Volunteer Structure

Origins Volunteer Structure
2006 and Beyond

Here at Origins, we believe that our Volunteers are our most valuable asset. We couldn't run our show without you, and our show is the best because we've got the best people making it all happen. We've put a lot of thought into what we could do to honor our volunteers, while at the same time bringing some clarity to the Volunteer Structure and the Volunteer Rewards System. This plan is the result of those efforts.

First, you will notice that there are now two separate but parallel structures: one for "regular" volunteers and one for "staff and staff assistants." The difference between these two tracks is that regular volunteers usually advance as a result of their competence, commitment and length of service, whereas some staff and staff assistants are simply brought into the structure from outside because they possess critical skills that cannot be found elsewhere, and sometimes because they are prepared to undertake a level of commitment others are unwilling to make. In both cases, advancement is not entirely automatic. All volunteer promotions are approved first by the Volunteer Coordinator and then ratified by the Executive Director.

Let's first look at the "regular" Volunteer Structure and Reward System since these form the majority of our volunteer pool. When looking at the benefits that accrue to a particular status, assume that each level receives all the benefits of the previous levels plus its own. The Length of Service column refers to the year one is currently serving, so a volunteer in his or her fourth year of service would be a Senior (once approved). Volunteers who display exceptional dedication and initiative may be able to advance faster, while those with poor performance may not. To be eligible for Benefits, a volunteer must be contributing a minimum of 32 hours of service to the Show.

Years of Service	Title	Benefits for Volunteers working 32 hours or more
1	Recruit	Free Four-Day Badge; Choice of Complementary accommodations (4 per room) or $60 voucher package; Volunteer t-shirt; Access to volunteer lounge
2/3	Junior	basic Origins insignia merchandise package; $6 in Generics
4/5/6/7	Senior	Team shirt; Invitation to Senior Training Weekend (NORWAY); Travel expenses (travel booked by Volunteer Coordinator) for Origins & NORWAY; $20/per day per diem (max 5 days); Access to Volunteer Discounts in the Exhibit Hall; Invitation to Dead Dog Party; $12 in Generics; If chosen, accommodations are 3 per room
8+	Veteran	$30/per day per diem (max 5 days); One of every Origins insignia and commemorative item; If chosen, accommodations are 2 per room

Not only are these benefits cumulative, they are permanent. Except in cases of gross malfeasance, if a volunteer leaves Origins for any reason and later returns, he or she returns at the appropriate level with all benefits intact.

Now let's take a look at the Staff and Staff Assistants chart. These positions are defined not by their years of service but by their level of responsibility. Each position on this chart is equated to a position on the regular Volunteers chart and receives the equivalent benefits. Most of these positions equate to Senior status because the level of responsibility involved is similar to that of most Seniors, and, in fact, Seniors occupy many of these positions. The positions listed are examples of each position - not necessarily an all-inclusive list.

Title	Equivalence	Responsibility
GAMA Paid Staff	*	Reports to the Executive Director or GAMA Board of Directors; responsible for: all functions related to their Department, including strategic planning, implementation, supervision, reporting
Staff Assistant [Asst to Exec Dir, Asst to Ops Mgr, Asst to Programs Mgr, Asst to Communications Mgr, Asst to Finance]	Veteran	Reports to a particular GAMA Paid Staff; responsible for: assisting the GPS in the pursuit of their duties on-site; trouble-shooting problems; gathering information and acting as the "eyes and ears" of the GPS; standing in the stead of the GPS when they are not available; providing some limited pre- and post-show administrative support for special projects; providing pre- and post-show feedback to the GPS.
Administrative Director [Registration Manager, Customer Service Manager; Exhibit Hall; Security]	Veteran	Reports to the Operations Manager; responsible for: managing a key Administrative Department, including volunteers and workload on-site; troubleshooting problems within the Department; providing pre- and post-show feedback to the GAMA Paid Staff.
Administrative Coordinator [Pre-Registration, Event Registration, Onsite Registration, Special Services, Exhibitor Registration]	Senior	Reports to an Administrative Director; responsible for: managing a portion of an Administrative Department on-site, including volunteers; collaborating with other Administrative Coordinators in the Department; providing pre- and post-show feedback to the AD;
Department Event Director [CCGs, Guests, LARPs, RPGs, Minis, Seminars, StrategiCorps, Tabletop, Teacher's Hall Pass]	Veteran	Reports to the Director of Events; responsible for: gathering, recording and scheduling event submissions prior to the show; soliciting events from clubs & companies and working with them on event issues; directing the activities of Program Coordinators within the Department: recruiting volunteers for the Department; managing events and volunteers on-site; working with and monitoring company reps on-site; providing pre- and post-show feedback to the GAMA Paid Staff. Because ED positions require hundreds of hours of work prior to the show, EDs receive a stipend proportional to their work load.
Asst Director of Events (also called Lieutenant)	Senior	Reports to an Event Director; responsible for: assisting the Event Directors in the pursuit of their duties on-site; trouble-shooting problems within the Department; standing in the stead of the EDs when they are not available; providing some limited pre- and post-show administrative support for special projects; providing pre- and post-show feedback to the EDs.
Program Coordinator [Board Room, HOT, War College, War Room, Paint-n-Take, Spouse Track, Kids Program, Newcomers Program, Special Events, StrategiCorps Theme]	Senior	Reports to a Department Event Director: responsible for: collaborating with the DED prior to the show to design and construct a Program; working with external agencies as appropriate for the program; recruiting volunteers for the program; managing the Program on-site, including volunteers; providing Pre- and Post-Show feedback to the GAMA Paid Staff. This position requires some pre-show work.

We want to share our success with the hard-working volunteers who keep the show running. Please accept our firm commitment to continue to expand the benefits to volunteers at all levels as our show continues to grow.

Anthony Gallela, Executive Director, GAMA
Jodie Panzeri, Operations Manager & Volunteer Coordinator, GAMA