Nashville Area Students - Join the Student Planning Committee!!
Student Planning Committee Roles and Responsibilities:
How do I get involved?
The Student Planning Committee meets weekly (Tuesdays, 9:00 pm, Vanderbilt University, 189 Sarratt Student Center) and always welcomes new members. If you are interested in learning more about the committee or you'd like to check out a meeting, contact Student Planning Committee Director Stacy Tolos at stacy.tolos@vanderbilt.edu.
Click here to download an application to join the Student Planning Committee. Please email all completed student planning committee applications to Student Planning Committee Director Stacy Tolos at stacy.tolos@vanderbilt.edu.
Why should I get involved?
- Work with an internationally renowned nonprofit on the 2006 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference, the largest convening of campus community members involved in service, activism, politics and social justice
- Create a forum for the issues that matter the most to you and your peers
- Network with local and national partners in the social sector
- Work with a team of dynamic and inspiring students from a number of local campuses
- Participate in professional and leadership development trainings. Learn how to translate the skills you acquire for resumes, job interviews, and more
- Registration is complimentary for those students who demonstrate consistent involvement on the Student Planning Committee
- Have Fun!
What can I do?
Join the Program Committee:
- Lead development and planning of student-led Plenary sessions
- Assist with development of workshop tracks and overall conference content
- Assemble panels and speakers
- Assist with identifying keynote speakers (two students and two others) for All-Conference Celebration and Closing
- Work with outreach committee to solicit workshop submissions
- Lead orientation sessions for conference participants during the event
Join the Social & Event Planning Committee:
- Plan and coordinate evening social opportunities including opportunities for participants to explore Nashville as well as opportunities for participants to continue sharing beyond the formal conference setting
- Produce content for the program about social options during the conference
- Reach out to area businesses and organizations for donations and discounts for conference participants
- Support planning of Oxfam Hunger Banquet
- Support staffing of all Social events during the conference
- Support planning and management of All Conference Celebration (Friday night) and Closing Event (Sunday)
- Help plan and lead Morning Rally on Day 1 (Friday) of conference
- Plan and manage gear swap at the conference - "BYOG" (Bring Your Own Gear)
- Track receiving of sponsor materials and lead the bag stuffing party
- Assist in identifying space and A/V needs
- Assist in coordinating low-cost housing
Outreach:
- Use personal and researched contacts to raise local and national awareness of the conference
- Assist in creating and distributing outreach materials (i.e. press releases, list serv announcements, email outreach, any print materials)
- Work with program committee to solicit workshop submissions
- Design and implement creative initiatives to recruit a diverse group of conference participants, planners and volunteers
- Compile outreach databases (i.e. campus offices, student groups, year of service members)
- Contact and visit area campuses to encourage conference participation
What leadership roles are available?
Program Committee Chair and Social/Events Committee Chair:
- Help recruit and manage volunteers for assigned subcommittee tasks
- Support subcommittee members in the development of projects (i.e. aid in identifying and contacting panelists, entertainers, etc.)
- Serve as liaison between sub-committee, Student Planning Committee Director, and Idealist On Campus Staff
- Submit weekly briefs updating the larger group on progress of subcommittee and upcoming tasks
- Meet biweekly with Student Planning Committee Director to check in on progress and plan upcoming Student Planning Committee meetings
- Serve as a representative for the conference at meetings and events when necessary
Outreach Coordinator
- Coordinate efforts to raise local and national awareness of the conference
- Ensure that outreach initiatives are executed according to established timeline
Project Leader
- Within each of the sub-committees, various Project Leaders will coordinate the planning and implementation of specific Student Planning Committee tasks (i.e. a student led plenary session, the Oxfam Hunger banquet, target outreach to a specific affinity group)
Note: There will be Co-Chairs for the Program and Social/Events Committees. Ideally, one Co-Chair will be a Vanderbilt student, with the other Co-Chair representing another school in the Nashville area.
What do you expect of me?
- Actively support the mission of Action Without Borders-Idealist.org to help build a world in which all people can live free and dignified lives
- Participate in the Fall retreat (Dates TBD)
- Attend scheduled meetings and events (Note: Meetings will be biweekly initially but will switch to a weekly schedule as the conference approaches.)
- Identify at least one aspect of the conference that you will actively help to develop
- Respond to all correspondence in a timely manner and consistently communicate project progress through email, reports and meeting attendance
- Remain open, flexible and enthusiastic about the dynamic nature of this event and this organization
- Complete projects in a timely and professional manner
- Seek out opportunities to enrich program initiatives
- Identify and pursue professional development opportunities
- Approach tasks creatively
- Openly and honestly share any personal or professional challenges experienced as part of this committee
- Maintain a sense of humor, even when things get stressful, and a willingness to have lots of fun
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