Get Involved
The Benefits of Volunteering
- Develop and practice important business and leadership skills
- Broaden your professional network
- Gain visibility in the communications field
- Gain access to new developments and cutting-edge information in the field and more!
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering helps you connect with IABC Minnesota’s great network and gives you the possibility to get so much more out of your membership! Following are some current opportunities:
Position: Publications editor (News & Views newsletter and Upcoming Events e-mail)
Description: The publications editor oversees production of the monthly News & Views newsletter and mid-month Upcoming Events e-mail sent to all IABC Minnesota members.
Responsibilities: The editor acts as the liaison between volunteer contributors and the IABC board—lightly editing and assembling copy as it is submitted, overseeing content approval by board members and making appropriate changes, then sending copy to other volunteers for final distribution via the website (N&V only) and e-mail (N&V and events e-mail). This position requires planning, editorial judgment, attention to detail and an ability to interface with a wide variety of people. It’s fun and challenging—a great way to exercise editorial “chops” and work with some wonderful volunteers in IABC Minnesota.
Time commitment: 10-12 hours a month
Contact: Andrea Young, (612) 735-0441
Position: Career development program coordinator—Education Portfolio
Description: This program creates learning opportunities that will help members advance their careers and includes such topics as networking, career planning and growth, and assessing your market value. These sessions are frequently offered through teleseminars.
Responsibilities: Learn as you volunteer. The career development coordinator works with another volunteer to help find speakers for six teleseminars and events, prepare event descriptions for the IABC Minnesota website and the News & Views publication, help run sessions, and report program progress to the vice president of education. Members are able to participate in most of these sessions without charge. Reports to the programming director and VP.
Time commitment: One year (December 2009-2010); approximately 1 hour each week or 4-5 hours each month.
Contact: Kathy Guthrie, (651) 999-6051
Position: Communication program coordinator—Education Portfolio
Description: IABC Minnesota offers six communication events each year at various locations across the Twin Cities. Guest speakers cover various topics, including word-of-mouth communications, internal and external communications, social media, marketing and public relations. Volunteering for this position is a great way to meet interesting people in the communication field.
Responsibilities: The coordinator works with the program co-chairpersons to identify topics, speakers, event locations and promotions.
Time commitment: One year (December 2009-2010); approximately 1-2 hours each week or 4-6 hours each month.
Contact: Kathy Guthrie, (651) 999-6051
Position: Awards judging volunteers
Responsibilities: An IABC awards judge reviews award entries nationally—from other IABC chapters for local and regional awards competitions and internationally—for Gold Quill competitions. Volunteer judges evaluate entries against set criteria. IABC Minnesota receives an average of 8-10 requests for awards judging each year. Judging an award can be done at your own pace and per your own schedule. You can work independently or with another volunteer judge. Training is available if you want to learn about the process and tips for judging.
Time commitment: As much or as little as you want. You will receive an e-mail alert each time a request for judging is received, and you have the opportunity to participate if it works for you. As a judge, you will be given 3-5 entries to evaluate. Each entry takes about 30 minutes to evaluate.
Contact: Paul Omodt, awards judging co-chair, (612) 455-1732.
How can you get involved? Don’t see anything that interests you, but still want to get involved with IABC Minnesota? Contact Maurine Everett, director of member involvement, (952) 261-4156.
