Make a difference — Volunteer with IAVM! By Richard L. Andersen, CFE We launched our Call for Volunteers two weeks ago and have had a slow response from you. It is through volunteerism, the giving of your time, knowledge and expertise, that we fulfill our promise to provide exceptional educational experiences, a vibrant community and essential tools to the venue management profession. Are you ready for a new challenge? Are you committed to getting a short term (or long term) project completed? Then this is the CALL for Volunteers that fits you. Let me share the vision I have for the role you might play. Role of Committee Members: Must make a serious commitment to participate actively in the committee's work, including substantive participation in committee meetings and discussions. Should volunteer for and willingly accept assignments and complete them thoroughly and on time. Must stay informed about committee matters, be prepared for meetings and review and comment on minutes and reports. Should get to know other committee members and build a collegial working relationship that contributes to consensus. Act as a think tank and a team of "doers." Recruit and motivate members (current and future). Have a plan in place for your successor. Share the credit. Thank all that were involved in the success of the committee. We are pleased and excited to invite you to respond to this year's Call for Volunteers. We need your skills, passion and perspectives to build a vibrant, inclusive and multicultural corps of volunteer leaders throughout our councils, committees and work groups. Please review the organization chart and the roles & responsibilities at www.iavm.org to learn about the council, committees, work groups and current organizational structure to which you can volunteer your time. Please fill out the form and tell us why you are a good fit with the volunteer group in which you're interested. The hyperlink to the form is in the paragraph above (hover over Call for Volunteers). At the end of the day, service is at the heart of all we do ... in everything we do. As an organization, we need you to keep making a difference ... or if you have not stepped into a more active role in the past, to make that move now! The deadline to respond to the Call for Volunteers is March 16, 2012; appointments will be made in early May. NOTE: If you are currently serving on a committee, you will need to take no action. This is only for members seeking new roles as a volunteer for IAVM.