|
Volunteer Opportunities
Become a Walk to Defeat ALSTM Volunteer
The success of the Walk to Defeat ALS™ is only made possible by the passion and dedication of our wonderful volunteers. The chapter is currently seeking volunteers to assist in preparation for Walk Day as members of Walk Committees for Jackson, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette. Volunteers will be working in partnership with the ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter staff. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Nicole at nicole.leglue@alsalams.org or 800.891.3746.
Volunteer Opportunities for the Walk include:
Walk Chairs & Committees: These volunteers work directly with The ALS Association staff on planning for the Walk. Areas include: Walk Team Mentoring, Walk Day Logistics, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Media & PR, etc.
Specific volunteer positions are listed below:
Logistics: assist with preparation of day-of needs regarding route, restrooms, water stations, route signs, tents, tables, chairs, etc.
Volunteer: creates volunteer prospect list from clubs and organizations, secures volunteers for day-of walk, assigns volunteers to specific tasks and communicates with volunteers prior to walk day, greets volunteers the day-of and distributes assignments
Food & Beverage: creates prospect list of companies to solicit for product sponsorship of the walk, works with ALS Association staff to develop a solicitation plan, makes follow up calls and secures product, coordinates day-of delivery, set-up and distribution
Entertainment: creates an exciting atmosphere for the day of walk utilizing entertainers, decorations, and children’s activities; secures donated entertainment for the walk, works with entertainers to discern electrical and staging needs
Media/Publicity: assists with development or updating media contact list, writes and distributes PSAs and makes follow up calls
Corporate Committee: works with staff to identify ways to maximize volunteers in the recruitment of sponsorships and new corporate walk teams
Teams Helping Teams: assist new teams by showing them the ropes with letter/email campaigns, team t-shirts, the walk website
Walk Day Volunteers: Set-up, Registration, T-shirts, Clean-up, etc.
Volunteer of the Month: Mrs. Linda Dawkins!
The chapter appreciates the continued support and commitment of Mrs. Linda Dawkins to the organization. In November and December alone, Mrs. Dawkins volunteered over 60 hours assisting the chapter with filing and several patient services and general office mail outs. In addition, Mrs. Dawkins made the Stuffed t-shirt awards to our four Walk to Defeat ALS contest winners.
Volunteers Needed for Fire & Ice Gala on Saturday, January 23rd!
On Saturday, January 23rd approximately 250 guests from throughout Louisiana will gather for Fire & Ice: Gala, the inaugural black-tie optional gala of the Louisiana - Mississippi Chapter of the ALS Associaton honoring Coach Paul Mainieri as Fire King, not only for leading the LSU Baseball team to the 2009 National Championship in the College World Series, but for his continuous support of the organization’s battle against Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Ice Queen Jenny Heroman will also be honored for her deciation and support of The ALS Association and its patients The gala will be held at Louisiana State Museum located at 660 N. 4th Street in Baton Rouge. Guests at the event will also enjoy lively entertainment by Ned Fasullo and The Fabulous Big Band, a performance by Cangelosi Dance Project, a live and silent auction, a raffle with multiple high-end prizes, food, and beverages .
Set Up Volunteers:
The chapter needs volunteers to assist with set up from 2 to 6PM prior to the event. Set up includes decorating the venue and silent auction set up.
Event Volunteers:
Volunteers are needed from 6 to 9PM to assist with welcoming guests, taking their ticket, and assisting auction numbers to each guest, and recording each guest's contact information. Volunteers are needed from 11 to 1 AM to assist with pick up of the silent auction area, etc.
Silent Auction Volunteers:
Volunteers are needed from 6:30 to 10:30 to ensure that the auction is being run properly. Volunteers will list the winners at the close of the auction and will assist staff with accepting payment for the items. For more details, please contact Nicole at 800.891.3746.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Fire & Ice Gala, please contact Nicole at nicole.leglue@alsalams.org or toll free at 800.891.3746.
Walk Day Volunteer Opportunities!
It takes the efforts of many dedicated volunteers to make the Walk to Defeat ALS a success! The chapter is looking for volunteers to assist with the following:
Set up and clean up; t-shirt distribution to walkers and volunteers; registration assistance; water station volunteers along walk route; route volunteers to direct and cheer along walk participants; food and beverage station assistance; merchandise sales assistance; and facepainters needed!
Please call the chapter office and ask to speak with Nicole at 800.891.3746 or email at nicole.leglue@alsalams.org for additional details about walk day volunteer opportunities or to sign up!
The chapter needs your help with spreading the word about the upcoming walks in your area. If you know of local businesses willing to put up walk posters or brochures, please email the chapter at nicole.leglue@alsalams.org or call at 800.891.3746 if you need supplies.
Volunteers: Making a Difference in their Communities to Help People with Disabilities and the Elderly in Emergency Shelters
So far this year, the chapter fostered greater consciousness across the state by increasing public awareness of Lou Gehrig’s Disease as well as raising additional funds for patient services programs and research. These efforts would not be possible without the assistance and continued support of our committed volunteers. From January to June of this year, volunteers have graciously given their time for a combined total of 260 hours. The chapter staff appreciates this commitment to our PALS (persons with ALS) and their families.
Restaurants for Research, Lou Gehrig Night at the Box, State Advocacy Day at the Capitol, and Petals & Pearls would not have been a success without the help of our dedicated volunteers, who we greatly appreciate. Their continued support is the foundation of our chapter.
Patient Services Specialists, Dora and Brandy, thank Mrs. Joan Vogel Tapp, Forum 35 members Jolee Bollinger, Melissa Ritter, Linsey Sutton, Tiffany Burke, and Barbara Messina, as well as Sheila Boxil and Michelle Vannoy for their assistance with our monthly support group reminders.
As the Walk to Defeat ALS approaches, we would like to thank our committee members for Baton Rouge and Jackson including Jennifer Aycock Motlow, Patty Prats-Swanson, Jennifer Hatch, Kate Bradshaw, Pat Sibille, Ellie Avegno, Michelle Vannoy, Jimmy Waters, Vicki Muirhead, Jan Robertson, Cindy Terry and Becky Oakman.
The chapter has several upcoming events this summer and fall in which volunteers are needed including the Zephyrs Strike Out ALS Day on July 4th, Texas Hold Em’ Poker Tournament on August 1st, Jackson Walk to Defeat ALS on September 12th, New Orleans Walk to Defeat ALS on September 19th, Lafayette Walk to Defeat ALS on October 3rd, and the Baton Rouge Walk to Defeat ALS on October 17th. If you would like to volunteer for any of these events, join a walk committee, or assist with monthly support group mailings, please contact Nicole at 800.891.3746 or by email at nicoleleglue@alsalouisiana.org.
After a disaster, people with disabilities and the elderly need your help during their stay in emergency shelters. YOU can help in so many ways. You can read to someone who is blind, help orient someone to the shelter's layout, assist with dressing, eating, getting in and out of his/her cot, getting to the restroom, etc. With your help an already difficult experience can be a little less stressful. To volunteer go to http://www.lava.dhh.louisiana.gov/.
Development Committee
The Development Committee plans and oversees the on-going efforts to generate financial resources necessary to support the goals and objective of the chapter. The committee develops an annual plan based on the chapter’s strategic goals and measures progress on a quarterly basis. The Development Committee also plans and oversees efforts to increase awareness and knowledge of ALS and related issues to all significant publics. Members in the development committee are largely involved in fundraising events throughout the year. We are especially looking for persons in Lafayette, Shreveport and New Orleans to participate on this committee.
Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee shall be responsible for the chapter's participation in the governmental process to effect legislation, regulation, public policy and programs concerning the needs of persons with ALS and to raise awareness of the governmental process. The committee develops an annual plan based on the chapter’s strategic goals and measures progress on a quarterly basis. The committee should work closely with the National ALS Advocacy Office in Washington D.C.
Public Eduation/Awareness Committee
Patient Services Committee
The Patient Services Committee plans and oversees the programs and services the chapter will provide to local patients, families and other constituents. The committee develops an annual plan based on the chapter’s strategic goals and measures progress on a quarterly basis. The committee also evaluates the needs of patients, families and constituents on an annual basis.
The Public Education/Awareness committee functions to bring the message of The Association to the public and health care professionals in your area. By utilizing all media and through personal contact, this committee can work to educate the public and health care communities about ALS, as well as its enormous psycho-social and economic impact on patients and families, and the need for more research to find a cause, treatment and cure.
Committee members should be familiar with the literature and programs of The Association and seek every means possible to bring awareness not only of the problems, but also the measures being taken by The Association to combat this devastating disease. Committee members should seek liaison with doctors and other health and social welfare agencies, nursing associations, medical schools and colleges, and school health teachers in an effort to improve their knowledge and increase their efforts to educate the public about ALS.
|
|
The ALS Association Louisiana/Mississippi Chapter
