Apply Now to Volunteer at the 2019 Conference!

We are a conference of learning, connecting and networking. Volunteering with the conference is just the beginning!

Volunteering at the conference has many benefits!

Meet other wonderful people like yourself with similar interests.
A great networking and career opportunity – gain experience for your resume and meet business owners. It is recommended you bring business cards.
Conference volunteers receive free entry to workshops on the day they volunteer!*
Paid lunch on the day you volunteer!

A minimum of 4 hours per day of volunteer commitment is required for free access to the day’s program.
Some exceptions apply, see job descriptions below for more details.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday positions.
Must be computer competent in order to assist workshop speakers with technical difficulties with PowerPoint, etc.
A head technician will hold morning briefings and be available throughout your shift. You are assigned a room for the entire day with time available for breaks.
In return for your full day of volunteering, you receive free access to 2 days of workshops (your choice of Friday, Saturday or Sunday).

Wednesday positions 3pm to 7pm.
Volunteers will assist with the set up of the registration area, unloading and moving supplies from vehicles, moving large tables and other furniture, hanging signs and other similar duties.
In return for your full shift of volunteering, you will receive free access to 2 days of workshops (your choice of Friday, Saturday or Sunday)

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday positons.
Take money, give change, hang coats in orderly fashion.
This is an important people person position. You are welcoming guests. You must be friendly, helpful, outgoing.

Saturday & Sunday morning positions.
Take money and give change; keep area tidy; ensure sufficient supplies.
You are not required to make coffee (this is provided by U. of Guelph Hospitality).
This is a people person position. You must be friendly, helpful, welcoming.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday positions.
Includes a variety of positions, including setting up signage, assisting vendors with set up, greeting and directing guests, helping with tear down and clean up.

Saturday, Sunday positions.
Welcome guests and aid them in filling out registration forms; aid registration desk workers to ensure smooth flow at busy times.
You must be friendly, helpful, outgoing.

Friday evening position 6:00pm to 10:00pm.
Set up and tear down keynote forum area with signage, water, etc.
Take money and give change; collect tickets at door.
Enjoy the forum after your initial duties are completed and before you are needed to assist with clean up after.

Friday evening 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Working closely with the Trade Show Manager, this team will assist with a variety of set-ups.
Some heavy lifting involved.

Saturday only position 6:00am to 9:00am.
*Must be on site by 6:00 am on Saturday.
Some duties involve working outside guiding vendors to the designated unloading area(s). (Remember to dress warmly.)
Some heavy lifting, but handcarts and elevators are available.

Thursday – Sunday positions.
Register guests; handle money; be knowledgeable about the Conference program.
End-of-day and end-of-Conference duties will include a variety of tasks for wrapping up the Conference.

Sunday 3:00pm to 7:30pm
Aid vendors with loading their vehicles
Assorted Conference tear-down duties such as collecting signage, re-arranging furniture, packing paperwork etc.
Some heavy lifting, but handcarts and elevators are available.

Thursday – Sunday positions
Ensure only valid guests enter workshop location.
Hand out and collect evaluations.
Ensure all guests can hear everything (even if this requires forcefully reminding speakers of their responsibilities).
Introduce and thank speakers.
This is an important people person position. You must be friendly, helpful, outgoing and able to take charge of the workshop environment if required – e.g. speaker not using microphone or talking too quietly; disruptive guests.

Be involved in the approval process from September to March and have an opportunity to review the conference articles and enewsletters before they are posted
You should have either good proofing/grammar/spelling skills AND/OR a background in organic agriculture.
Usually, there is a 2-3 day turn around to read the article and enewsletter and respond with feedback to the Communications Coordinator.
Frequency of editing is about 1-2 times per month. Volunteers don’t need to respond every time, but the expectation is that most times they do.
Applications for this position are ONLY accepted until December 21st – preferably sooner.
Completion of this duty does not qualify you for free entry to workshops.