Happy June ISSTDWorld! Thanks for stopping by and taking a minute to find out what the Member Engagement Committee has been up to for the last while. The goal of the ISSTD’s Member Engagement Committee has been to work alongside other ISSTD Committees, Special Interest Groups, Taskforces, and the Board of Directors to identify volunteer needs, offer members opportunities to volunteer and become more engaged with the ISSTD. It aims to bridge the committee needs and membership talents and skills by creating easy, streamlined ways of getting connected. Another aim is to provide guidance and support to new volunteers and committee chairs as a means of orienting and welcoming them to their new roles.
Across 2021-2022, the Member Engagement Committee has been up to a lot! With the Volunteer Match Program up and running since July 2020, groups and committees continue to post their volunteer needs for members interested in volunteering to explore for fit. The Member Engagement Committee will be hosting a Volunteer Match program training later this year to support committee, SIG, ROC, and group leadership in accessing the program. This platform continues to assist us with matching the talents of our membership with the needs of leadership and identifying the amazing work volunteers are doing to help move the organization and its members forward together.
During 2021, the Member Engagement Committee hosted the second Leadership Orientation meeting, providing support to committee, SIG, and ROC leadership in navigating the new volunteer onboarding process and accompanying Volunteer Orientation Manual, and we will be working on a formal Standard Operating Procedure in 2022 to accompany it. As part of the orientation process, the Member Engagement Committee will be working alongside committee, SIG, ROC, and group leadership to identify small projects to engage members in from the outset of stepping into a volunteer role.
Additionally, the Member Engagement Committee hosted a two Member Engagement Meet-Up’s at the ISSTD’s 2022 Annual Conference in April, one for in-person attendees and one for virtual attendees. The Member Engagement Committee also works alongside other committees, including the Membership Committee, the Conference Committee, and the Virtual and Regional Conference Committee, to support social and networking events at the various conferences the ISSTD offers annually, which included an Art Exhibit, Wellness and Self-Care Corner, Mindful Movement, Lunch-time Mix ’n’ Mingles, and Volunteer Recognition at the 2022 Annual Conference. Coming up in 2022 is the ISSTD Virtual Conference from October 22-23, 2022, where we will be holding another Member Engagement Meet Up for members curious about volunteering.
If you are curious about increased networking throughout ISSTD and have an interest in providing volunteer support, the Member Engagement Committee could be the Committee for you. If interested, please contact Jill Hosey: jillhoseymsw@gmail.com. If you are interested in becoming more involved with the other areas of ISSTD, please stay tuned for Volunteer Opportunity Spotlights in the ISSTD News or visit the Volunteer Match page in ISSTDWorld. Your passion and skills can make a big impact, as it is with the help of members who volunteer their time that we are able to do so much more than would be possible with our wonderful, but small team of paid staff. Thanks to all of you who are contributing your time and energy; you help make this international organization thrive!