Committee Work 101

Question: What is one thing you want to learn in this session?

Why in the world should I be on a committee?

• Committee work can help grow your career (yes, really!)
• Job offers from people who know your work
• Committee work demonstrates leadership and project management experience
• The best way to create change & make an impact

This Session

• Different committee types
• How to join
• What to expect
• How to use committee work to grow your career

What committee is for you?

Question: What committees are you interested in?

Types of Committees

• Nominating committees
• Book award committees
• Conference committees
• Conference social committees
• Grant committees

What to Expect from Committee Work

What to expect

• Workloads vary by committee
• Some require conference attendance, others don’t
• Committee work is increasingly virtual
• Plan to be reachable: multiple meetings and deadlines

Question: How many hours a week does committee work take?

Dos & Don'ts

Dos & Don'ts

• Do: pull your weight
• Do: contact your committee chair or supervising officer if you have a question or concern
• Don’t: sign up for a committee and then disappear/stop responding to emails. People will remember this and you could be blackballed in the future from serving on other committees/running for office.

Dos & Don'ts

• Do: resign from the committee if you find you’ve got too much on your plate.
• Do: go above and beyond (if you’re interested and your workload allows!)
• Do: remember that this is a long-term commitment, plan ahead.

How do I start?

Getting Started

• Catch-22: You need experience
• VLA: lots of opportunities, you can join most at any point during the year
• Don't be afraid to reach out!

Untitled Slide

• VLA Conference Committee - reach out to Lisa Varga or incoming president (Martha Hutzel)
• NMRT
• VLA Committees & Forums

ALA Committees

• volunteer form open at different times of year for different groups
• stay tuned to the listservs of the groups you’re interested in for their calls for volunteers

I’m on a committee, now what?

• use committees to grow your career and your association
• parlay committee experience into running for office
• networking opportunities: committee work opens up doors you might not know are available

Go get involved!

• Research
• Establish a goal
• Evaluate your availability
• Go forth!

Questions?
Megan – mlhodge@gmail.com

Margaret – margarethoward01
@gmail.com