Volunteers FAQ
What exactly does the Volunteers Department do?
How do I get my name on that "potential volunteer" list?
What exactly is a "Badger"?
Is it really that important?
Why do we have to be so gung-ho about badging?
If I'm badging, does that make me "security"?
What else can I volunteer for if I don't want to be a badger?
Where is the Volunteers Desk? Information Desk?
Do I have to have any particular skills?
Are there any other perks for volunteering (other than the button, T-Shirt and Party)?
Why does it take so many hours to get a T-shirt?
I want to Volunteer for ____. Can you help me?
I asked to be contacted about volunteering and have not been. Don't you want me?
How do you keep track of all these volunteers?
I volunteered and accidentally brought my Volunteer Card home with me - what do I do?
I volunteered but could not find the department head to initial my volunteer card. What do I do?
What exactly does the Volunteers Department do?
The Volunteers Department supplies contact information for potential volunteers to departments throughout the year. At the convention, the Volunteers Department is responsible for staffing of all Badging shifts, filling in departmental shifts that are still vacant, as well as finding emergency volunteers.
How do I get my name on that "potential volunteer" list?
When you fill out the registration form, check one of the boxes for volunteering. You can also email us at volunteers@convergence-con.org and let us know you are interested in volunteering and what you are interested in helping out with (if you have a preference)
What exactly is a "Badger"?
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.
Is it really that important?
Yes. 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 Volunteers(tn) and earning a T-Shirt in the process.
Why do we have to be so gung-ho about badging?
As stated above, we want to make sure only those people that are members and paid to be here are taking part in the convention festivities. How would you like your party to be crashed by people you don’t know?
If I'm badging, does that make me "security"?
No. No. No. Thankfully, our badgers are there to gently remind people to show their badges and keep them visible. If there is a problem for some reason, contact a member of the roving hosts and hostesses in a purple vest, or the Bridge for assistance.
What else can I volunteer for if I don't want to be a badger?
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 and like being busy and being helpful, why not come spend some time with us and check it out. You may decide to stay. 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?'
Where is the Volunteers Desk? Information Desk?
The Volunteers desk is located in CONvergence Central (up the escalators on the second floor - you can’t miss us).
Do I have to have any particular skills?
A pleasant and fun attitude, a willingness to have fun and be helpful to strangers and you may be asked to be persuasive at times (come on, you know you want to help us out).
Are there any other perks for volunteering (other than the button, T-Shirt and Party)?
Yes. There is a special time on Wednesday night before the convention for those who have signed up to volunteer AND are pre-registered (both of these are required) to take advantage of the "Volunteers Registration Time" and pick up your badge before any of the other con-goers who have pre-registered. Be one of the first to get your convention badge early, just for volunteering!
Why does it take so many hours to get a T-shirt?
It is actually point of work philosophy. We consider our biggest perk to our volunteers to be the Volunteer Party. The T-Shirt and the buttons are tangible evidence of your willingness to help, yes, but after working so hard for us, we want to say "Thank You" by throwing a party in your honor, rather than providing assortments for different "levels" of volunteer hours. We like the simplicity of the idea: "Volunteer and you get a button and a party". Of course, don’t let us stop you from volunteering a heckuvalot and getting a T-Shirt.
I want to Volunteer for _____. Can you help me?
Yes. 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.
I asked to be contacted about volunteering and have not been. Don't you want me?
YES! Of COURSE we want you! If you have not received a response, please Contact us and we will help you get where you want to go.
How do you keep track of all these volunteers?
We give every one of our volunteers a Volunteer Card. As you complete your volunteer shift (or shifts) for a specific department, fill it in and have the department head initial it for you. At the end of the convention, turn in your card at the Volunteers Desk. Many departments will also have books that are used to keep track of your volunteer hours.
I volunteered and accidentally brought my Volunteer Card home with me. What do I do now?
Email (or call) us as soon as possible within a week of the convention. Let us know your name, badge number, which department(s) you worked for and how many hours you worked. Then snail mail your card to us. We will be waiting for it!
I volunteered but could not find the department head to initial my volunteer card. What do I do?
Come to the Volunteers Desk and we can take care of it for you.