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 and bridge the committee needs and membership talents and skills by creating easy, streamlined ways of getting connected, and finally, providing guidance and support to new volunteers and committee chairs as a means of orienting and welcoming them to their new roles.
Across 2022-2023, the Member Engagement Committee has been up to a lot! With the Volunteer Management Program available to all members, groups and committees continue to post their volunteer needs for members interested in volunteering to explore for fit. This platform assists 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. ISSTD is always looking for new volunteers, and we encourage anyone interested to reach out and express interest to get support in navigating the different options for volunteering. We recognize how busy life and practice can get, and we have opportunities available to match with your level of availability!
The Member Engagement Committee hosted a combined Member Engagement/Membership Meet-Up’s at the ISSTD’s 2023 Annual Conference this past April for in-person attendees, and a Member Engagement meet-up at the 2022 Virtual Conference 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 includes a Wellness and Self-Care Corner, Mindful Morning Movement, Lunch-time Mix ’n’ Mingles, cool social events, and the Volunteer Recognition Event at the 2023 Annual Conference. Coming up next in 2023 is the ISSTD’s Toronto Regional Conference on September 21-22, 2023, and the ISSTD’s Virtual Conference from October 21-22, 2023, where we will be holding Member Engagement Meet Ups for members curious about volunteering. These meetings will explore the different committees, SIG’s, and ROC’s that ISSTD has to offer, which includes information about how to join SIG’s and ROC’s and/or volunteer for a committee.
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 Management System 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!