Volunteering

Greetings fellow New Orleans AIGA members, This is your opportunity to get further involved with AIGA New Orleans and our creative community. Do you have a special talent or skill you can bring to our Chapter? Do you have an idea for an event or initiative you’d like to see us explore? Do you want to roll up your sleeves and pitch in? Can you open a bag of chips and pour them into a bowl? If so we’d love to hear from you!

Please contact Mitch Wallace at volunteers@aiganeworleans.org and we will get back to you with volunteer opportunities. Thanks!!

Vice President
The vice-president should be as familiar as the president with the events, programs, and activities of the chapter. The vice-president is responsible for working with board members and president to ensure that the goals of the chapter are being met. The vice-president must be available to assume the duties and responsibilities of the president in the event of resignation or absence.

• Aid the president on special projects as assigned
• Preside at board meetings and on conference calls in the president’s absence
• Represent the president at his/her request
• Assume the presidency in the case of resignation until the position is filled
• Assist with employee relationships and payment of creditor invoices
• Lead chapter’s advocacy efforts: Political, Corporate and Good design
• Assist president and chapter with AIGA National initiatives
• Report monthly updates from AIGA National to the board
• Preside over the AIGA New Orleans nominating committee
• Work with board president to determine long range chapter goals
• Work with other board chairs to assure goals are being met
• Coordinate the annual open board meeting for members

Treasurer
The treasurer is the guardian of AIGA New Orleans funds, trustee of accounts and keeper of the chapter’s financial records. The treasurer receives and disperses funds and keeps permanent record of monies received and paid out. The treasurer is responsible for assuring that the chapter fulfills financial obligation to state and federal agencies as well as creditors.

• File state and federal forms
• Present year-end budget reports to the board
• Preside over annual budgeting process for each fiscal year
• Keep board aware of income and expenses throughout the year
• Work with CPA to provide necessary financial records for tax filings
• Provide financial reports to AIGA National as requested (national leadership retreat)
• Work with board president to determine long range financial goals
• Work with other board chairs to assure financial planning
• Assure timely payment of AIGA New Orleans invoices

Secretary
The Secretary works with the President, Vice President, the professional association for design AIGA New Orleans and Treasurer to review event proposals and budgets, make decisions regarding Chapter policy, and provide guidance for the Board of Directors and the Chapter as a whole. The Secretary is responsible for keeping all Board members up-to-date on pertinent dates and details.
Duties include:

• Preparing and disseminating internal communications for the Board (i.e., meeting minutes, Committee reports and Chapter retreat information);
• Serving as a liaison between the Executive Board and individual Board members
• Providing assistance to Committee Chairs at events
• Proofreading Chapter communications and promotional materials
• Recording and documenting Chapter business (election results, minutes, bylaws, etc.)
• Sending election results to the National office and maintaining a current Board list with the National online database
• Managing chapter resources (keys, documentation, etc.)

Communications Director
The communications chair is responsible for the public image of the chapter through its collateral, website, newsletter, press releases and additional marketing and communications efforts. The chair makes sure that AIGA New Orleans presents information to members and friends clearly and concisely while paying attention to a high level of design.

• Work with events committee on event and program collateral design
• Proof all event collateral, newsletters, website and major correspondence
• Compile and maintain a current list of pr contacts
• Compile and maintain a list of local advertising opportunities
• Compile and maintain a list of local calendar listings and free press options
• Write and mail press releases for AIGA events, programs and important achievements
• Work with the design history chair on layout and production of design history journal
• Work with chapter contacts and volunteers to edit recurring newsletter/journal
• Report progress of all projects to the board of directors

Development Director
The AIGA New Orleans development chair is responsible for identifying, contacting and soliciting potential cash and in-kind donors for AIGA New Orleans events and programs. Special attention is given to annual sponsorships, in-kind donations of paper and printing and sponsors for the Design lecture Series and fall fundraiser.

• Maintain record of sponsors – contact names, what was donated, dollar value, for what event. etc.
• Compile work and maintain a current list of potential in-kind and cash sponsors
• Work with events chair to understand collateral and sponsorship needs for each season
• Identify in-kind paper and printing donations for events and programs
• Identify cash sponsors for events and programs
• Determine sponsor benefits on an individual or croup case
• Create, update and distribute sponsor solicitation packets describing event opportunities
• Work with DLS Chair to identify DLS sponsors
• Work with fundraiser event chair to identify table sponsors and additional sponsors
• Make sure sponsors and donations get acknowledged: newsletter, at events, on website, thank you notes and other means
• Report to AIGA New Orleans board on sponsorship success or progress
• Compile a running list of AIGA New Orleans sponsors who have donated paper, printing, cash or other services
• Ensure a complete set of files (binder and electronic files) is delivered to the next Development/Partnership Director

Membership Director
The AIGA New Orleans Membership Chair is responsible for all aspects of chapter membership including the solicitation of new members and the retention of members up for renewal. The chair is also responsible for maintaining records on membership and acting on monthly reports sent to the chair from the national office.

• Coordinate a committee of volunteers to assist with membership
• Coordinate and staff a membership table at AIGA New Orleans events
• Solicit and advertise annual local member benefits for AIGA New Orleans members
• Understand the complete member benefits package from AIGA National
• Work with the president and the board to create a long range plan for membership growth
• Speak at events on the benefits of membership
• Administer the list of new members, members up for renewal and dropped members
• Send new members welcome packages
• Contact members up for renewal to encourage membership
• Contact dropped members and encourage membership
• Coordinate the annual membership party with events chair
• Work with the events chair to develop programs that encourage membership
• Complete the annual membership roundtable for the national leadership retreat

Volunteer Coordinator
The AIGA New Orleans volunteer coordinator is responsible for all aspects of volunteer recruitment, retention and publicity of open positions. The chair is also responsible for maintaining records of all volunteers and rewarding them when possible.

• Coordinate with President to determine any board or chair positions that need to be filled
• Coordinate with Design Lecture Series and Events chairs to determine the volunteers needed at each event for the year
• Coordinate with the Membership and Development Chairs to see if they need any volunteers to aid in their projects
• Work closely with the Education chair to promote volunteer opportunities to students
• Keep record of volunteers each year in order to reward the most active volunteer
• Publicize open volunteer opportunities to New Orleans design community

Education Director
The AIGA New Orleans Education Chair is responsible for maintaining a close relationship between AIGA New Orleans and the schools in Northern California that offer graphic design courses or majors. He or she is responsible for providing programming to AIGA New Orleans student members and interested non-member students.

• Coordinate and update the annual enrichment scholarship including
  • Identify scholarship poster designer
  • Jury solicitation and confirmation
  • Jury meeting management
  • Update annual list of design programs included on poster
  • Work with NASAD schools to advertise scholarship to students
  • Encourage professors to make students aware of scholarship
• Identify student liaisons to work with AIGA New Orleans on student initiatives
  • Meet regularly with student liaisons
  • Discuss issues of importance to students
• Work with liaisons to present the annual portfolio day program
  • Assist with reviewer invitations
  • Assure that liaisons assist with event preparations
  • Assure that liaisons attend Portfolio Day are responsible for the event
• Suggest and implement student-based programming to the board and events committee
• Assist with construction and update of student resources pages on the AIGA New Orleans website
• Coordinate member drives at Northern California schools with graphic design programs
• Organize and lead a committee to assist with duties and responsibilities