The Volunteer Committee is looking for a few good conference volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer please fill out the volunteer form.

Areas, Duties, and Requirements:
Authors Autographing
Manage access to authors in signing area
Requirements: Standing

Disaster Relief Raffle Tickets
Sell tickets (both at table and roving) & handle cash box
Requirements: Sitting

Entertainment
Manage access & assist with special all-conference events
Requirements: Standing

Events Arrangements
Staff table, check room set-ups, distribute signs, count attendees, address room & equipment glitches
Requirements: Sitting, standing, walking

Exhibits
Assist with registration, boothsitting, or advance sign-up
Requirements: Standing, walking

Health (Fun Run)
Monitor & assist with set-up, refreshments, routes, photos, awards, etc.
Requirements: Standing, walking

Hospitality
Distribute gifts in reception area; pick up speakers at airport
Requirements: Sitting, standing, driving

Information
Staff information desk in registration area: phones, message board, lost & found, etc.
Requirements: Knowledge of Dallas, sitting

Internet Room
Manage queues; troubleshoot minor problems; record statistics
Requirements: Computer skills, sitting

Placement Center
Manage access, register users, make copies, answer questions
Requirements: Sitting, standing

Registration
Staff desk, distribute badges, & programs, greet attendees, answer questions
Requirements: Sitting

TLA Store
Prepare order forms, replenish merchandise, assist shoppers
Requirements: Math skills, standing

Transportation
Staff outdoor table, manage access to buses, provide directions & route info
Requirements: Standing, sitting

The TLA PLACEMENT CENTER is a fabulous place to volunteer at the conference.

Volunteers are needed to help at the placement center during the conference and to critique resumes. Be sure to fill out the Volunteer Form and check off Placement Center or contact Jeff Levy, UNT - 940.565.2013 for more information.

The Local Arrangements Committee would love to see everyone volunteer for the conference. Anyone in the community is welcome to volunteer. Non-librarians and non-professionals who give 4 or more hours of their time will recieve a free Exhibits Pass.

I personally think you should consider volunteering for EVENTS ARRANGEMENTS. This fun and exciting committee will be making sure the authors and presenters are set up in their rooms. I just happen to be one of the co-chairs of this committee so I can guarantee you'll have a fabulous time with us. ;)

Today's post is from Kathy Edwards, Director of the William T. Cozby Public Library in Coppell:

The Local Arrangements’ Exhibits Team, is looking for volunteers to serve the vendors who exhibit at TLA. Needed are volunteers who are willing to work in vendor registration for a four-hour minimum shift. Volunteers are needed all day Wednesday and Thursday (8:30-5:30) and Friday (8:30-2:30). Please complete the volunteer form and indicate that you are willing to serve in “Exhibits” and write in Registration in the date/time area along with your date and time preference. As requested, forms should be sent to Tish Mulkey. Please copy Kathy Edwards and let her know if you have any questions on exhibitor registration times or duties.

The Exhibits team also needs boothsitting volunteers. Boothsitters “sit” in a booth to allow a single-vendor to register for next year’s conference and to take a break. Boothsitters have more flexibility in their schedules. If you are interested in boothsitting, please complete a volunteer form indicating that you are willing to serve in “Exhibits” and write in Boothsitting in the date/time area along with your date and time preference and send to Tish Mulkey. Please copy Leora Kemp and let her know if you have any questions on boothsitter duties or times.

Today's post is from Greg Hardin at TWU:

Get involved in the 2008 TLA Annual Conference through volunteering!

We are actively recruiting volunteers for the annual conference in Dallas and will need help staffing tables, checking room set-ups, distributing signs, counting attendees, and addressing room & equipment glitches. The preliminary schedule for the TLA Conference is currently online at http://www.txla.org/conference/conf.html.

If you would like to get involved by helping the TLA Events Arrangements Committee through volunteering a small portion of your time at the 2008 Annual Conference in Dallas, April 15-18, 2008 then please sign up at: http://www.txla.org/groups/forms/Conf_volunteer.html

If you have any questions about volunteering for the Events Arrangements Committee please contact Greg Hardin, Events Arrangements Co-Chair.

We need a few good volunteers in the Transportation Area. Transportation is a bit of a misnomer. You don't have to drive anyone anywhere. The volunteers for Transportation will greet the people coming off the bus and direct them to the correct areas. Because the Dallas Convention Center is laid out so well this is not very complicated; and, mostly, you will be directing people to the escalators right inside the doors. Volunteers will also insure the safety of people getting on and off the buses. (No pushing please!) We really need volunteers for Wednesday morning when the majority of buses will arrive. We might need a few volunteers to ride some buses and perform quality control. And we might need a few others to greet the buses at the Welcome Party at the Nasher and at the President's Party at Eddie Deen's. These volunteers will direct people inside and make sure that exiting people find their buses.

The shuttle buses run from conference hotels during these hours:
Tuesday, April 15 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, April 17 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Friday, April 18 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you are interested please fill out the volunteer form and check Transportation as your top choice. Dean Washington from Ft. Worth Public Library (871.782.9853) will get in touch with you and he'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

It takes a lot of volunteers to put on a convention this big and we really appreciate your willingness to help. We have over 350 volunteers so far but we are still looking for more:

Placement Center
Tuesday, April 15h - Need 2 volunteers: 1 - 5pm
Wednesday, April 16th - Need 2 volunteers: 12 - 2pm and 3 volunteers: 2 - 5pm
Thursday, April 17th - Need 2 volunteers for four hour shifts: 9am - 4pm
Friday, April 18th - Need 2 volunteers: 9am - 12:30pm

TLA Store
Tuesday, April 15th - Need 2 volunteers: 1 - 5pm
Wednesday, April 16th - Need 1 volunteer: 12 - 3pm and 1 volunteer: 2 - 5pm
Thursday, April 17th - Need 2 volunteers: 12 - 3pm and 1 volunteer: 3 - 5pm
Friday, April 18th - Need 2 volunteers: 8am - Noon

Transportation
All times for any length of time.

If you are interested, please fill out the Volunteer Form and indicate the area you would like to work in and the times you are available.

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered! Most of you have been contacted and others are being contacted this week. If we've contacted you and asked for you to reply please do so that we can make sure our volunteer slots are filled.

(Photo courtesy Dan Shirley at SRX)

If you are new to volunteering for conference this is how it all works:

Volunteer Only: Please go to the Volunteer Booth and check in. You will be given your ribbon and directed to your assignment. Exhibits Only passes will be given to non-professionals who are volunteering for 4 or more hours on Exhibit days. You will also receive a small token of our appreciation for your efforts.

Conferees: Register as you would normally. At some point be sure to stop by the Volunteer Booth for a small token of our appreciation. Volunteer ribbons will be available for those who did not receive them at registration. You can also verify your volunteer assignment if you've forgotten.

It looks like we need a few more volunteers for the Transportation Area, at any time during conference, and the Hetherington Fun Run on Thursday morning, April 17th.

Dean Washington is heading up the Transportation committee and I know he would love to talk to you about the benefits of helping in his area.

David Rathvon is organizing the Fun Run. Shoot him an email if you need more details about the volunteer responsiblities for this event.

(Image courtesy of Dean Washington at Ft. Worth Public Library)

(Photo courtesy of Star Hoffman at UNT)

I have to give a shout out to all the amazing volunteers who helped at the conference. It takes a small army of you guys to put on a show this big. Thank you for the wonderful job you did and your willingness to pitch in where needed.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!

(Photo courtesy of Star Hoffman at UNT)