Volunteers Sought for Commencement
Dear Emory Staff Members,
I write today to invite you to take part in Emory's rich history of service to the graduating class and to their families and guests at Commencement.
Commencement is Emory's day. Each year, over 250 staff members from every corner of the campus offer to help at one or more of the events. Even if your daily job duties rarely intersect with campus life or parent interactions, this is your chance to engage in the emotion and pageantry that surrounds Emory's Commencement exercises, and to make a difference in the lives of many.
There are opportunities to volunteer starting on Wednesday May 7 with the annual "Chair Rodeo" where the 14,000 chairs on the Quadrangle are set up in perfect rows and tied together for safety. Opportunities continue throughout the weekend with an additional “mini Chair Rodeo” at McDonough Field, the Baccalaureate Service (Sunday morning, May 11, Mother’s Day) and behind-the-scenes preparations for the big day on Monday May 12 when we welcome thousands of guests and salute the class of 2014.
On Commencement day, volunteer assignments are focused on ensuring the safety and comfort of our guests—many stepping foot on our campus for the first time. Ambassadors stand out in the crowd with their iconic straw Emory hats to answer questions, calm late students running across campus, and to ensure that everyone is in the right place. Ushers assist in the general and special-needs seating areas. Information booth, program table, and Coca-Cola distribution volunteers make sure that everyone has what they need to stay informed and hydrated.
There's a job for everyone, but we need you to step forward and volunteer. Talk to your supervisor about giving a small amount of your time to this important endeavor and set your alarms clocks a bit earlier (you'll be glad to miss the traffic anyway!) and join the tradition.
Register today: http://tinyurl.com/emorygradvolunteer or contact us for more information. The registration site has experience some technical difficulties this past week, so if you have trouble connecting, please try again later.
Volunteer training (you must attend one or the other) will be held on Wednesday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. and on Friday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. There is new information to share each year, so even long-time volunteers are requested to attend a training session.
With deep gratitude for your consideration,
Michael Kloss
Office of University Events |
