Desperately Seeking Volunteers:
Wanted: Responsible people who will take on tasks some big, some small to help this fair run smoothly. Must be self-motivated, creative, go getters and willing to work as a team for the good of the entire homeschooling community!
We want this to be a great way to showcase who we are and what we do! There are going to be many families attending who are just thinking about homeschooling, as well as politicians and news journalists and remember this is open to the public.
This sounds snarky but please DO NOT volunteer if you think you might possibly flake out. I know there are a lot of kind souls out there who intend well but then find out they took on more than they could handle or just do not want to participate any longer but do not let the organizers know and people get left in the lurch. This is not a judgement on any one person or people but merely an observation of human nature-myself included as I have been there done that but am in the 12-step program of learning how to say NO!
That being said this is going to be a great time and I think I have broken the tasks out so that there will not be too much on any one person. I can not offer you anything for your time except my immense gratitude and the promise that you are paying it forward. I too am a homeschooler with a life outside of this fair and am busy running my kids to events and actually spending time with my family and that is why with the fair getting larger every year I really need your help!
I do not have a budget so I figure if we split up the cost between these tasks then no one will be out too much money. So you have to be creative and good with doing a lot with a little, LOL! We are not non-profit but one day I hope to have this status, until then we have to make do with what is given to us by kind donors.
Here is what I need from you:
Items Needed:
Several Walkie type devices to be able to communicate with volunteers throughout the day.
Reams of paper for brochures to be printed on.
Any items to be able to do some of the creative things needed...will provide an updated list after the volunteers decide what they need.
Creative Individual: This is a dream of mine but it would really help myself and the other volunteers to stand out from the crowd and for people to be able to find us quickly! Shirts (hats?vests?) of the same color with our name and volunteer stenciled on it for the main volunteers. But would at least love to have some sort of name tags on a necklace or clip. Need someone or several someones who are willing to make any or all of these things. I will discuss logos and such with you! Would be great to get someone who can get some of these things donated!
Advertising: Sending out press releases via email and telephone. You will be contacting the various local and statewide newspapers, magazines, TV, etc. and putting the word out to whomever you can think of where those interested in our fair might see it! I already have a list of people I am in contact with or have contacted in the past. I have the information for you ready to go as a press release.
Signage: Making signs to place by the road-side underneath the signs directing people to CNM the day of the event. Need to be able to put them up the evening or morning of and take them down once the event is over. I estimate we are going to need approximately 12 signs. Feel free to be creative and use colors, lettering and graphics large enough to be seen and easily followed for those coming to our event. You will need to provide the materials but I c
Brochures/Handouts: These will be needed the day of the fair in a tri-fold format with basic information on the NM HS Community and the schedule of events, demonstrations, etc. and their times and locations at the fair. We will also have a list of attending vendors. I will provide the information for you and we can talk about your ideas for graphics. There are some graphics that have to be on there such as CNM who is our sponsor. I am willing to help out financially with these but they will need to be done in black and white to cut down on printing costs. Unless you are a creative person who can convince a local printing shop to print some out for us for free and we will put their business name and info on the back!
Organizers the day of the fair: I will need people in each section in the morning and in the afternoon. You will direct people to the check in table inside before they set up and then you will make sure people get set up in time before the fair opens and cleaned up in the afternoon after we close. There will be staff from CNM who will take down the tables and chairs inside I just need to make sure we clean up any trash and that items inside/outside get taken home with their owners.
Section 1: One person needed for AM only. Classroom...get the opening presenter set up and ready to go. CNM is taking care of room set up and any audio/visual needs and runners will help me make sure we contact the right CNM employees if anything happens during the day.
Section 2: One person needed for AM only. 2 Classrooms next to each other. Same as above.
Section 3: Need an AM and PM person. Main conference room. AM Person will make and put labels on tables for each vendors and/or seller. Direct vendors and sellers to their table the morning of and make sure they are set up by the time doors open. PM Person will just make sure items do not get left behind and that people are cleaning up and out by the designated time.
Section 4: Need one main contact person all day!! As well as need 1 extra person in the AM and at least one in the PM. The main contact will organize the demonstrations so that they are on time and where they need to be. You will need to be very organized and comfortable with having to be a little forceful if needed but also a people person and willing to compromise. You will be on your own but you and I will have discussed what I expect/want to happen before the day of the fair. You will need to get everyone to set up and vehicles out so that others can set up and then everyone needs to be out to close the parking lot except to foot traffic when the doors open. You will have at least one assistant in the AM to direct everyone to their spot. You will be given the layout and diagram of where everyone is to be located before the day of the fair. You will need to be available from 6AM-5PM that day. You will just be outside during the day to answer any problems or questions that arise. All outside volunteers will answer to you. I will give you more details after you have volunteered!
Outside AM Person: Work with this person above and help get things set up and moving throughout day. Answer visitors questions!
Outside PM Person: Same as above but also need to get people packed up and vehicles in when it is time to go.
Runners: At least 3/4 people. Needed throughout the day to walk around and make sure things are running smoothly. Check in on the rooms where presentations are being done to make sure that the presenters are completed in time for the next group to come in and set up. Also, need to make sure that aisles and walk-ways are cleared of boxes and/or other materials.
Do you have any ideas or questions? I am sure I have forgotten some things so if you just want to volunteer please by all means send me an email or give me a call and we will find a place for you! I need all the help I can get!
Thanks!
Tabitha Orr,
Homeschool Mom,
Executive Director,
New Mexico Homeschool Community
(505) 792-4110
NMHomeschoolCommunityUpdates@gmail.com
www.NewMexicoHomeSchoolCommunity.com
For Daily Digests join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newmexicohomeschoolcommunity/
Need a calender of events? Forget or delete an email? It's all on the blog! Search at: http://nmhomeschoolcommunity.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment