|
MassSTAR Citizenship Conference
Volunteer Staff Frequently Asked Questions Thank you for your interest in applying for the MassSTAR Citizenship Conference Volunteer Staff. Prior to applying, please review the below Frequently Asked Questions. This page includes position descriptions, requirements for our volunteers, and an overview of what you can expect during the experience in the months leading up to the Conference, in addition to within the weekend itself. |
What positions are available on the MassSTAR Conference Staff?
Our staff volunteers fall into two primary categories, Facilitators and Operations staff. Roles within these categories are available for both Junior (from 11th grade through age 20) and Senior (age 21 or older) applicants.
Facilitation Staff
Our Facilitators lead groups of 6-10 high school sophomores by superb example for all three days of the conference. Each facilitator will be paired with a conference group for the duration of the weekend, and is responsible for the each individual’s safety (physical and emotional) and for carrying the culture of the conference while it is in full swing. Facilitators are everything from cheer-leaders to discussion facilitators to energy-suppliers to on-the-scene role models for sophomore attendees. Senior Facilitator Staff are supported by Junior Facilitator staff, allowing for group management at several levels to ensure your “closer to Sophomore age” partner(s) get to flex their own leadership skills, while maintaining the focus and enjoyment levels for the sophomores in your group.
Senior Facilitators: Staff over the age of 21 who are directly involved with the delegates. Each Facilitator is part of a group, of about 10 delegates and one Junior Facilitator. Senior and Junior Facilitators share teaching responsibilities. They role-model the part of adult community leaders. They participate in workshops, activities, mixers, and energizers; act as the disciplinarian if they must; and play the “adult” role, only if necessary. Junior Facilitators: Staff members who are still students and under the age of 21. They share teaching responsibilities with the senior facilitator; often lead group activities; serve as role-models who are involved students in community; resources for delegates; they are expected to know games, energizers, and mixers as well as the workshops. |
Operations Staff
These are the staff members who are in charge of the details and organization, the “behind-the-scenes” staff. They set up for each activity and organize who is in which room when. They provide all the photocopies, the refreshments, the DJ, the shirts, etc … and they deserve the credit for making this program happen!
The grand masters of “getting things done,” the operations team engages in vital pre-conference preparations, and mans the command center (“Ops Suite”) during the actual conference. Whether we’re trying to move 150+ people from one building to another, trying to track down boxes of snacks, printing updated name badges or taking care of something else no one could have anticipated, odds are our operations team is getting it done! Operations work is often behind the scenes, though we always find ways to make sure our staff members can attend sessions of interest to them and partake in the general atmosphere of encouragement and enthusiasm. We look for individuals with a keen eye for detail, a respect for organization and efficiency, and an interest in learning more about how an event like the MassSTAR Conference becomes a reality. Senior Operations Staff are supported by Junior Operations staff, allowing our Senior Staff members to practice and model effective team leadership for our under-21 volunteers. |
What qualities make up an ideal SENIOR staff volunteer?
In their lives outside of the MassSTAR three-day conference, we do find that our volunteers have some things in common:
- All of our Senior Staff Members are active citizens in their community, with diverse interests that find them volunteering, serving and civically engaged
- Many of our staff members have experienced a MassSTAR conference before, and we love what it means that they keep coming back! However, each year we welcome many new senior staff members who fit right in. Because parents and schools trust us with their students for a weekend, we do ask that new volunteers provide great references!
- The MassSTAR community is active year round. It is our hope that you’ll not only donate your time during the conference, but consider engaging as a leader for our young alumni and/or lend your unique talents to developing our staff and our organization.
What qualities make up an ideal JUNIOR staff volunteer?
Let’s take a look at what past staff members have had to say about the qualities of OUTSTANDING Junior Staff Members. At each successful MassSTAR conference, Junior Staff members should . . .
- Serve as an outstanding role model to student attendees--always!
- Put the Sophomores’ experience above their own first and foremost
- Enjoy the conference atmosphere and the opportunity to collaborate with friends old and new
- Observe all rules for student attendees and staff rules
- Actively listen
- Bridge the “Gap” between HS students and Sr. Staff
- Feel comfortable sharing their opinions, concerns and thoughts with all staff members at all levels
- BE FUN!
- Exude ENTHUSIASM
- Prepare questions to kick off Q&A with panelists if there are crickets
- Cheer their hearts out
- Be innovative, candid, genuine, conscientious, positive and ENTHUSIASTIC!
What are the requirements to serve on the MassSTAR volunteer staff?
So, by now you should have a good feel for the qualities we're looking for in our staffers. In addition to the above elements, there are several hard and fast requirements for all staffers. Please review the below list of requirements. If you are concerned about your ability to fulfill any of these expectations, please contact our Staff Directors: Justin Normandeau and Kathleen Dougherty.
In addition to the above requirements, our junior staff have several additional expectations that must be fulfilled. If you have any questions or concerns about these specific requirements, please contact our director of In-Kind Donations, Katherine Rosen, at [email protected].
- Complete a CORI background check (for staff ages 18 and older).
- Attend Pre-Conference Staff Training (to be held virtually in April and May - more than one date will be offered); alternative arrangements are available for staff located outside of Massachusetts) and participate in virtual staff training exercises, including video trainings and conference calls, in the weeks leading up to the Conference.
- Arrive at Lasell University on the evening of Thursday, June 6th, and remain on campus through the evening of Sunday, June 9th. There will be additional staff training Thursday evening, and all volunteers are expected to remain on campus after the delegates depart to assist with the conference break down process.
- Check email regularly in the months leading up to the MassSTAR Conference, and respond to email communications promptly as required.
- Facilitators will receive a list of their delegates in the month immediately prior to the Conference. All facilitators are required to communicate directly with their delegates prior to the event to confirm their attendance and answer any questions the delegates may have about the weekend.
- Maintain a professional and appropriate online presence on all social media sites. Our volunteers are representatives of the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation, and we expect that all volunteers will bear this in mind in their social media activities.
In addition to the above requirements, our junior staff have several additional expectations that must be fulfilled. If you have any questions or concerns about these specific requirements, please contact our director of In-Kind Donations, Katherine Rosen, at [email protected].
- Prior attendance at a Massachusetts Youth Leadership alumni association meeting
- $250 Fundraising Commitment. This can be comprised of in-kind donations of goods or gift cards solicited from local businesses, or monetary donations. Our Fundraising Directors will contact Junior Staffers following staff selection with more information on this requirement.
- Maintain academic eligibility to participate in extra-curricular activities at your school
- Ensure a Sophomore delegate is nominated and registered from your high school