COMMITTEES
JOIN OUR COMMITTEES
Being a part of a VOLthon committee is an incredibly rewarding experience! It is one of the most direct ways to impact our cause and see the impact we're making up close. All committees are led by a director and overseen by one of our VPs. Each committee serves a specific function that helps VOLthon run as a cohesive unit. Each committee is crucial to the success of our organization Our committee applications open in the fall once we return to campus, but you can learn more about each committee below!
Participant Relations
Communications
Located within the Participant Relations Split, the Communications team is tasked with engaging and stewarding all registered Participants for VOLthon. As the Communications committee, you can expect to create and send out emails to newly registered Participants, personally text individuals during fundraising campaigns, and ensure all necessary information is consistently communicated to Participants. You should be knowledgeable about the roots of Dance Marathon and VOLthon in order to effectively educate new members of the organization. You will assist in serving as the first point of contact for all Participants and their main responsibility will be to make sure they feel connected to the organization and our cause. It is recommended to have strong communication and networking skills.
Member Development
Located within the Participant Relations Split, the Member Development team is responsible for leading a team of first year VOLthon members, called Vol Year One, selected in the fall. This team will develop a curriculum for teaching first year members about all aspects of VOLthon, as well as providing professional, social, and leadership development opportunities for these first year members. As the Member Development committee, you can also expect to develop the ideal staff experience for VOLthon's Staff members. You will help coordinate events centered around professional and leadership development, and social and volunteer opportunities for Staff. Additionally, you will collect staff feedback and report it back to the Executive Board so that the staff experience is always improving. It is recommended that you should be passionate about the experience of being on Staff for VOLthon, and a year of experience on staff is a plus!
Recruitment
Located in the Participant Relations split, the Recruitment team is tasked with creating and sending out recruitment emails, presenting in chapters and meetings about VOLthon, planning recruitment pushes, holding participant interest sessions, and developing new and innovative ways to recruit Miracle Makers. It is recommended this team has strong public speaking skills and is an engaging communicator that has a strong knowledge of VOLthon as an organization. The Recruitment team will work closely with the Director of Campus Involvement in onboarding new organizations as teams and ensuring all corners of campus know what VOLthon is.
Campus Involvement
Located in the Participant Relations split, the Campus Involvement team is tasked with running our Team Captain program and collaborative events with other organizations on campus. They will work closely with the Recruitment Director to identify potential Team Captains and onboard them. This team is responsible for maintaining communication with TCs, conducting meetings, and serving as a resource and liaison for Teams to VOLthon. They will work with Team Captains to develop goals and recruitment strategies for their specific organization. The Campus Involvement team will also work closely with these teams to host collaborative events to promote awareness and fundraising (such as FIJI Football Fundraiser, etc.). You should be outgoing, have strong communication skills, and be willing to reach out to other organizations. Having many connections on campus is a plus!
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Finance
Partnerships
Located within the Finance Split, the Partnerships team will work closely with our Hospital Advisor to develop partnerships with local businesses in order to gain monetary donations and in-kind gifts (items) donations for our events. As the Partnerships committee, you will find yourself aiding in overseeing the partnership plans including but not limited to applying to online grants, calling or visiting local businesses to secure donations, and working to develop stewardship plans for our existing partners. You will work with the Hospitality Director to collaborate on a sponsorship packet and a donor recognition plan. Additionally, you will work with the Recruitment Director and Fundraising Director to plan and provide incentives for recruitment and fundraising pushes. A strong passion for developing relationships, sales, and self starting will be a plus on this team.
Data Management
Located within the Finance Split, the Data Management team will work to analyze and evaluate VOLthon's existing data in order to report out information that will help other committees set goals and work strategically throughout the year. They will also work to keep all accounting documents updated throughout the year. This team is highly collaborative, connecting with nearly every area of VOLthon to ensure each team can make informed decisions when planning. You will be tasked with developing regular data reports within your specified area that will support other teams throughout the year. You should have strong capabilities in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, and should be comfortable innovating and self starting.
Fundraising
The Fundraising committee is responsible for planning fundraising campaigns throughout the year, as well as developing strategies for engaging individuals and teams in fundraising year-round. This individual can expect to spend time brainstorming new fundraising ideas and initiatives, as well as planning fundraising events, campaigns, incentives, and stewardship plans throughout the year. This individual will collaborate with the Creative Split in order to ensure all aspects of a fundraising campaign are designed and communicated effectively to the public. As the committee, you will work very closely with the Data Tracking committee to forecast weekly tracking goals and fundraising campaign goals throughout the year, and ensure we use data to create long-term growth throughout the year. This committee should be highly driven, creative, and passionate about the cause.
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Operations
Event Programming
Located within the Operations Split, the Event Programming team is responsible for planning and coordinating events throughout the year that will raise money and awareness for the organization as well as coordinating entertainment acts and activities at events throughout the year, with a specific focus on Dance Marathon in February. The Event Programming committee can expect to develop a vision for events through activities and entertainment, as well as to spend time connecting with potential entertainers and coordinating performances. As a member of this team, you should be comfortable reaching out to potential entertainers via phone, email, and in person. Customer service experience is a plus, as is creativity and innovation.
Event Logistics
Located within the Operations Split, the Event Logistics team is responsible for coordinating events, with a specific focus on Dance Marathon in February. As a Event Logistics committee member, you can expect to work with various directors within VOLthon to coordinate room bookings and reservations, permits, and policies on campus. Team members can also expect to coordinate logistics such as parking, load in and load out, event layouts, sound and lighting, setup procedures, and staffing assignments for events throughout the year. As a member of this team, you should be highly organized, with a willingness to learn about campus policies and permits. Event planning experience is not required, but is a plus!
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Morale
The Morale team is tasked with planning the majority of the games and activities at the main event, including the line dance, theme hours, color wars, and various other activities. As the Morale committee, you can expect to spend time brainstorming theme hours, games to engage miracle makers, planning the line dance, and developing innovative new ways to make the main event better than before. The Morale committee should work collaboratively with the Finance Split to ensure there are fundraising times scheduled out throughout the 12 hours. This individual will also be tasked with Emceeing (hosting) Main Event and shouldn’t be afraid of public speaking. They will be expected to think on their toes and keep all Main Event attendees engaged. These individuals are typically outgoing, social, and are strong leaders. No event planning or dance experience is required in any way.
Community Outreach
Family Relations
The Family Relations committee is responsible for developing relationships and working with our Miracle families. This individual will oversee the partnerships and interaction of their committee members and their assigned Miracle Family with whom they will connect with throughout the year. Additionally, you will help plan events and opportunities for Miracle Families to interact with VOLthon members and Miracle Makers. You will work as a liaison between the organization and our Miracle Families to foster relationships and create a cause connection between the two groups. As the Family Relations committee, you should have a passion for working with kids.
Mini Marathons
Located within the Community Outreach Split, the Mini Marathons team works to establish and develop our high school Dance Marathon feeder programs throughout the Knoxville community. We currently have existing Mini Marathons at Bearden High and Knoxville Catholic. You will aid in mentoring the leaders of that program and helping them with fundraising, recruitment, and event planning best practices. You should be comfortable with working with students as a mentor and assist them in hitting their goals. You will work closely with the Finance Split to ensure all funds raised through the school are accounted for and tracked accordingly. Traveling to all schools will likely be required 2-3 times over the course of the year - other meetings with the school can be held via phone or Zoom if needed!
Hospitality
Located within the Community Outreach Split, the Hospitality committee will work to develop partnerships with local businesses in order to gain food donations for our events. As a committee member you will find yourself overseeing Hospitality plans including but not limited to, calling or visiting local businesses to secure donations and working to develop stewardship plans for these partners. Additionally, you will work with the Hospitality and Partnerships Director to collaborate on a sponsorship packet and a donor recognition plan. A strong passion for developing relationships, sales, and self starting will be a plus on this team.
Alumni Relations
Located within the Community Outreach Split, the Alumni Relations team works to develop relationships with VOLthon and university alumni. As the Alumni Relations committee, you can expect to build newsletters to keep Alumni up to date, develop engagement and stewardship plans specifically for Alumni, and innovate new and engaging ways to connect this group to VOLthon's mission. You will also aid with segmented communication to Alumni during fundraising campaigns and awareness pushed. Furthermore, you will connect with current VOLthon seniors to easily transition them into alumni status. A strong passion for networking and developing relationships will be a plus on this team.
Marketing
Graphic Design
The Graphic Design team is responsible for managing all of VOLthon’s social media accounts, including but not limited to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn. You will be in charge of creating social media timelines and adhering to the specific needs of the organization whether it be a fundraising campaign or awareness push. Additionally, you are responsible for all written communications produced by VOLthon, including the VOLthon website, blog, press releases, and newsletters. This person will be in charge of creating awareness for the organization virtually and through written materials to our campus and all outside community partners. It is essential that this individual collaborates constantly with the Social Media Creative committee to ensure all social media timeline materials are created when needed. As a member of the Graphic Design committee, you will gain experience managing social media accounts and working with brand standards for VOLthon, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Merchandise
The Merchandise team works to develop all of our Merchandise designs throughout the year, including but not limited to apparel, buttons, and specialty items. As the Merchandise committee, you will be tasked with creating designs throughout the year that adhere to VOLthon's brand standards. As a designer, you will design on computer softwares such as Illustrator, Procreate, and/or Canva. You will also get to work strategically with the Merchandise committee located under the Finance split to ensure profits are made. You will have the opportunity to develop many materials for your creative portfolio, and work with the brands of companies including East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the University of Tennessee, and our corporate partners.
Media
The Media team is responsible for collecting and editing all VOLthon media throughout the year, as well as producing and editing photos and videos to be utilized for various campaigns throughout the year. As the Media committee, you should expect to spend time taking and editing photos/videos at events throughout the year. Additionally, basic video editing and photo editing skills are recommended through software such as Lightroom and Davinci Resolve. You can expect to develop work for their portfolio and will have the opportunity to work with major brands, including Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, the University of Tennessee, and our corporate partners.
Marketing
The Marketing team works to develop all of our creative materials that will be printed and posted on our social media throughout the year, including but not limited to graphics, flyers, partnership materials, and impact reports. As the Marketing committee, you will be tasked with creating designs throughout the year that adhere to VOLthon's brand standards, work to capture the attention of our audience and collaborate with all splits of VOLthon to ensure information is conveyed effectively to the public. You will develop many materials for your creative portfolio, and will have the opportunity to work with the brands of companies including East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the University of Tennessee, and our corporate partners. We recommend that this individual ideally have experience working with Adobe Creative Suite, though design experience in other programs is welcomed as well.