Volunteering

Did you know that Minicon is an all-volunteer convention? We don't sell tickets, we offer memberships (priced to cover con expenses). As members of a community, we all pitch in and help out. It turns out that working volunteer shifts is also a great way to make new friends, connect with old ones, and generally have a great time at the convention.

There will be plenty of opportunity to volunteer at the con, but if you connect with a department before the con you can take on jobs that are more responsible and rewarding. And it really helps out the department heads when people sign up for shifts in advance. If you have an idea what department you would like to volunteer for, feel free to contact the department head directly. If you'd like some ideas about volunteer opportunities, contact me at .

And check back here to learn more about the specific jobs we are trying to fill.

Wednesday Night Work Party

Last minute get-together at the hotel the night before the con. At the work party, we stuff badge envelopes, make signs, and do last minute organization. Typically starts about 6pm. Mostly concom, but anyone is welcome if they are willing to work. Specific job that we'd like someone to commit to in advance:

  • Work Party Drinks Head - Bring a cooler with soda in it, another with beer in it, and ice in both, to the Wednesday Night Work Party by 6pm. Get reimbursed for it. Clean up and take them away at the end

Thursday Move-in

The volunteering fun starts in earnest on Thursday afternoon at about 2 PM as we unload the truck bringing stuff from the Storage Locker. We'll need people to haul and carry, but there's also more sedentary work available: unpacking boxes, making signs, directing traffic, etc.

Departments that will be moving in equipment and supplies on Thursday include: Dealers Room, Consuite, Music Room, Art Show, Rumpus Room, and the Bozo Bus Tribune. If you think you might like to volunteer in any of those areas later in the con, helping out on Thursday is a good way to meet the department heads and get a feel for the job.

You can volunteer in advance or just show up at the Volunteers/Info Table on the 2 nd -floor Mezzanine at the top of the escalators to help with the following tasks:

  • Volunteers Table/Dispatch Center - Yes, you can volunteer to work at the Volunteers Desk!
  • Unload the Truck - Pile things on carts and get it up to the 2 nd floor Dispatch Center. This only takes a couple of hours, but we can use anybody that can do a little lifting and hauling
  • Help the Dealers Move in - Other departments too, but the Dealers Room would like some dedicated volunteers for a few exciting hours

Volunteer in advance for jobs with a little more responsibility

  • Sign Head - Get the signs out (on easels) on Thursday, collect them on Sunday. You can get direction from the Move-In dispatchers at the Volunteers/Info table fort
  • Air Cleaner Head - Deploy the air purifiers on Thursday, collect them on Sunday
  • Pizza Rustler - Order Pizza for the Move-In Volunteers. Also Move-Out on Sunday

Sunday Move-Out

As you might imagine, this is essentially the reverse of the Move-In procedure. It starts right after Closing Ceremonies (which typically end around 5 pm). When the truck is loaded and the function rooms cleaned out, the volunteers can then join the rest of the Concom in the Consuite/Bar for a rousing celebration we call The Dead Dog Party!

Monday Final Move-Out

At this point, all that should be left is the remains of the Dead Dog Party in the Consuite/Bar and any items that somehow didn't get on the truck the night before. It's really not a lot of work, but unfortunately there aren't a lot of congoers left to help with it. PLEASE… IF YOU'RE STAYING OVER SUNDAY NIGHT, consider helping with this! You will be so appreciated! There might be Sushi afterwards.

Consuite

Consider joining the Consuite Crew -- a friendly, upbeat group of volunteers who keep the Consuite staffed, open and available for all of the Congoers. The duties are light. Keep the snack bowls full, make coffee, talk to interesting people, fetch some ice, make coffee, fill the soda swamp, make coffee. The really important thing is the coffee.

If you like to meet people, think snacks are cool and want to help make everyone's MiniCon experience the best it can be then you may be Consuite Crew material. And the Congoers really appreciate the effort -- they will actually smile, say 'Thank you' and then want to talk to you.

This may be one of the best volunteering opportunities to get right in the middle of everything and interface with a large percentage of conference attendees. You will make as many friends as you can comfortably handle.

If interested, please contact or reach out to Drew J., the Consuite Staffing Subhead, at .

What Can I volunteer for?

First and foremost, sign up for shifts in the consuite (typically 2 hours). Consuite will be open 24 hours if we can keep it staffed, so any time of day will do. But it is particularly helpful to have at least one person signed up in advance for:

  • Daybreak Shift - there are a lot of larks at the con, believe it or not. If you're one of them, we could use your help getting things going in the morning
  • Breakfast Subhead - Daybreak shift with a little more responsibility - get that coffee going!
  • Night-Owl Shifts - If you're going to be awake at 4am anyway, why not take a shift in the consuite so we can keep it open? Duties are pretty light at that time of night - we just need someone there to keep an eye on things
  • Soda Subhead - Ensure that cold soda is always available in consuite
  • Ice Monkey - Rather do a quick task several times a day instead of a long shift? Fetch ice!

Art Show

Needs people who are reliable and not afraid of money.

Kids of All Ages Programming

Rumpus Room activities depend on volunteers! Contact if you would like to join or lead/provide or help run a scheduled Rumpus Room Activity or if you are interested in volunteering in the Rumpus Room or can help in any other ways.