Join the 10th Anniversary of WordCamp Toronto

Volunteers, speakers and sponsors make WordCamp Toronto (#WCTO) happen. Sponsors generously provide the budget. Speakers give us the valuable content. Volunteers make the work happen that allows #WCTO to run smoothly.

And there are a few perks to being a #WCTO Volunteer:

• Free Admission to #WCTO (both days)
• Ticket to Welcome Dinner
• Volunteer t-shirt
• Thank You Dinner after #WCTO (8 Oct)

I’m ready! Let me at the application.

Plus the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from being part of the crew. You’re on the inside making things happen.

A goal for 2017 is to have enough volunteers to make sure Room Hosts and Camera Operators only have to cover two sessions. These are very simple positions that are also incredibly important. So please keep in mind: you can volunteer for more than one thing. For example, someone doing event signage might also want to be a room host or camera operator.

Here is a list of the volunteer positions, and a brief explanation of what they do. (Plus there’s lots of help and support for everyone involved.)

Volunteers Needed

Scheduler

Looks after scheduling team meetings and monitoring deadlines

Audio Visual Wrangler (Heather Vilistus)

• Works with Ryerson to ensure we have access to WiFi, projectors, etc.
• Ensures all presentations are recorded
• Coordinates editing of videos after #WCTO (WordCamp Central has lots of volunteers, and there are lots of folks in Toronto who volunteer to help with editing)
• Ensure all videos are uploaded to WordPress.tv

Volunteers who work with the A/V Organiser are:

Camera Operators (we need two more)

• Set up and take down the event camera in a given room
• Record the presentations if an assigned room
• Take the SD card from the camera and deliver it to the A/V Coordinator

Let’s go to the application

KidsCamp Wrangler (Peg Perry)

This is the first time we’re having a Kid’s Camp. It’s for people age 9 – 16. The goal for the day is to get a website built and a couple of posts into place.

We’re asking people age 16-19 to be live reporters at WordCamp. We have a special area set up where they can post accounts of the sessions they attend. Those posts then go live to the WordCamp social stream.

Peg needs a few volunteers to make Kid’s Camp work. It happens Saturday only, so you still have all of Sunday to attend sessions.

Promotion Wrangler

Looks after all aspects of promoting #WCTO. This is a big job, and several folks are wanted to support the Promotion Wrangler.

Volunteers who support the Promotion Organiser are:

Social Media Manager

• Connects attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers with WCTO social media accounts
• We also need folks to support Manny by writing updates, tweets and posts.

Print Media Manager (News Coverage rather than advertisements)

• Connects with news media for coverage of WCTO
• Focus on Economic Development, Youth Involvement and Entrepreneurship

Event Photography (Sujin Choi and Maureen Davis)

• These are the folks making us look good at WordCamp. They’re taking photos during the sessions and breaks.

Event Signage (Mike Pun and Agnes Yiu)

• You’re getting the signs as well as putting them and taking them down

Guest Posts on WCTO site

• Work with sponsors, speakers and volunteers to get a post from each

Guest Posts on WPTO site

• Work with sponsor and speakers to get a post from each

Sponsor Wrangler

• Connects with sponsors to determine their event requirements
• Ensures sponsors know what they get for their level of sponsorship
• Recruits new sponsors
• Receive and review sponsor applications

Let’s go to the application

Speaker Wrangler (Drew Mathers)

• Connects with speakers to ensure they know when they’re speaking
• Ensures a copy of each speaker’s slides is collected
• Build a speaker selection panel to receive and review speaker applications

There is an incredibly important position that supports the Speaker Wrangler

Room Host (several wanted)

• You make sure presentations start and end on time
• Collect a copy of the speaker’s slides before the presentation
• Make sure the speaker has water before starting the presentation

Volunteer Wrangler

• Supports other wranglers in recruiting members for their teams
• Plans and schedules volunteer training
• Plans the Thank You event after #WCTO
• Ensures coordination of all event volunteers

Roles that support the Volunteer Wrangler are:

Registration Concierge (we’re good for registration)

• You greet folks as they arrive at #WCTO
• You get folks registered, give them a schedule, and the right t-shirt

Take me to the volunteer application

Wapuu Drawing Contest (Peg Perry)

Peg is a busy lady this year. She is also handling the Wapuu Drawing Contest.

Why a drawing contest? Because WordCamp Toronto has no official logo (or mascot). Getting our very own Wapuu gives us both!

Watch for more details about the drawing contest on the blog. In the meantime, sharpen your pencil and start drawing. Here are some useful links to discover Wapuu

The Unofficial Wapuu Fan Club (Lots of examples of Wapuu from around the world)

The Wapuu Origin Story

Wapuu FAQ

Contest Entry Deadline: Friday, 29 September 2017

Voting: Happens at WordCamp

Winner Announced: Sunday, 1 October during #WCTO closing remarks

Let’s go to the application

Website Wrangler

Responsible for all elements of building and maintaining the #WCTO site

Other volunteer positions related to the website are:

Site Design and Functionality (Andrew Grant)

• Expanding upon the pre-built WordCamp template to build the WCTO site

Editor (several wanted)

• Oversee posts from speakers, sponsors, volunteers

Author (several wanted)

• Writing regular updates about WCTO leading up to the event

Let’s go to the application

Venue Wrangler (Jeff Kilpatrick)

Coordinates all venues and volunteers arranging venues

Other volunteer positions related to the venues are:

Event Venue Organiser (Jeff Kilpatrick and Conrad Hall)

• This is the primary responsibility of the Venue Coordinator

After Party Organiser (Privat Mamtora)

• Saturday evening event for attendees, speakers and sponsors

Welcome Dinner Organiser (Mary-Kay Perris)

• Friday evening dinner for speakers, sponsors and volunteers

Yes, I want to volunteer. Let me have the application.

Accommodations Wrangler

• Arrange a room block with one hotel
• Provide that information to the Website Administrator

Playbook Writer (Maureen Davis)

We’re taking all the information from the last 9 years of #WCTO to compile a playbook. This gives everyone a set of templates, checklists and instructions to make #WCTO easier than ever to make happen.