Volunteering Information
Iowa Association of Long Beach, as an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, needing dedicated individuals with specific skill sets to plan and execute all of the activities required to ensure a successful event. None of the volunteer positions require significant hours of effort during the year or on picnic day. Picnic members who perform Long Range Planning are involved in pre-planning various aspects of the Iowa By The Sea Picnic as described below.
1. LONG RANGE PLANNING
2. DAY BEFORE AND DAY OF PICNIC SUPPORT
Our objective is to have sufficient qualified staff for each volunteer area so that guests can socialize with other guests, eat a good meal and are not stuck at a volunteer position the full day.
FRIDAY BEFORE PICNIC
SATURDAY OF THE PICNIC
1. LONG RANGE PLANNING
- WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION – Maintains the website addressing all aspects of the picnic to include pictures with interfaces to the seven email accounts used to manage the picnic. Objective is to attract potential picnic guests with a positive presentation of the picnic with clear, easy to use site.
- FACEBOOK PAGE ADMINISTRATOR – Responsible for maintaining the Facebook page with news, pictures, updates and high lights of the picnic to encourage potential guests to visit the page often and attend the picnic. Objective is to be creative with new material on a routine basis to ensure the facebook page is fresh and exciting.
- PUBLICITY –This position seeks various strategies to attract the many Iowans who live in Southern California. Our most successful publicity has been through local newspaper articles but we also have opportunities through Iowa colleges and universities including game watches at local restaurants. Other media is through our facebook page, our website, Battleship IOWA, and our picnic membership list.
- ENTERTAINMENT – This position works to identify solid entertainment that has a wide audience appeal. We have been fortunate in that we have had some highly respected entertainers at a reasonable cost. We have also had some Iowans perform that engaged the audience and gave a midwest spin to their performance.
- SPONSORS/ DONATIONS – Responsible for soliciting Iowa related donations for door prizes, Silent Auction items, Free things Iowa and California and Iowa Memorabilia. Donations have come from Picnic members, Iowa or Iowa-owned businesses, colleges, museums, associations and other contributors.
- VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR(S) – These coordinators work with the Long Range Planning managers to identify, quantify and match volunteers with requisite skill sets, responsibilities and training.
2. DAY BEFORE AND DAY OF PICNIC SUPPORT
Our objective is to have sufficient qualified staff for each volunteer area so that guests can socialize with other guests, eat a good meal and are not stuck at a volunteer position the full day.
FRIDAY BEFORE PICNIC
- PICNIC SET-UP (Noon to 3 p.m.) – Arrange Tables, Chairs and Tote Supplies & Consumables.
SATURDAY OF THE PICNIC
- PICNIC SET-UP (7 to 10 a.m.) – Arrange the specific tables for the picnic. (Need 4 or 5 volunteers.)
- HANDICAP ASSISTANCE – Assist guests who need assistance boarding or departing the ship. (# of volunteers dependent on amount of support from Battleship Iowa.)
- GREETERS – (9 to 11 a.m.) – Greet guests and direct them to the proper registration desk. (Need 1 or 2 Greeters.)
- REGISTRATION TABLE – (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) – Register guests who both registered and paid in advance. (Need 2 or 3 volunteers.)
- REGISTRATION HELP DESK – (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) – Register guests who have not both registered and paid in advance and guests who have issues such as changing attendees. Collects funds for payment. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- INFORMATION TABLE (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – Maintains the Iowa Map, provides information on the
- picnic, answers questions & coordinates the Iowa Corn Guessing Game. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- LUNCH/ DECORATION – Serves food, dessert & Refreshments; Cooks Sweet Corn. (Need 3 to 4 volunteers.)
- ADULT ACTIVITIES – Plans and coordinates games and fun activities for adult guests. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES – Plans and coordinates games & fun activities for all of our young
- guests. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- DOOR PRIZES – Monitors the award of door prizes during the picnic. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- SILENT AUCTION TABLE – Maintains the Silent Auction items, answers questions and
- determines final winner for each bid item. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- IOWA MEMORABILIA TABLE – Monitors this table to ensure items are not taken and explains the items present. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- IOWA PICNIC STORE – Manages items for sale, maintains the change fund and provides merchandise to guests. (Need 2 volunteers.)
- PHOTOGRAPHER – Takes multiple pictures of all aspects of the picnic to be used for our website, facebook page and publicity efforts. (Need 1 volunteer.)
Volunteer Registration Form
To volunteer, please complete the “Volunteer Registration Form” below.
Email us at IowaByTheSea@gmail.com if you have questions or need more information.