Member Volunteer Opportunities

The Clay Connection has no paid staff, relies on active member participation to ensure continued success, and encourages each member to contribute a minimum of 10 volunteer hours annually.

Advantages of volunteering include networking with fellow potters in small groups, selecting educational programs and events, and influencing the direction The Clay Connection will take in the years to come.

Please use this list of opportunities as a guide when selecting the activities you are willing and able to perform. Red text indicates positions and teams most in need of volunteers. Training is provided.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Clay Connection Board of Directors meets the second Sunday of each month at 12:30 in Crystal City. Lunch is provided at the Young Chow Chinese Restaurant.

President

The President has general active management responsibility for the business of the organization; serves of Chairman of the Board of Directors, presides at all meetings of the board and the members, ensures the orders and resolutions of the board are carried into effect, signs and delivers in the name of the corporation all instruments pertaining to the business of the corporation, appoints chairpersons of standing committees, and selects individuals to fill vacated elected offices and volunteer positions.

President Elect

In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability to act, the President Elect performs the duties of the President. In addition, the incumbent receives training on the various aspects of the organization and is fully prepared to take over as President after 2 years.

NOTE: For 2008, the President-Elect will serve for 1 year and take office during the 2009 Clay Conference (October 2009). After 2009, the President-Elect will serve for 2 years.

Vice President for Programs

The Vice President for Programs is the point of contact for Clay Connection educational events, presents a brief monthly report to the board outlining past and planned programs, and leads the Monthly Program Team, which plans and develops educational programs for the membership.

Vice President for Membership

The Vice President for Programs is the point of contact for Clay Connection membership, presents a brief monthly report to the board outlining membership status, and leads the Membership Team, which maintains membership kiosks at local pottery-related locations.

Treasurer

The Treasurer maintains The Clay Connection checking account using QuickBooks (application provided by The Clay Connection), attends monthly board meetings, presents a brief monthly report to the board outlining expenditures, income, and balance, and leads the Finance Committee.

Secretary

The Secretary records proceedings at the monthly Board Meeting and incorporates team status reports into the final meeting minutes.

TEAM MEMBERS

Team members are welcome—but not required—to attend the monthly Board meeting. Each team is asked to provide a brief status report at the end of each month to the Secretary for presentation to the Board of Directors.

Biennial Clay Conference

The Conference Planning Team organizes every aspect of the biennial mid-atlantic clay conferences held in the fall of odd-numbered years, to include selecting the dates, main presenters, and workshop and demonstration leads; coordinating issues related to room, board, and conference facilities; developing publicity materials; and organizing the welcoming reception.

Database Administrator

The Database Administrator maintains the mailing list, which includes current and past members, clay-related organizations and business, media contacts, and addresses for events open to the community.

Empty Bowls Charity Event

Exhibits

The Exhibit Team coordinates all aspect of exhibits to be held in the local area, including dates, times, participant registration, inventory sheets, set-up, take-down, receptions, and fees. The Exhibit Team also identifies new opportunities for exhibiting member work.

Finance Team

The Finance Team assists the Treasurer by drafting the annual budget, analyzing expenditures, and completing and submitting the annual income taxes using IRS Form 990.

High School Show

The Annual High School Student Clay Competition & Exhibit Planning Team coordinates the event and exhibit, awards ceremony, and reception. The Team identifies an appropriate venue & exhibit dates; provides entry instructions, applications, and advertising posters to local high school art instructors for distribution to students working with clay; and contacts local and national clay-related business to obtain prizes for distribution during the Awards Ceremony.

Hospitality

The Hospitality Team provides light refreshments during monthly programs, drinks and paper products during the Annual Pot Luck Dinner, heavy hors d'oeuvres during receptions for exhibits, and a catered dinner at the Annual Membership Meeting.

Internet Resources

Monthly Programs

The Monthly Programs Planning Team, lead by the Vice President for Programs, is responsible for planning and developing programs for the membership each month, to include scheduling the date, time, and place of each program, selecting and inviting the featured speaker, and providing a monthly report to the board of directors.

Membership

The Membership Team maintains membership records, maintains information kiosks at local clay-related establishments, publishes a Biennial Membership Directory, and sends renewal announcements to current and lapsed members, Welcome Packets to new members, and postcard acknowledgements to renewing members.

Newsletter

The Newsletter Team publishes the quarterly newsletter containing input from members, information on group pottery studios, and pottery-related opportunities available in the local region.

Nominations

The Nominations Team works with the Volunteer Coordinator to identify potential candidates for vacant positions on the Executive Committee of the Board.

Publicity (external)

The Marketing Team develops and maintains a current press kit, writes and distributes press releases, and reviews and updates.

The Marketing Team reviews the advertising portion of the database and provides updates to the Database Administrator.

Publicity (internal)

The Internal Publicity Coordinator mails postcard reminders to the membership to encourage participation in monthly events and the December Potluck.

Sales

The Annual Sales Event Planning Team organizes the Fall Sale, which is held in early December at the Vienna Community Center—usually the Saturday following the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild’s Thanksgiving Sale held at the same location.

Video Librarian

The Video Librarian manages the lending library of over 30 videotapes and DVDs related to pottery. The Librarian makes the library available to members during monthly meetings, collects the $1 lending fee, makes $3 prepaid mailers available for returning items, and provides a monthly report to the Board summarizing the status of the library.

Volunteer Coordination

The Volunteer Coordinator helps achieve what is absolutely critical for the long term sustainability of the organization: involving volunteers in every part of The Clay Connection’s mission. The Volunteer Coordinator matches members with teams needing additional support and ensures that the work of the organization is spread throughout the membership.

Please call me on an as needed basis

Select this option if you have no particular preference of how you support the organization.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Ann Granger, Volunteer Coordinator, at 703-470-3038 or anngranger@comcast.net