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This page explains why
OLLI continues to need volunteers, how members can help and what
kind of
jobs are available. Information about volunteering is also provided in
the Member
Handbook (revised 2008); click the image below to view the PDF version
of the handbook.
Click here or click the above image to view the
Member Handbook (pdf).
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Volunteering
Is Important to OLLI
Some institutes make volunteering a condition of membership. We don’t
do that. (It wouldn’t really be volunteering if we did!) But
volunteering is central to our existence. Our bylaws sum it up:
OLLI "is
governed by its members and functions as an intellectual cooperative in
which members volunteer in administration and as planners, instructors,
organizational officers
and committee members."
There are three interrelated reasons why volunteering is important to
OLLI—money, workload and teaching.
Simply put, it would cost you a lot more to be a member if OLLI had
to
pay for all its operations. Although we don’t have to do some things
that
a private college would (such as administer entrance requirements, give
exams and award degrees), we offer programs that are comparable to
those
found in colleges. We get by with what is really a minimal membership
fee
because:
- We
rely on our
members to teach or otherwise lead courses.
- We
don’t pay
outside teachers and speakers.
- Over
80% of the
work of running the organization is done by member volunteers.
We do
employ
administrative help, a necessity as we continue to grow. In fact,
almost half our budget goes to personnel costs, reflecting the
well known fact that personnel costs are the major expense item in many
organizations.
Quite aside from financial need, volunteering in an organization from
which members derive so much enjoyment can and should be personally
satisfying and rewarding.
Four other things should be said about volunteering:
- You
don’t need
prior experience or expertise in a particular field, although this is
always
welcome and in a few cases necessary. Everyone has the talent to help
in
some capacity. If special knowledge is required, we can train you.
- You
should
volunteer only for what you want to do.
- Your
time is
valuable. We won’t ask you to put in more time than you can handle
comfortably or serve longer than you can.
- You
should look
on volunteer work as enjoyable and rewarding. If it isn’t, we are doing
something wrong.
How Do
I Volunteer?
OLLI members already involved in running the organization are
always on
the lookout for volunteers. Experience shows that the best way to get
volunteers is the direct and personal approach. But you shouldn’t wait
to be asked. Take the initiative.
After perusing the list of Volunteer Opportunities below, you may find
a particular job that is attractive. Or you may want to know where
OLLI
is looking for immediate help. Announcements of "job openings" are
included in the weekly OLLI E-News
newsletter. In all cases, you can call the Tallwood office or drop
by
and ask to be contacted. Don’t be bashful! We need help—lots of it.
What Is Expected of Volunteers
- Promptness.
If
your
volunteer job has specific hours (such as for office
assistants), you should show up on time.
- Dependability.
You
should
attend committee or other meetings in which you are
involved. If you can’t, let your chairman or leader know in advance.
- Initiative.
Everyone
has
ideas about how something can be done better or more
efficiently. Share your ideas with your chairman or leader and be willing
to follow up if you’re given a green light.
- Job
responsibility. Take your job seriously. Whatever the job is, it is
important to OLLI’s success.
What a
Volunteer Can
Expect
- Clear
and
professional communication from your leader.
- Appreciation
for
your
time
and effort.
- Respect.
- Necessary
training.
If you
feel there are
deficiencies in any of these areas, speak up. Talk with the person
overseeing what you are doing. If necessary, bring your concerns to the
attention of the president or any Board member.
How OLLI-Mason Is Organized
To understand our volunteer needs, it may help to know a little about
how OLLI is organized. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization
with
articles of incorporation and bylaws. Ultimate authority is exercised
by OLLI members at the annual meeting at which the membership
receives
reports from the
president and executive director, elects directors to serve on the
Board of Directors and acts
on any amendments that may be proposed to the
bylaws.
The 18-member Board of Directors sets policies, approves budgets and
oversees OLLI operations. It elects its officers—president, vice
president, treasurer, secretary—and has established several units to
oversee OLLI operations:
- Administration
(the
office).
Membership and registration, financial accounting, mailings, word
processing, classroom support, general administrative support.
- Communications:
OLLI E-News
newsletter, brochures, catalog, other publications,
OLLI’s
Website.
- Development.
Fund-raising
from
members and other individuals and from public and
private bodies; associated community relations and publicity.
- Facilities:
Physical
facilities
and equipment at OLLI sites.
- Finance:
Budgeting,
insurance,
tax returns, accounting.
- Membership:
Reception
and
briefing of new members, social events,
social room, making
our name known in the community.
- Planning:
Development
of
long-range and annual operating plans for Board
consideration and other planning needs.
- Program:
Curriculum
development,
courses, special events, clubs, lectures, and
all associated activities.
- Reston
Support:
Monitor and explore developments and needs at the OLLI site at Lake
Anne in
Reston.
- University
Liaison: Coordination with George Mason University.
Leaders of
each of
these units are generally appointed by the president, and each leader
is responsible for naming members to work on the activity. The names of
current Board members, officers and committee chairs are listed here.
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
The
following list of
volunteer opportunities includes the major areas of ongoing needs. Most
job
activity takes place at Tallwood, usually in the office or at committee
meetings;
where a job is needed at Lake Anne or Sterling, this is specifically
noted. Some
categories include jobs that are done by teams. Many tasks are needed
only occasionally; others require an ongoing commitment..
Office
Office
volunteers
Serve as receptionist, make and answer phone calls, retrieve messages,
use fax machine and photocopier, handle inquiries, mail requested
materials and otherwise assist the staff. Assistants work several days
a month at Tallwood. Training in equipment and written instructions for
answering questions are provided.
Typists, word processors
Prepare letters and other papers on an as-needed basis. Work may often
be
done at home, preferably using Microsoft Word or Works.
Mailing helpers
Assist in bulk mailings by attaching labels and sorting mail according
to zip codes. Mailings include quarterly catalogs and newsletters, as
well as special mailings. Each mailing takes about two hours for a team
to complete.
Social
Party
assistants
Help arrange pot lucks, new-member welcome receptions and other social
events with such assignments as setting tables, Course sponsors
arranging flowers and cleaning up. There are four or five such events
each year, mostly at Tallwood.
Social room managers
Keep the Tallwood social room neat (bulletin boards, coffee/cookie
table, sink, bookcase) and be responsible for one day per week and have
the time to develop one or more courses each term.
Facilities
Handymen
and women
Make minor repairs or improvements in Tallwood buildings and equipment
and in Lake Anne equipment. Patrol swimming pool parking lot at start
of each term.
Gardeners
Water flowers at Tallwood periodically. Sweep or blow patio. Plant
flowers and shrubs, trim branches and rake leaves, in spring and fall.
A green thumb is helpful.
Program
Class
liaisons
Oversee attendance, make announcements, monitor heating/air
conditioning, and otherwise assist instructor or speaker at Tallwood,
Lake Anne and Sterling. Assignments are made to classes that monitors
are taking.
Training is provided.
Audio-visual aides
Help set up and assure proper functioning of audio-visual aids in
classrooms at Tallwood, Lake Anne and Sterling. Assignments are made to
classes
that aides are taking. Detailed training is provided.
Course sponsors
Develop courses, find teachers and speakers, follow through while
courses are in progress, contribute to curriculum development. General
familiarity with college-level courses is needed; knowledge in specific
academic fields is desirable but not necessary. Course sponsors need to
attend 10-12 meetings a year possible for temporary periods and have
the time to develop one or more courses each term.
Program resource contributors
Participate in twice-yearly meetings to develop lists of courses that
OLLI should consider offering in different academic areas and
assist
course
sponsors in finding teachers, speakers and materials. Education,
experience
or interest in a particular academic area or areas is desirable but not
necessary.
Program resource librarian
Collect and maintain educational materials from variety of sources for
use by course sponsors. General familiarity with college-level courses
and an ability to maintain files in systematic order are important.
Special events coordinators
Develop special events and serve as coordinator during the
presentations or on bus tours, making sure that all arrangements are in
order. General familiarity with special event opportunities in the
geographic area is needed. Attend 10–12 meetings a year to help plan
events and devote additional time required to develop one or more
special events.
Editorial
Writers
and editors
Work on OLLI publications, such as E-News, catalogs, email notices, and
other materials, such as press releases, brochures,
grant applications and substantive papers about OLLI. Writing and editing
experience is
helpful, but attention to detail and a desire to work with words are
even more important. Word processing ability is desirable.
Proofreaders
Work with editors of OLLI publications to assure quality
productions.
Research
and Analysis
Fund-raising
researchers
Research and prepare reports on potential sources of OLLI funding
and on
statutory, regulatory and financial aspects (such as donations,
bequests, foundation funds).
Computers
Technical
adviser
Help maintain office and classroom computers, including loading
software and configuring hardware. A good background in technical side
of computers is essential. Current OLLI experts can provide
guidance.
Web page designer
Design and maintain OLLI’s Website, including posting the new catalog
and course
schedule each term. Availability of a personal computer and an internet
connection for interface
with the Mason server are essential.
Desktop publishing designers
Design and format one or more of OLLI’s publications and other
materials.
OLLI-GMU
Teachers & Moderators
Many
of our teachers and moderators are also OLLI volunteers. They
enjoy
sharing their knowledge, whether acquired academically, in a career, or
as a hobby or
special interest. Think about what course you might be willing to teach
or
moderate. Then talk with Kathryn Russell, our Program Committee chair.
If
you know someone who could
present an interesting course or lecture, pass the information on to
Kathryn.
Updated: November 8, 2009
Copyright © 2009 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at
George Mason University. Materials in this publication subject to
OLLI-Mason copyright may be reproduced for noncommercial educational
purposes as long as credit is given to OLLI-Mason.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University
4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384; E-mail: olli@gmu.edu;
Fax:
(703)
503-2832
Original site design and construction by OLLI-Mason member Rod Zumbro. |
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