Get Involved – Volunteer

2017 Volunteer Opportunities

We would like to invite you to consider volunteering this year! Volunteering is a great way to meet members and get more involved with the organization. There are many opportunities that need a few more hands to make the Convention a successful event.

The RWCS is once again using Sign up Genius, an online service that helps events like ours promote volunteer opportunities to members. Please take a look at these opportunities and consider clicking on the link and signing up.

General Convention Support

  • Convention Set Up Teams - Providing suppport for sign hanging, table placement, material preparation, and other convention preparations and designated. Members can come for any amount of time between the following hours:
    Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Wednesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Contact Stacy Wegner at director@redwingcollectors.org or call 651-388-4004.
  • Convention Assistants –Each Convention Morning in the college commons with the onsite tasks to get the Convention open.
  • Chapter Challenge Crocks and 40 Project Displays– Times available both Thursday morning and Friday afternoon to assist with Chapter Challenge check in, questions, closing, and cash out on Friday afternoon.
    • Coordinator – Coordinate above volunteers with Chapter basket check in, prepare paperwork, and coordinate close of auction on Friday.
  • Business Meeting Friday- Assist with distribution of meeting agendas, door prize drawing tickets, and other handouts. Following, the meeting, assist with clean up and returning RWCS property to storage room.
  • Membership Table – Members are needed to staff at Show and Sale on Saturday.
  • Convention Wrap Up Team – Friday afternoon at the College and Saturday at the Armory to pack up RWCS supplies. Contact Stacy Wegner at director@redwingcollectors.org or call 800-977-7927

Convention Departments

  • Display – Wednesday through Friday volunteers are needed to help with staffing room, balloting, setup/teardown, and general support.
  • Commemorative Distribution – Thursday – Saturday volunteers are needed to help with distribution, silent auctions, and the lottery.
  • Youth Programs Kids View/Young Collectors –There are opportunities available on both Thursday and Friday to assist with Kids View and Young Collector programs.
    Young Collectors – Thursday morning pottery class at the college and chaperones to Pottery Museum for seminar. Contact: Stacy Wegner director@redwingcollectors.org
    Kids View - Friday at the college morning, afternoon or 10am to 2pm.
  • Onsite Registration – Thursday – Saturday College and Armory volunteers are needed to data enter walk in members with registration and convention purchases.
  • Auction – The auction success needs volunteers all week from graders at check into catalog sales lots of great opportunities to support the auction.
  • Show and Sale – There are volunteer opportunities on both Friday afternoon and Saturday. All volunteers will receive a seller badge.
  • CROCK HOP – Friday Night Social needs volunteers to help with food and beverage set up, serving, and clean up. Contact Nancy Lambert nancy194805@gmail.com.

ALL CONVENTION VOLUNTEERS ARE IN A DRAWING FOR SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE!

Volunteers at the 2017 Convention will receive a volunteer memento as a thank gift from the RWCS to recognize your support of the convention.

Thank you in advance for your consideration to volunteer at the Convention. Come join the more than 150 other members who are already volunteering this year.

MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING!

Volunteering as members of the Red Wing Collectors Society at events, on committees, running for board positions, are great ways to get involved quick at an RWCS members.

Here are the TOP 10 reasons to volunteer!

  1. Meet more members
  2. Active support of the RWCS organization
  3. Share your talents with the organization
  4. Participate ‘behind the scenes” at events
  5. Receive a Volunteer Recognition pin
  6. Experience the volunteer “perks” of each department
  7. Share your Red Wing knowledge with other members
  8. Enhance the members experience
  9. Volunteer only drawing for the annual Special Commemorative
  10. HAVE FUN!

Volunteer Recognition
The Volunteer Recognition Program was created in 2008 to recognize members support of RWCS. Many members annual commitment to volunteering at RWCS events, office support, program needs, committees and other activities. This program was created to recognize the commitment of our members.

The first year a member volunteers they receive the Volunteer Recognition Pin then for every year they volunteer they receive a dangle showing the number of volunteer years. In addition, volunteers are recognized in a number of ways:

  • Break room at Convention
  • Name published in the Convention Supplement and slide show
  • Volunteer recognition banner
  • Drawing to win a special commemorative
  • Volunteer gift from the RWCS
  • Depart chair/managers often have their own thank you “perks”

Volunteer Opportunities
RWCS Event Support – MidWinter GetTogether and the Annual Convention
Convention

  • Auction – set up, viewing, showing pieces, clean up, check in, catalog sales
  • Show and Sale – set up, door opening, assisting with move in
  • Kids View – working with kids on projects, clean up, set up, leading a project
  • Commemorative – set up, distribution, sales, clean up
  • Display – set up, assisting move in, counting ballots
  • Banquet – set up, door prize, greeting members, clean up, program support
  • Friday night social – set up, greeting members, clean up, program support
  • Volunteer break room – check supplies, set up, clean up

MidWinter

  • Friday night – decorations, costume judging, auction clerking
  • Saturday Opening – set up slide show, support program, assist with clean up
  • Show and Sale – table set up, seller information distribution, announcements

Both Events

  • Signage/Banner hanging and clean up
  • Friday night social – set up, greeting members, clean up, program support
  • Education – assisting speakers, giving a presentation, set up, clean up
  • Registration (onsite) – computer data entry, answering questions, clean up set up
  • Registration ( pre-reg) – badge distribution, answer questions, direction to rooms

Chart of Opportunities


Board Positions
RWCS board members are elected and the board includes: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian, two representative at large, and three managers: Commemorative, Education and Auction. Each position is a 4 year term and job descriptions are available through the office or contacting the RWCS Secretary. The RWCS Managers have unique positions that need volunteers as well to assist them with their duties.

Education
Manager: Coordinate and manage educational programs for RWCS events. Work with Executive Director to promote and publish materials for events. Responsible for management and reporting for the Kids View and Young Collector Program Chairpersons. (Full job description available from Executive Director)

Volunteers needed: presenter/speakers, keynote speakers, session attendance counting, speaker support, orientation for first timers, set up and tear down of AV equipment, hanging and removal of signage, works with Education Manager.

  • Kids View
    Chair Position:     develop goals, schedules, activities and education program for children ages 3-12, find volunteers to support program and committee members (Full job description available from Executive Director)
    Volunteers needed    : set up and clean up, lead individual activities, serve on program committee, speakers on Red Wing Topics, assist participants with projects, packaging and shipping student pieces following event, work with Kids View Chairperson.

  • Young Collectors
    Chair Position:     develop goals, schedule, activities, and education program for members ages 13+ (high school), find volunteers, presenters and committee members to execute program (Full job description available from Executive Director)
    Volunteers needed;     set up, clean up, event leaders, speakers/presenters, packaging and shipping student pieces following event, work with Young Collectors Chairperson.

Auction
Manager: Responsible for all aspects of Thursday evening RWCS Auction. (Full job description available from Executive Director)

Volunteers: show pieces, clerking lots sold, setup, tear down, graders, catalog and prices realize sales, paid to owner check entry, distribution of bidder numbers, administrative duties, work with Auction Manager.

Commemorative
Manager: Responsible for choosing potter, designing commemorative, delivery and distribution of RWCS Annual Commemorative, and any other stoneware pieces chosen for annual fundraising. (Full job description available from Executive Director)

Volunteers: commemorative distribution, checklist management, lottery sales, silent auction sale and cashiers, social event silent and live, Chapter challenge piece setup and cashier at close, work with Commemorative Manager.

Convention Support Positions
Along with the manager the convention has several specific support positions (chairs). These positions are appointed by the Executive Director and are approved by the Board of Directors.  These chair position include: Display, Pre- Registration, Onsite Registration, Show and Sale. Each of these positions have a job description with them and is available by contacting the office. Each of these support positions need volunteers as well.

Pre- Registration
Chair Position: find volunteers to cover pre- registration pick up hours, answer member questions during events, assist set pre- registration pick up, set up, &tear down.
Volunteers needed: badge and registration material distribution, answer member questions about event, assist with set up & tear down, work with Pre –Registration Chairperson.

Onsite Registration
Chair Position: find volunteers to cover computer registration slots, answer member questions during event, assist with set up and tear down, keep track of registration funds, work with Executive Director to train volunteers on registration system.
Volunteers needed: data entry onsite registration, manage registration funds, assist with set up and tear down, works with Onsite Registration Chairperson,

Show and Sale
Chair Position: floor plan assignment, organizing contract filing, supervising table set up, ensure no set up during move in time and no early move out, assisting sellers, finding volunteers.
Volunteers needed: labeling tables with individual seller names, table leg check,  watching doors during member only time & move in and out, sign placement, cart assistance, clean up following events, collecting administrative paperwork as needed, work with Show and Sale Chairperson.

Display
Chair Position: find and contract members for displays, set up and tear down room sets, manage voting.
Volunteers needed: counting ballots, photo displays for social media, assisting with set up and tear down work with Display Chairperson.

Committees
The RWCS Board often creates committees to work on specific projects like anniversary celebrations and membership projects. Members are encouraged to participate as a committee member or as a Chair. Currently the RWCS has two active committees:

Membership Committee – This committees efforts focus on finding ways to develop new members, enhance current membership benefits, and find ways for members to be involved in the Society.

Technology Committee- This committee focus is on finding ways for the Society to embrace technology

If you are interested in becoming apart of the RWCS Volunteer team of over 200 members, contact the RWCS office and tell us what you are interested in. We are excited to welcome new an returning volunteers all the time. This is your organization so consider volunteering today.

ALL YEAR LONG OPPORTUNITIES
 Office Support: mailings, data entry, new member packets, expired member post cards, filing.
Website: content, editing, photos, images, articles.
Social Media: writing tweets and posts, monitoring Twitter and Facebook traffic, posting to Pinterest, info videos for You Tube.
Blog writing: Collectors Weekly, Worthpoint and others. Short articles and photos for publication.
Membership Promotion Tables at events: RWCS events, flea markets, antique shows, auctions
Presentations: service groups in your area, history centers, libraries, schools, other pottery collecting clubs.