Power P[oint presentation. 

    On the Monday before the Friday, 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. 

    The moderator function will change once we return to in-person meetings.

     

     

  • Wildacres Retreat - Jim Gronquist & Jeanne Smith

  • 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 2023 and 2024 retreats. 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 Senior Scholars at Queens has not contacted you in a week, please send me a note.

        Steve Gilbert - President @ sgilbert06@gmail.com 

     

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