Tag Archive for: Local Events

Chautauqua-Wawasee is a volunteer-driven organization, and we are always looking for passionate individuals to get involved and make a difference in our community. Whether you have a few hours to spare or are ready to take on a larger commitment, there are many ways to contribute to our mission and help support our events and programs.

We offer flexible volunteer roles ranging from short-term tasks to long-term responsibilities, and training will be provided for all positions. Some roles are specific to individual events, while others span the full year. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities at Chautauqua Wawasee that are available, and we’d love to have you join us! (Scroll to the bottom of this post to find our volunteer sign-up form.)

Program-Related Roles

• Program Champion: Take responsibility for organizing and leading a program or event, including coordinating logistics and volunteers. The Marketing Team will handle advertising and promotion.
  • Possible Champion Needs: Historical Cruises, Digging Through History, Waterfowl Festival
• Program Co-Champion: Assist a Program Champion by providing support as needed.
  • Possible Co-Champion Needs: Art Festival, Pawasee, Patriotic Speaker
• Identify New Programs: Help create and implement new programs that meet community needs.
• Feedback Analyst: Collect and transcribe attendee feedback from programs (e.g., satisfaction, location, and event sources) and summarize it for the Program Champion.
• Greeters: Welcome attendees as they arrive at programs (task rotates among a team, specific to individual events).
• Program Setup/Teardown: Help set up tables, chairs, and materials before a program and clean up afterward.
• Program Ticket Taker/Check-In: Manage sign-ins or collect tickets at the door for ticketed events (task is specific to individual events).

Financial Management Roles

• Financial Analysis: Perform monthly variance analysis of financial results versus the annual plan.
• Investment Manager: Manage the organization’s excess funds through CD purchases and rollovers.
• Grant Writing: Identify relevant grant opportunities and submit applications to secure funding.

Marketing and Communications Roles

• Fundraising: Help organize and implement fundraising campaigns for Chautauqua-Wawasee.
• Write Articles: Create articles to promote CHQW and its programs.
• Write Press Releases: Work with the Marketing Team to craft press releases and send them to media contacts.
• Marketing Calendar: Maintain the comprehensive marketing calendar, requiring proficiency with MS Excel and pivot table skills.

Community Outreach Champions

• Milford, Warsaw, Goshen, Elkhart: Become a Community Outreach Champion for one of these areas to help spread the word about our programs and mission.

Other Volunteer Needs

• Wawasee Neighborhood Outreach: Help build a contact list of Wawasee community members and establish communication channels to improve outreach and engagement.
• Volunteer Manager: Organize and coordinate volunteers, working with Program Champions to ensure proper staffing for events and programs.
• Data Clean-Up: Analyze, organize, and clean up our stakeholder database in MS Excel.
• CHQW Evangelist: Meet with organizations to promote the Chautauqua-Wawasee mission and recruit new supporters.
• Appreciation/Fun Manager: Plan and implement ways to thank and recognize stakeholders, including attendees, partners, and funders.
• Board of Directors: Board members are selected from individuals who have volunteered and served on committees.

Interested in Volunteering?

We appreciate your time and dedication and want to help you find the perfect volunteer opportunity! Whether you’re looking to assist with a single event or take on a larger role, we have a variety of ways for you to get involved.

To sign up, simply click HERE to complete our Volunteer Form. Once submitted, a member of our team will reach out to you.

Note: Training and a Coach will be provided for all volunteer roles to ensure you are supported every step of the way.