I think the difference is roles. In a chapter, people need roles, titles, and some description of what they do. I'm learning the same thing in my "day job" as a volunteer coordinator. Apparently, if you can't put the job on a business card, no one wants it. And I certainly can't blame people for that. In a large group, there would be a few "officers" and many regular members. But in a group as small as ours, it would be ideal for most active members to have some sort of defined role. It doesn't have to be something major-- any defined role (such as "the E-mail Czar sends reminder e-mails to people about meetups a week before they happen") would be a good start. Here, I'll brainstorm some roles that AVEN chapters might be able to use. I'll start with myself:
- Head of Local Chapter: This is the hardest role to define, probably because I've already technically been doing it. I feel like this person should organize the rest of the "officers", plan official meetings, and figure out the direction of the group (with input from others, of course). What else?
- Public Relations: Dealing with the media-- writing press releases, keeping up press contacts, writing articles, making sure we do stuff that people would be interested in writing about.
- Community Outreach: Dealing with other community groups and finding ways to reach more potential members.
- Fundraising and Special Events: Pretty self-explanatory.
Of course there would be other roles, too, of varying levels. The possibilities are really endless. They're only limited right now by my imagination and impending carpal tunnel syndrome.
I know that some of us, myself included, have wished that AVEN could be our full-time job. Maybe that will happen someday, but we can't be a more official organization unless people have roles. That seems to be the beginning and end of it. So, at the risk of over-using a word, if you could have any role, in AVEN internationally or in a local chapter, what would it be? Let your imagination run wilder than mine seems to be capable of at the moment.
(Also, you get a virtual brownie if you know what the title of this post is a reference to.)
4 comments:
Ha... I like "E-mail Czar"... that seems to fit me pretty well at the moment, for Seattle meetups :P
I'm not sure how necessary it would be to have a PR person in every chapter. Maybe just a main one for now, then more when the demand increases?
Also... how about an AVEN mascot? Or a "Photo-Op Ace" (aka POP Ace?)- someone who's not shy of the camera?
Or like in Facebook, someone could maintain that...?
Ooh, cool, we already have a mascot in SF-- but it's not getting a business card. I like your idea of assigning someone to take pictures. I tend to bring my camera and then get caught up in other stuff.
I think your ideas about roles (and rolls) are excellent and I hope this will help people find ways to be more involved in the planning and carrying out of AVEN activities. Now, the real reason for my post: Jack Nicholson in "As Good as it Gets" -hand over the virtual brownie please ;-)
Yay Lia! *brownie with frosting*
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