Volunteering

Volunteers are the real heroes of our story.

Open Meetings

The primary purpose of the open meeting is for new people to interact with planning staff, make suggestions, and participate in discussions.

Open meetings are usually held at 6pm (Pacific Time) on the 3rd Thursday of every month, at the Grand Sierra. Sometimes the date and time are different. The exact meeting room varies from month to month, so check Twitter, Tumblr, or this page for updates.

Online participation is appreciated and encouraged! Our meeting is streamed on Youtube (audio only). Moderators watch the chat for relevant questions and discussion.

The agenda for the current meeting can be found on Google Docs.

Open meeting schedule:

May 11th: Canceled, not needed
(everyone knows what they need to get done, and the time is better spent getting stuff done).

Apply To Volunteer

Use the button below to jump directly to the volunteering application in our registration system. We will review the application and determine if you fit as a Recruit or as Staff. Read onward to learn the difference between "Recruit" and "Staff."

Apply to Volunteer

Volunteer Perks

RecruitWork only the hours you choose
Easier to apply before the con
Can apply at-con

4 hoursLove and Adoration
A special thank-you gift
Two meal vouchers
8 hoursTwo more meal vouchers
12 hoursTwo more meal vouchers, and your choice of either:
A refund of your attendee-level badge, OR
A ticket to the Sunday night Staff Appreciation Dinner

StaffKnown to be reliable
Want the con to succeed
Must apply by May 1st

4 hoursLove and Adoration
A special staff thank-you gift
A free attendee-level badge
Four meal vouchers
8 hoursFour more meal vouchers
A ticket to the Sunday night Staff Appreciation Dinner
12+ hours$180 (One night) removed from your hotel bill
(multiple staff members sharing a room can earn this benefit)

Meal vouchers only valid in the con space, not for on-site restaurants. Meal vouchers can be gifted to anyone. Staff meal vouchers might be restricted to specific days to spread out their use.
Recruit perks above the 12-hour level are the discretion of the HR lead (to discourage Recruits from overworking themselves and missing the con).
Staff who sign up for the 12-hour level are relied upon to help out more where needed.

Volunteer Levels

Recruits

Recruits are unproven people we haven't worked with yet. If we don't know you yet, you will be a Recruit for at least a year while you prove your reliability. Most Recruits sign up at-con, but if you know you will volunteer, please apply now for a wider choice of hours.
When you sign up, we will build your schedule around the hours you're willing to volunteer. If we run short on people outside your scheduled times, you may get a phone call asking for help. Responding to our call and helping will count 1.5x time.
Sometimes, you may end up "idle," waiting for assignment in the volunteer lounge. You're welcome to socialize while waiting, and we'll also try to have some entertainment options in the volunteer lounge. "Idle time" counts 0.5x time.
Any hours volunteered on Thursday or Monday count 1.5x time.

Staff

Staff are people we know well enough to rely on. For Staff, the success of the convention comes first. Staff have previously proven commitment to their schedule. Staff committing to the 12+ hour level are called upon to help fill unexpected schedule shortfalls, to "do whatever it takes."
Staff must apply and be approved before the con, must be known to be reliable, and are usually either people we've worked with before, or well-established staff members from other conventions.
Staff members don't have to be leads (though leads do have to be staff members).

So will I be considered Staff or Recruit?

If we haven't met you before: Recruit.
If we know you well enough to rely on your schedule, and you consider the convention's success your top priority: Staff.