Have a sign up area on your blog for volunteers. If you are able, offer them free admission or half price as an incentive (but don’t advertise that on the site!). Try to get at least 20 volunteers. It is recommended that you call all of them individually or have a conference call to thank them for volunteering. Sometimes this can make them feel more committed and responsible so they’re less likely to bail on you later. Tell them you’ll contact them again to give them their volunteer assignments. When you get all your volunteers, make a spreadsheet of their names, times, duties and cell phone numbers.

Example

Barack Obama:  registration 8-10 a.m. 123-456-7891

People should not have more than 2-3 hour shifts. That way they can enjoy the camp too.

Some volunteer duties would be:

Registration

·

· Come an hour before registration starts to help set-up.

· Make sure you clarify whether or not you’ll be accepting walk-ins (cash and checks only). Tell walk-ins not to take a t-shirt because there’s only enough for those that pre-registered.

· There should be 4 lines split up alphabetically by first name because some people only register with their first name. Make sure there are clear , prominent signs with the letters.

· Registration volunteers should have an attendees list and mark off each person, direct them to pick up their nametag which are on a separate table and in alpha order by first name.

· If someone is not on the list, write their name down and have them make their own nametag at the nametag area.

· Make sure the registration desk is neat and clean.

If someone insists they’ve registered but their name isn’t on the list, take down their e-mail, make them a nametag and sort it out later.

Nametag table

· This volunteer should help attendees find their name tag.

· Make sure the area is neat and clean.

· Help people make their nametag if it wasn’t initially pre-printed.

· Direct attendees to t-shirt/schwag area.

Schwag

· Make sure schwag is fully stocked.

· Make sure everything is neatly displayed.

· Sponsors schwag, WordCamp schwag and other schwag should all be displayed on separate tables.

T-shirt handout

· There should be 4 lines alphabetically by first name.

· Volunteers will have a list of attendees and their t-shirt size.

· Hand the attendee their t-shirt and mark their name off the list.

· Sizes cannot be traded. They can only get the size they registered with.

· Walk-ins don’t get a t-shirt. If there are extras at the end after everyone has gotten them, it’s first come first serve.

· Make sure area is neat and clean.

Food and beverages

· Help with setup and clean up.

· Make sure coffee area is neat and clean.

Conference room helper

· Help with equipment.

· Anything needed in conference room (e.g. need more chairs, someone spills coffee, etc).

Speaker’s helper

· Help to make sure speakers are ready 10 minutes before their talk and they have everything they need.

· This person will need a list of all the speakers’ cell phone numbers.

· Text speaker 20 minutes before their speaking time telling them to report to stage and get fitted with mic, etc.

· Help speakers set up equipment.

· Make sure speakers have water on stage.

Trash and bathroom helpers

· Make sure trash cans are not overflowing, replace trash bags if necessary.

· Make sure bathrooms are neat and clean.

E-mail volunteers their duties and all the organizer’s cell phone numbers.

Second volunteers call!

Have another conference call with your volunteers a week before the event. By now they should have received e-mails with their duties. Go over the schedule for the day, what time everyone should be there and that they’ll have to stay longer to clean-up. Make sure everyone has the organizers cell-phone numbers programmed into their cell phone. Open up for questions. If you want them to wear a specific item to identify them as a volunteer, that should be mentioned here.

Have the volunteer schedule posted at every station with volunteer schedule, program schedule, volunteer / organizer’s cell #’s and emergency procedures.