Volunteer to be a Helper
Can you help?
We’re looking for experienced arts leaders who can spare some of your socially-isolated time in conversation with a peer who could use your support.
Arts Leaders Alone / Together has set up a quick and simple process for arts leaders to sign up for a slot with you. You set up and manage your schedule availability and the one-on-one conversations appointments will either be added to your calendar automatically or emailed to you.
You may be a CEO, department director, a manager, or a consultant or coach. As long as you have worked at an arts organization or something similar for five years or more and can provide friendly and useful advice and support to a colleague, you can be a helper!
Qualities of Good Helpers
The best helpers are experienced arts leaders who are able to listen deeply to the needs of a colleague and recommend some tools and resources, provide a new perspective, or otherwise advise a peer on how to move forward. You may be called upon to be a thought partner, a strategy/tactics advisor, a sounding board, or a sympathetic ear and you must be comfortable playing any of these roles and providing the best situational supporting that you can.
Requirements
Arts Leaders Alone / Together has used free or low-cost tools to create a simple and user-friendly process for volunteers to step forward to offer your time and for help-seekers to efficiently sign up for appointments.
If you are interested in volunteering to be a consultant for other arts leaders, see the process below and start by filling out the form. Additional requirements:
You must have or be willing to set up free or paid accounts on Zoom and Calendly.
You must be willing to make at least two hours available for conversations each week between now and April 30, 2020. This minimum is low to encourage your participation, but additional availability is very welcome.
You will set and manage your own availability. You can offer weekdays and/or weekends, days and/or evenings. If your plans change, you can adjust your availability instantly.
If nobody signs up for your available time slots more than 24 hours in advance, then you will not need to conduct a conversation.
Instructions Sheets for Helpers.
Helpers can download three documents:
How to set up Calendly and Zoom accounts [insert link]
Guidelines for Conversations. [insert link]
Note for professional arts consultants: this is intended as a free and temporary service for arts leaders during this time of uncertainty. While you may meet arts leaders who may be future clients, this is intended an opportunity to provide free advice for those in needs, and NOT an opportunity to pitch your services. Help seekers are looking for a kind colleague and you must resist the temptation to convert this conversation directly into a contract. If there are reports of impropriety or a sales pitch, you will be immediately removed as a helper.
What is the Process?
Step 1
Fill Out Form Below
The Volunteer to be a Helper form below will allow help-seekers to understand your areas of interest and expertise as well as your background as an arts leader.
Step 2
Download Instructions
Download and follow the instruction sheets listed above to (a) set up Calendly and Zoom accounts and (b) review guidelines for conversations. Once instructions are completed, your profile will be added to the website.
Step 3
Receive Notifications of Appointments
When a help-seeker signs up for an appointment with you, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the meeting details, including a link to your Zoom Meeting Room and the option to download the meeting details to your own calendar.
Step 4
Converse
Show up in the Zoom meeting room at the appointed time and get talking!