YALSA is currently looking for volunteers for task forces. A task force is an action-oriented membership group whose charge is to address specific goals, complete a specific task, or to consider a particular issue. There may be a designated time frame defined by the nature of the task or set forth in the function statement. Usually task forces have shorter terms than our other volunteer opportunities so they are perfect for those that may not be able to commit to a longer term or that want to get their feet wet with volunteering for YALSA.
Functions of a task force may include the following:
- Gathering information and making recommendations
- Studying an issue and preparing a report
- Carrying out a specific project or activity
- Conducting programs at conferences
- Establishing committees or other subunits
We are looking for volunteers for the following task forces:
- Presidential Initiatives Implementation Task Force
- This is the task force that will assist me, President-elect Colleen Seisser, during my Presidential year in the following:
- Provide support, guidance and advice to the YALSA President in the implementation of their theme.
- Activities may include working with the President to review Organizational and Implementation Plans to develop and coordinate appropriate theme-related goals, activities, and initiatives.
- As appropriate, collaborate with relevant YALSA leaders and groups to implement theme-related activities, including but not limited to the blog managers, journal editors, and committee chairs.
- Assists the YALSA President in planning the President’s Program at ALA Annual.
- Taskforce size: 5 – 7 virtual members including chair.
- Term: 1 year term starting July 1 ending June 30 of the following year.
- This is the task force that will assist me, President-elect Colleen Seisser, during my Presidential year in the following:
- Symposium Evaluation Taskforce
- The Symposium Evaluation taskforce will examine four scenarios the YALSA Executive Committee created for possible future scenarios for the YALSA Symposium to help determine the course for the 2024 YALSA Symposium.
- ➢ Scenario 1: Continue annual in person symposium
- ➢ Scenario 2: Hybrid Symposium like the 2021 Symposium in Reno
- ➢ Scenario 3: Virtual Symposium
- ➢ Scenario 4: Biannual Model, return to Symposium every other year.
- The taskforce will take up the four scenarios and work with the YALSA Program Officer and ALA Conference Services to fully examine the financial impact of each scenario with the addition of member feedback for each scenario.
- The ultimate goal is to examine the sustainability of the YA Symposium and to determine the best course of action beginning with the YA Symposium in 2024.
- Term: February 10, 2023 with a preliminary report presented at Annual 2023.
- Taskforce size: 3- 5 virtual members including chair.
- The Symposium Evaluation taskforce will examine four scenarios the YALSA Executive Committee created for possible future scenarios for the YALSA Symposium to help determine the course for the 2024 YALSA Symposium.
- Symposium Planning and Marketing Taskforce
- To assist YALSA’s Program Officer with the planning and marketing of the conference, including vetting papers and proposals, vetting scholarship applications, assisting the Program Officer with identifying authors and keynote speakers, and leveraging social media tools to promote the event and scholarship opportunities, and more.
- Members will regularly share content via social media and through their state and local networks to build excitement for and share information about the event.
- Members will work with YALSA’s Communications Specialist to assist with the implementation of a marketing plan.
- Size: 5 to 7 virtual members, including the chair.
- Term: January 25 through November 30
- Teen Programming HQ Taskforce
- The Teen Programming HQ Task Force will work to determine the future of the Teen Programming HQ website using the survey results from 2021.
- The task force will focus on content creation, marketing, oversight, and aligning with our other member resources.
- Term: July 1, 2023 through January 1, 2024.
- Committee Size: 5-7 virtual members including chair
If you are interested in volunteering, you can access our YALSA Volunteer form with this link: https://www.ala.org/CFApps/volunteer/form.cfm
As you fill out the nomination form, please refer to my post from last fall: How to Fill Out YALSA’s Volunteer Form. Please email me (President-elect, Colleen Seisser) with your interest as that will expedite the review of your application and ensure I have eyes on it. You must be a current YALSA member and you must not already have three ALA volunteer commitments.
Respectfully submitted by YALSA President-Elect, Colleen Seisser
