Volunteer Instruction Sheet-SFWC

San Francisco Writers Conference 2012- Volunteer Duties and Information Sheet
 
The volunteer schedule will be available online at least one week before the conference.
If you find you need to make a change, you can trade with another person.
You must let Linda Lee or my assistant, Jane Glendinning know.
This is critical. You absolutely cannot  switch places on your own and not tell us.

Once the conference has started , if you must make a change tell the  volunteer in charge on the master schedule.
You cannot make judgement calls on your own that we only need one person  for a session, or replace yourself for an entire day, that is not how we do it.

You may not swap places with someone and not tell us. This has caused problems that you as a volunteer may not even be aware of, but we know all the sessions and who is suppose to be in each room and how it goes. The speakers tell us loud and clear if they only have one person or things are not running smoothly.

There are always many things going on behind the scenes that you will not be aware of, and we count on you to show up where you are assigned and do the job.

We need Thursday afternoon helpers : If you can help us load things up at Michael and Elizabeth’s, we meet at 2:00

Their home is very close to the hotel,  about 1 mile away
Please let me know if you can come.
Last year we finished in one hour and had a truck, (thank you Steve Levin) and my van and 5 of us.
It was great.

1029 Jones St. San Francisco, CA 94109

Then if  everyone else who will be helping us stuff bags can meet us at 3:00 at the Mark Hopkins, that would be great.
.
This is hard work but we have fun putting together the bags for the attendees

We go out to dinner after we are done, and we usually finish up by6-7 depending how many people help. Dinner is on Michael Larson
and he usually joins us for some fascinating conversation! Don’t miss this opportunity.
You must confirm with Linda Lee for the dinner ahead of time.
The restaurant has limited seating.

Duties for all Volunteers

1. Daily Check-in

Each morning you need to check in with the Volunteer Lounge Coordinator.
You must be on time.  This job is a privilege and you need to treat it as such.
People that are late are not invited back the following year.


We have a sign in and sign out system.
This is mandatory.

Then you need to CHECK OUT when you leave for the day.
When you have committed to a day, we may pull you in to help us other places.
You need to stay in touch with us in the volunteer room so you can hear of changes happening.

Rooms changes do occur during the conference, so you need to check in
with the volunteer lounge to be informed of any last minute changes!

2. Lunch Tickets good for Peets Coffee

Lunch tickets that you can redeem at Peets coffee in the Grace Cathedral are
given to volunteers on each day you work. If you are not working that day but attending the conference
you will not get a ticket.
We do not eat with the guests during meals.

You will get your Peet’s lunch ticket from our Volunteer Lounge Coordinators.
We do not eat with the attendees.

3. Parking
Parking is NOT paid for. One of the more reasonable parking lots is right next to the hotel on the same side of the street.

The Masonic garage. They often offer an early bird rate.

Volunteer Duties

PLEASE CHECK THE BOARD IN THE VOLUNTEER LOUNGE AT LEAST TWICE A DAY FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES.

Many times we have to shuffle things around and it is impossible to find all of you

Each room is assigned two volunteers.
All of the Breakout Sessions have a Host and a Timekeeper. .

1. You must wear your name tag at all times.

2. Before your own scheduled session , check in, pick up your timekeeper cards and signs for the door.

Volunteers covering those sessions will need to be in the Breakout Rooms 15 minutes before the session.

Breakout Session Volunteer Responsibilities:
Make sure the right name sign is on the door -VERY IMPORTANT!
Please decide between the two of you who will do what.

Introduction of Speaker/s
Timekeeper, includes giving final 10 min and 2 minute warning for speaker.

1. Correct name and sign on the door.
2  Clean Room
3. Water set up for speaker
4. Signage for speaker is on table or podium
5. Handouts passes out on chairs before session starts.
6. One of you will introduce the speaker/speakers
7. One of you will be in charge of timekeeping and the warning signs.

The Speakers have been asked to bring their own introductions.
If they do not have one, they may want to introduce themselves.
Some of them do prefer this, find out beforehand.

Or you may read what is in the program as the introduction.

*Also please note, these sessions are being taped, ask them how to pronounce
their names before the session and practice saying it if necessary.
Try not to say umm and do not change what they have written.

Do not make jokes or try to be entertaining please-be friendly and professional.
ALL SESSIONS ARE RECORDED AND YOUR INTRODUCTION IS ON THE TAPE

Please decide who is in charge of which job, but you both need to make sure general jobs are done such as a clean room and you both will help with the seating..

The Host will have the following duties:

1) Make sure Speakers have water, if they need it.
2) Make sure proper signage is on the table.
3) Welcome the Speakers (and Moderator) and help to seat them.
4) Know how to pronounce their names, (ask if unsure) , and have the program to read from for introductions.
 

The Timekeeper will have the following duties:

1) Make sure all handouts are on the chairs;
2) Perform “door” duty and “seating” duty as needed;
3) Notify the Speakers at 10 minutes, 5 minutes, and “Stop!”
points before the end of the Breakout Session (signs that you can hold up will be provided).
 

After the speaker is done, there is usually a Q&A session.
It is very important that you repeat the questions
or have the speaker repeat the question before answering, all sessions are being taped and sold  and offered on the SFWC University Website.
Also many times in the audience they cannot hear the question.

A sign will be in each session to remind you and the speaker to do this.


Seating:   Please direct the attendees to the FRONT of the room.
This is very important since people arriving late are disruptive when they have to go to
the front. Also this allows us to see the space we have available more easily.

Volunteers are allowed in all sessions, however if a session is full, volunteers need to give up their seat to paying attendees. Volunteers should wait until all attendees are seated to take a seat.

Both people working a session are responsible for ushering people out of the room when the session ends and also you

YOU MUST CLEAN UP THE ROOM FOR THE NEXT SESSION.
At least one volunteer must stay in the room until one of the next sessions volunteers arrives. There should NEVER be an empty room.

There are 1-2 floaters at all times. They will be checking in the hallways at the beginning of each Breakout Session in case there is an unexpected crowd overflow at one of the rooms,
or in the event of any unforeseen need.

Other Volunteer Responsibilities

Meal Greeter and Seater: Please be at the door of the dining room 15 minutes before the meal.

VERY IMPORTANT: Take the guests to the front of the room.
We need people to sit in the front tables first.
We need you to literally walk them up to the front tables.
Do not let people wander around and sit all over the room please.

Volunteers will also be utilized at the
AV- Venkat Raman

Cafe- Steve Levine
Tapes Desk for selling:
Registration: Julaina Kleist-Lead
Tape and Audio: Patrick
Volunteer Lounge-in charge is Jane Glendinning.
Meal Greeter:
Book Signing:
Receptions:
Speed Dating: Kellie Edson-Head
Floaters:-Lead
Meet an Editor-Mary Knippel
Ask a Pro-

Note: Because “things happen,” all Volunteers are “on call” on the days you are volunteering in the event of emergencies
or no-shows due to traffic jams, etc.
Because Speakers must be accommodated, there will be changes right up to the last minute.

During the Conference, up-to-the-minute information will be available in the Volunteer Lounge.

All volunteers are allowed to come and hear the Keynote speakers for free if there is room.

We just need to wait until the public is seated first, and then you can find a seat
in the back of the room. We may need help with the chairs each day.

We will have food, coffee and tea and water in the Volunteer Lounge.
If you want to bring something to contribute to the food table that would be wonderful!

For food there is the lounge and your daily lunch ticket for Peets.

We do not eat with the attendees.

Mark Hopkins/Getting in touch with Linda Lee and Jane Glendinning

Linda Lee and Jane Glendinning will be staying at the Mark Hopkins from Thursday-Monday and you can call us anytime during the event.

SUNDAY NIGHT WE HAVE A BIG DINNER in town sponsored by one our great supporters Harvey Pawl.
All volunteers are paid for by Harvey Pawl, Huge amount of great food, and fun. Bring your appetite!
The sign up will up all weekend in the volunteer lounge. We have a great time each year and the food is always good.

We have a volunteer party 1-2 weeks after the Conference. Date to be announced.

This is a great time to bring any photos you may have taken and any stories of your experiences too!
As always, we thank you for all your hard work, and great attitudes.
You help make this a wonderful experience for the attendees.