Volunteer Opportunities
MWA is currently looking for volunteers to fill the following positions. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact us.
Intern Coordinator -- Starting last year, the MWA began an informal internship program, utilizing interns from Johns Hopkins to help us execute our various projects. You may have already seen the list of MidAtlantic literary magazines that one intern assembled for us, or met another who helped out with the 2009 conference. We're always in need of volunteer assistance, and interns are a great way to get some help while also reaching out to the next generation of writers in Maryland. But we need your help to continue doing so. We're looking for one volunteer to take on the position of Internship Coordinator.
The work required is minimal:
- Reaching out to existing contact list to make sure it's updated and correct.
- Take the detailed "job listings" already written and distribute it to the contacts and/or upload it into their online systems.
- Receive and respond to potential interns.
- Put the interns in contact with various project supervisors (our immediate needs for the spring are interns to help with PR for contests/conference etc. and someone to help with Pen in Hand).
Outreach to area schools and selection of interns would need to be done about three times a year (to obtain fall, spring, and summer semester interns). If you are interested in helping out, please email MWA Vice President Ally E. Peltier. Even if you are only able to help out in the next month to obtain spring interns, that would be appreciated.
Annual Conference Volunteers -- Exciting plans are underway for the MWA 2010 Conference to be held at the Baltimore Marriott Hunt Valley Inn on April 24. Volunteers are needed for both the planning stages of the conference and for help on the day of the conference. Conference registration is free to volunteers. For more information, please contact Conference co-chair Diane Booth by e-mail or at (410) 557-9335.
Volunteers are invited to attend a planning meeting to discuss how we can work together to make the conference the most successful ever! The meeting will be Wednesday, November 18 from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. at Ukazoo Books, 730 Dulaney Valley Road in Towson (in the rear of Dulaney Plaza, at Dulaney Valley Road at Fairmount Avenue, across from Towson Town Center). An RSVP to Diane Booth (see above) is not required, but would be appreciated. If you want to help but cannot attend the meeting, please contact Diane.
Teen Writers' Club Volunteers -- The MWA Executive Committee recently approved a project to develop Teen Writers' Clubs for a one-year trial period. The project focuses on high school teenagers who like to write. Many schools do not have extracurricular activities for those students except, perhaps, a school newspaper that offers only one kind outlet for writing. The club would operate under the guidance of a club leader, plus several assistants who, in turn, would be guided by the Teen Advisory Team. The Advisory Team would report to the MWA Executive Committee. Clubs can be located in an area chosen by the club leader, with the approval of the Advisory Team. Each would be organized and run independent of school systems and assignments.
Volunteers are needed to form an Advisory Committee that would provide oversight and guidance to each club. During the trial period, only one club will be started to determine if the project is viable. If it is, then more clubs could be started in the 2010-2011 time period. If you would like to read the full proposal, or if you are interested in serving on the Advisory Team, please contact project coordinator Diane Booth.
2010 MWA Novel and Short Story Contest Volunteers -- MWA is looking for volunteers to assist with clerical duties related to our novel and short story writing contests.
Grant Writing Assistance -- MWA is seeking volunteers to assist in grant writing. Gain valuable, practical experience working through the grant writing process with an established nonprofit organization. This is a great opportunity for recent graduates, or writers hoping to shift careers.
