I first volunteered in an ad hoc capacity with the component relations section council. I then attended Great Ideas Feb. 2007 with the express purpose of networking with the component relations section and to see how I could get involved. I filled out the annual call for volunteers form, then I contacted Wanda Little Coffee directly to let her now about my interest.

Be persisent, but I think the most important part is the networking and personal contact.

I hope this is helpful!

Nice article. I would be curious to know from ASAE what they thought the purpose of the breakfast was. Was it to give us heads up? Was it a perk? Was it to network? It’s been the same way for a while – and I wonder if they do it that way because it’s how it’s been done.

I sat in the back of the room by the door and could not see the leaders in their thrones. Add to it, when folks lined up at the mics, all I saw were backs of people at the mics. Unable to see front of the room for what? An hour?

Not sure what goal that experience achieved. I definitely did not feel like an important contributor to ASAE as a result.

They’ve done open lunches before. Usually volunteers just sat at tables with their teams. In fact, some just took food back to their room. Very little co-mingling. Usually at that point, the teams have new members – and team needs to rebuild.

I’m very excited about Velma this year. She and I had a brief chat re the luncheon and she saw the need for change as well. Will be interesting to see what happens.

Thanks for sharing your first time point of view. I wonder what our own association first time volunteers would say about their experiences?

Granted, I’ve only been a member for a year so my learning curve is a lot steeper than people who’ve been involved for years…but maybe my experience as a new member is relevant? From a new member perspective, ASAE feels very ivory tower and clique-y for the organized stuff like councils, etc, but stuff like the listservs and Acronym are great.

I disliked the volunteer breakfast mostly because we all should have been talking to each other from the mic – not to the leaders seated on the dais; we should be collaborating and sharing across components.

But aside from all that, I just have to say that for all the warts volunteering for ASAE has been fun and rewarding. I just completed by service on the Components council as past-chair and joined the Exec Mgmt Council and i’ve helped out in some fun ad-hoc roles like blogger for Acronym, on the team for Components online course, hand book and DTV.

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It’s great to have a brief update from the leadership, and I really appreciate the time they give to our organization. I do feel their presentation is redundant with the information we receive in the general sessions. It might be worth exploring how we better utilize our time at the volunteer luncheon.

The ego portion of the equation cannot be overlooked. I really like Jeffrey’s comment that we should really make it easy for other people to do cool stuff, reaching out more from whichever council or committee we currently serve on.

Clarity as substitute for control!!I’m with you Lindy. I’m still processing how this applies to my experiences with ASAE as well as when I wear my executive hat.

Love your short mantra, but my add a third role for volunteer leaders: make it easy for others to do cool stuff … which I guess is a part of your statement regarding getting people involved.

I don’t think I’m completely unique as a person who once sat on councils and the like, but have tried to get out of the way for others to take on more leadership. And there’s probably an even larger core of folks who have yet to contribute. We need to make it much easier for people with ideas and skills to contribute them to the strategic direction ASAE & the Center has outlined.