Volunteer FAQ
Here is our FAQ. Ok, it's sort of a directed list of questions and our responses to them, and we know that you probably hadn't even thought of many of the questions, but we're hoping that the combination of these questions, and our response works to give you a great idea of what we are all about.
Why do we
need volunteers?
But don't
they pay people for this stuff?
Ok so you do
need volunteers. What can I do to help?
That sounds
like a lot, Do I need to do all of that?
What's this
'Badging' I hear about? Sounds kind of stressful, or even worse
boring.
I hear you've
been working on setting up a Badging Corp. What's that about?
Is there a
Cadre associated with that? What does it take to get involved with
that?
What's this 'Rover' I've been hearing about?
Do you need help at the desk?
Where can I go for more information, or
information about what's happening at the convention?
What about
other departments?
I have limited
mobility, or limitations on my sight or hearing. Is there anything I
can help with?
Last year some
kid was telling me that there were too many people already on the
elevator. What is that all about?
The elevators
keep breaking down. Is there anything I can do to help out?
What is this
'VolDen?' Do you need help there?
What is 'Vol
Lounge?' Can I help?
Why do we need volunteers?
Since this convention is a completely fan - run convention (put on and run by fans for fans) we need you to help make it a success. We really cannot do it without you! I know it sounds like a line, but it really is true. Without you, our volunteers, we wouldn’t have a successful convention.
But don't they pay people for this stuff?
Perhaps at some conventions, but not at CONvergence. Everyone helping to run the convention, helping you with registration, through day to day operations, through setting up and taking down the decorations is a volunteer.
What about the Hotel staff? Hotel staff are there to insure the operations of the hotel, they may assist us in re-arranging furniture or in cleaning up after us, but they otherwise are not involved in the convention. (OK, for those staff brave enough to work the hotel registration desk, and a few other stations, we often provide T-Shirts both to show that we really appreciate them, and the like, but they are not part of the convention itself.) They work hard, and deserve every positive reward you can provide them.
Ok so you do need volunteers. What can I do to help?
You can contact the department you want to volunteer for directly. You can also contact us at volunteers@convergence-con.org and we will be happy to help get you to where you need to be to volunteer. Just tell us what you are interested in doing at / for the convention.
Additionally, most departments have some need for additional volunteers throughout the convention, and we usually have a list of those departments calling for help. That said, many departments will appreciate it if you are in their area and would like to help, to stop by their desk and say 'hello, can I help some place?'
That sounds like a lot, Do I need to do all of that?
Nope, every bit helps. If you just want to sit down and say hello to people, and if they have questions, direct them to the appropriate people to help them, we've need that too.
What's this 'Badging' I hear about? Sounds kind of stressful, or even worse boring.
A badger is a person who checks that each person entering the convention space is a registered member of the convention. This is done by checking to make sure each person is proudly wearing and displaying their convention badge.
Our Badgers are our unsung heroes of the convention Volunteers. Not only is it a very important job, it is also a great way to sit down in a comfy chair for a spell, meet new people, take a break from the programming, or just relax while still helping the convention - and possibly becoming one of our X-Treme VolunteersTM and earning a T-Shirt in the process.
I hear you've been working on setting up a Badging Corp. What's that about?
We've been doing this for a few years, we've noticed that a lot of people like to be a part of something a bit more than just a one time thing. Badging is one of those elements of CONvergence that has a very high importance to us. We know that you are spending a lot to have a great time with other CONvergence members, and we want you to know that we are not being over run with freeloaders. So we ask that some of you, as many as possible in fact, spend some time helping us with that. Badging Corp, is one of the ways we want to reward people who spend time helping us out. Should you decide to join the Badging Corp, and it's a bit more than just offering to be a badger, we will be recognizing that you have gone beyond our convention expectations of a member of the convention. As part of the recognition, we plan on making available award patches for Corp members who put 5 or 10 hours in badging a station over the span of the convention. We are also looking to help provide other means of recognition, and appreciation.
Is there a Cadre associated with that? What does it take to get involved with that?
Actually yes there is. We are looking to Badging Corp members to help in recruiting additional badgers and Badging Corp members. We don't yet have a formal hierarchy for the cadre established, but since Badging Corp is new this year, we will be looking to you for suggestions in how to make improvements. One thing that we are looking for is that Badging Corp members be ready to help out with any badger at any station. This might mean stopping by and saying 'Hey, thanks for helping out.' It may even mean asking if you can do anything to help out, grab them something to drink, sit for them for a moment or to to make a restroom break. You get the idea. You may even spot a station that should be being badged that is empty, and either stop by the volunteer desk and let us know, or if you have nothing you think is more important at the moment, hang out in the chair for some time and pick up some unscheduled volunteer hours. It would be very much appreciated.
What's this 'Rover' I've been hearing about?
Actually this is a formal position for doing something like the above. You get volunteer hours for walking around, stopping at badging stations, making sure that the badger is up to speed on what badges to be looking for, check in with them to see how long they have been there. Were they supposed to be relieved 20 min ago and they now need to head to a panel? It's been known to happen. The position of the Rover is to then say to the badger thank you for what you've done. Let them go on, and you notify the volunteer desk of the fact that the station needs a badger, and hang out for a bit until a replacement badger comes along, or you recognize a badging corp member who you can ask if they would mind taking over the badging station. Badging corp members are not obligated to help out, they may be on their way to a panel, or really need something to drink or some food. We can help with that as well. There's Wandering Consuite, or a badging corp member may be willing to run over to Consuite for something for them, or you could do that for them as well. We can always put out the call on the radio for some food for a helpful volunteer. The 'job' of the Rover is to help make sure that Badging is working, and that badgers (whether in the corp, or not) are being well taken care of. Think you're up for the job? We're looking for you.
Do you need help at the desk?
The Volunteers desk can ALWAYS use another warm body behind the table to help people at the hub of all the excitement. If you have some time, a pleasant and fun attitude, a willingness to have fun and be helpful to strangers and like being busy and being helpful, why not come spend some time with us and check it out. You may decide to stay.
Where can I go for more information, or information about what's happening at the convention?
You can find this information at www.schedule.convergence-con.org ahead of time, or for information at the convention, stop on by the Volunteer and Information desk. We keep copies of the schedules readily available and can help you find the resources you are looking for.
What about other departments?
Other departments can usually also use help, whether it is before, during or after the convention. Whether that help comes in the form of moving in and out, assisting with putting together décor, helping with Connie’s Space Lounge or COF2E2, etc. If you want to help them, you can contact them directly from the website at www.convergence-con.org website or you can let us know you want to volunteer and we'll take it from there.
I have limited mobility, or limitations on my sight or hearing. Is there anything I can help with?
YES! Just because you have limitations, does not mean you cannot help out at the convention. Most of our departments have openings for people that can work with you. Limited mobility, hearing, vision, and other conditions are all things we can work with, and we want you to know that every effort you can provide in assisting us is welcome. Thank you.
Last year some kid was telling me that there were too many people already on the elevator. What is that all about?
The elevators are set up to only hold a certain amount of people or a certain pound limit. If the limits are reached and exceeded, the elevators break down. Since this is a very large convention, there is greater potential for the elevators to break down. Due to this, we are trying to find people to volunteer as elevator operators and keep the elevators running.
The elevators keep breaking down. Is there anything I can do to help out?
Definitely. We are looking for people to be elevator monitors. This would require persons to be able to ride the elevators for one-half hour at a time and count to ten. If you can do these two things, you can be an elevator monitor. And, because you are enclosed in a smallish, warm space that keeps moving, your half hour of volunteering as an elevator operator will count as one full hour of volunteer time.
What is this 'VolDen?' Do you need help there?
VolDen is a place where volunteers can escape from the rough and tumble event that is CONvergence, and still take part in the whole experience. We know that you won't always want to go to your room, who knows what you're room mates have started doing, and you really don't feel like taking a nap or anything like that. You just want a place where you could hang out with a few friends who are volunteers, perhaps get a massage, sit and eat something you got at ConSuite, conveniently located near by, or set and play a game you picked up at ConSuite Gaming, which you plan on returning when you and your friends are done. We plan on having it open from 10 in the morning, till 2 in the morning once the convention has started. (i.e. Thursday noon till 2 am, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 2 am, and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.) A Volunteer Button is required for admittance, which means you need to have earned at least an hour of volunteer time. You can help here too. We need someone to help staff this area. That means checking up on people, making sure no one is sleeping. Occasionally making sure that trash has been picked up, and possibly calling for trash to be taken out. And most importantly, making sure that the people enjoying the Den are volunteers. (That button thing again.) Yes we are looking for you, and anything you can do to let us know you want to help, send e-mail to volunteers@convergence-con.org (before the convention) or stop by one of the volunteer desks to see if there's an opening, (once the convention has started) is all welcome and good.
What is 'Vol Lounge?' Can I help?
Another new move this year is to set up a volunteer desk at registration. We've had some pretty good fortune with this over the years as part of our early registration process. You might have seen that at the beginning of the page, if you have volunteered, or are going to volunteer someplace and have preregistered, you can pick up your registration materials on Wednesday between 3 pm and 6 pm. Well, we are expanding the volunteer desk at registration to go on throughout the convention. One of the perks of the area is another place to sit and chat with other volunteers, or even people who might be interested in volunteering as they get ready to register. Stop by and recruit some people for Badging Corp. Let people know about opportunities in ConSuite, or Operations. You know some of your friends are going to show up a bit late, hang out and grab them as they go by, and help us with getting more people to volunteer. And if you can hang out for half an hour, or a shift, you get volunteer hours for the time you are recruiting for us. And as with asking for information, we'll be happy to work with you on scheduling your involvement.
Thanks for Volunteering! See you at the convention!