How to Volunteer at the IA Conference

If you can make it to Miami, FL April 10-14 to volunteer at the Information Architecture Conference, ASIS&T has a 2008 Summit Scholarship with your name on it! (OK, you have to be a student member of ASIS&T, so it would cost you $40 if you’re not already a member, but this is still a very big savings from the regular cost of attending.)

Here’s the rest, as sent to the ASIS&T mailing list. (This isn’t actually a verbatim quote, as the words “smile and be friendly” were in ALL CAPS on the original. Since I think it’s a little strange to yell at someone when asking them to be friendly, I changed it when reposting it here. Anyway we’re all friendly, right?)

Without further ado:

To help ASIS&T student members who might not otherwise be able to participate in ASIS&T meetings, we provide an opportunity to attend the sessions and network with other members in exchange for assisting us in running the meeting. Students who have participated in our program have found the experience “terrific.”

How the Program Works

In exchange for complimentary registration, we’ll ask you to help us run the conference. You’ll serve as a room monitor for about three sessions each day for three days. In addition, you’ll help out either at our registration desk or conference headquarters for a 4-hour period on one day of the conference. We’ve listed below the activities that you are expected to perform as part of the program.

1. Monitoring Sessions
We’ll solicit your choices of sessions, by time period, and try to schedule you into the sessions you prefer wherever possible. Monitoring involves assisting the speakers and moderators, checking for name tags at the door, ensuring that the necessary AV equipment is on hand, encouraging participants to complete evaluation forms, and generally helping makes the session go smoothly. (Additionally, you will be expected to smile and be friendly!)

2. Registration
Registration assistance involves facilitating the registration process, keeping a record of registrants, handing out materials, etc.

3. Headquarters
The Headquarters office is kept open throughout the meeting for the convenience of ASIS&T Committee members, members of the Board of Directors and members of the Conference Committees. Your function will be to ensure that everything runs smoothly and to assist where needed.

How to Participate

If you would like to be considered for this program for the 2008 Summit, to be held April 10 – 14 in Miami, FL Please forward your name, address, phone, fax and e-mail numbers to:

American Society for Information Science & Technology

ATTN.: ASIS&T 2008 Summit Scholarships
1320 Fenwick Lane, Suite 510
Silver Spring, MD 20910
FAX: (301) 495-0810
e-mail: dagnew@asis.org