Volunteer Ellen Peck (left) helps Dottie Allison (right) register online for New Adventures’ classes.
Catherine Hammond
Members of New Adventures, an all-volunteer program dedicated to lifelong learning, constantly searches for people to work in many capacities. Currently, the group needs people to help recruit presenters and provide presenter support. The group offers dozens of classes offered each semester and provides both technical and logistical support to the presenters of those classes. The presenters who teach or facilitate these classes may or may not be members themselves. They may have worked a lifetime as experts in a field or may have a less formal interest in a certain topic but would like to explore ideas with a group that shares their enthusiasm.
Susan Bjorn, chair of curriculum, is always trying to find new people to present interesting and diverse classes. Also, she is specifically looking for a volunteer to help her recruit new presenters. She adds, “This recruiter for presenters is a very important volunteer position.” She asks, “Please keep your eyes and ears open for potential presenters and subjects that might be of interest to all.” If you might be interested in giving a presentation for New Adventures or in helping Susan Bjorn find presenters, send her an email at [email protected].
According to Joan Frank, chair of presenter support, her group focuses on logistical support during their event so that they “may focus on the class with comfort and enthusiasm. Before the session, these volunteers check with presenters to make sure they will have the equipment and handouts they may need. Often, these volunteers have signed up for this particular class, so they are already available to welcome presenters, prepare the white board with their information, set out the sign-in sheet, handouts and evaluation forms and straighten the room afterwards by gathering evaluations, pushing in chairs and erasing the whiteboard. They thank the presenters for their service upon completion.” This logistical support, while vital to the program, is not complicated and may provide a good entry into volunteering for New Adventures. If you are interested, please contact Joan Frank at [email protected] or at 480-861-7260, text or phone.
The Media and Help Desk volunteers provide multimedia support to presenters. They receive training on all the equipment and have access to materials and instructions for each classroom. Volunteers should already have a good working knowledge of computers and peripherals. To help presenters in this role, please contact Wayne Wright.
For information on lifelong-learning in the Southeast Valley, check www.newadventures.info, call 480-857-5500 or visit the Sun Lakes Center at the corner of Riggs and Alma School Roads. New Adventures in Learning is affiliated with Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Membership costs $50 a year plus an additional $15 fee per semester that goes to CGCC.