Atlanta, Georgia
Conference: October 8-10
Exhibits: October 8-9
Each year, the tremendous help of volunteers proves to be an essential part of running a successful event.
Thank you for volunteering to help us at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference this year in Atlanta! Your time and assistance make it possible for NRPA to offer new and exciting opportunities to all the park and recreation professionals who will be joining us this year. We truly appreciate your support, but we also ask that you remember you are receiving a significant benefit through your discounted registration fees.
If you need to change any of your hours or need to cancel, please contact MCI directly as soon as possible (please copy events@nrpa.org as well). You must do so by Friday, September 13, 2024, to avoid the $100 cancellation fee per our policies. We have many other people who would love to pick up volunteer hours. I also ask that you please keep in mind all of the scheduling and planning starts now so take care of any changes as soon as possible.
Please ensure that you are familiar with the Conference Policies and Terms of Registration in their entirety.
Once you have arrived, please feel free to visit the NRPA Volunteer Room located in Room B211 on level 200 of the Georgia World Congress Center Building B so you can familiarize yourself with the location. This is where you must check in and out before and after Volunteer assignments (unless another check-in/out location is indicated for your position).
On your first day of volunteering (or earlier if you are able) be sure to visit the Registration Area located on Level 4 (ground level) in Registration Hall AB to pick up your registration materials including your badge and complimentary NRPA conference bag. Be sure to allow yourself some extra time to do this.
Volunteers should wear business casual, comfortable attire, and clean, comfortable shoes (tennis shoes/sneakers are acceptable). Our Volunteer T-shirts are sponsored by PlayCore. You are asked to wear your name badge and Volunteer T-shirt during your volunteer shifts. T-shirts will be provided to all volunteers based on the size you indicated during the registration process. Your T-Shirt can be picked up in the Volunteer Room.
Volunteers are responsible for their own snacks, meals, and beverages. Please be sure to check your schedule and allow yourself time to eat or pack a snack if you are working extended hours.
If you are asked questions about the Conference that you are unable to answer, please direct attendees to the Accessibility & Hospitality Kiosk located on ground level (level 4) near the Registration Hall AB. NRPA staff and the Local Host will be there to assist with any questions. Please remember to be courteous to all attendees and help us to keep all areas clean.
For questions related to Local Host events such as Off-Site Institutes, Leisure Tours, 5k Fun Run/Walk, or the Golf Tournament please visit the Local Host kiosk located in Registration Hall AB on Level Four (ground level) next to Registration.
Once again, if you need to cancel your volunteer registration, cancellations must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13, 2024 — the sooner the better. Any cancellation requests received after this date will incur a $100 fee which will be charged to your credit card on file. PLEASE keep in mind that while we know it happens, last minute cancellations affect all of us and create challenges when trying to fill vacancies.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 15 minutes prior to your shift to check in and then report to the Accessibility Information Kiosk near registration. You must check out at the Volunteer Room once your duties are complete.
Accessibility Attendants will assist attendees by checking out/in mobility scooters and devices, answering questions regarding the Lactation Room, and directing attendees to NRPA’s inclusion rooms.
Bag stuffing will take place in Registration Hall AB on Level Four (ground level) of the Georgia World Congress Center. Please go directly to the Registration Hall as the volunteer room will not be open.
Volunteers will place informational and promotional materials into Conference attendee bags and neck wallets. You may also be asked to provide other ‘swag’ related assistance as well.
Note: If you are bag stuffing on Saturday or on Sunday morning, keep in mind that you will not be able to pick up your registration materials for the conference until registration opens on Sunday at 12 noon.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room at least 30 minutes prior to your shift to check-in. Best of the Best will be held in the Georgia World Congress Center in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom on Level Five. The Best of the Best volunteers must check out with someone on the NRPA staff before leaving.
Best of the Best volunteers will assist with checking in attendees, handing out programs, and ushering groups to their seating area.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room at least 30 minutes prior to your shift to check-in. Once checked in, you will head to Convention Center Exhibit Hall B5 on Level one wearing your Volunteer T-shirt. You must check out with NRPA Staff. We keep track of your attendance.
Day 2 General Session Ushers will assist with greeting and directing attendees to their seats upon their arrival.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room at least 15 minutes prior to each shift in order to receive your training. Upon check-in, you will be informed which session room areas you will be assigned for your floor captain duties. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you may be doing a lot of standing and/or walking. You must check out at the Volunteer Room once your Floor Captain assignment is complete.
Floor captains will provide support to the Room Hosts and assist when information or supplies are needed, contact the proper person for help if a speaker needs AV assistance, check rooms to ensure all assigned Room Hosts arrive on time and with the assigned session packet. (Two-way radios will be provided for communication purposes and you will be trained how to use them—don’t worry it’s easy).
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 15 minutes prior to each shift to check in. Depending on what you are needed for, you may be standing/walking often or you may be waiting for tasks. You must check out at the Volunteer Room once you have completed your Flying Squad assignment.
Flying squad volunteers must be flexible about where they are assigned and will be on constant call during their shift. Volunteers will be stationed in the Volunteer Room to await instructions.
Flying Squad members will help fill in areas where additional volunteers are needed. Additional roles might include: Delivering messages, picking up packages, filling in for room hosting or other no-shows, assisting with emergencies, etc.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 15 minutes prior to your shift to check in and then report to the Member Area booth in the exhibit hall. You must check out at the Volunteer Room once your duties are complete.
Member Area volunteers will assist NRPA staff as needed in the various departments in the booth; help to keep the area clean and organized, answer attendee questions or direct them to NRPA staff as needed.
Volunteers should meet in the Volunteer Room 30 minutes prior to their assigned time for check-in. Please be prompt.
Volunteers will then meet an NRPA Staff member to board a shuttle bus to the aquarium where they will receive further instructions. Volunteers will be released and must check out with NRPA staff once their duties are complete. We keep track of your attendance.
Assigned tasks may include:
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 15 minutes prior to your shift to check in and then report to the NRPA Booth – Booth #1959 in the exhibit hall. You must check out at the Volunteer Room once your duties are complete.
NRPA Swag Attendants will assist with swapping badge tickets for NRPA sponsored swag which will be eligible to exchange for fun limited edition NRPA member swag.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room at least 30 minutes prior to your shift to check-in. Once checked in, you will head to Convention Center Exhibit Hall B5 on Level one wearing your Volunteer T-shirt. You must check out with NRPA Staff. We keep track of your attendance.
Opening General Session Ushers will assist with greeting and directing attendees upon their arrival; provide any necessary programs/handouts and will help with directing attendees to the exhibit hall floor once it ends.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 15 minutes prior to your shift to check in and then report to the Registration area. You must check out at the Volunteer Room once your duties are complete.
Registration Line Usher volunteers will assist in the registration area by directing attendees to the correct registration counter (Pre-Registered or Onsite Registration). Registration Line Usher volunteers will also assist with attendee questions; Line Ushers will be carrying ‘lollipop’ signs and must be able to walk and stand for extended periods.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 30 minutes prior to your volunteer time slot to pick up your packet and receive any last-minute instructions.
Research Poster Session Host duties include assisting poster presenters prior to and during the poster session. They will monitor the poster session and assist when information or supplies are needed; contact the proper person for help if assistance is needed; check the poster area to ensure all poster presenters arrive on time and are able to find and hang their poster in their assigned space. (Materials and training will be provided onsite).
Research Poster Session Host volunteers must check-out at the Volunteer Room once they have completed their assignment.
When you check in at the Volunteer Room you will receive a packet of information with all necessary materials. Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 30 minutes prior to your volunteer time slot to pick up your packet and receive any last-minute instructions.
Room Hosts are responsible for the tasks listed below and will have access to a Floor Captain who will be stationed near but outside of your session room in case you should encounter a problem.
As a Room Host you are eligible to receive CEUs if you attend the entire session. To obtain CEUs you must follow the same CEU procedures as the other session attendees.
Room Host volunteers must check-out at the Volunteer Room once they have completed their assignment.
Please arrive at the Volunteer Room 15 minutes prior to your shift and await instructions.
Volunteer room volunteers will check volunteers in and out, pass out Volunteer T-shirts (sponsored by PlayCore), answer all questions to the best of your ability, assist with Room Host Script handouts, and/or provide general information to other volunteers.
Checking volunteers in and out is critical. Anyone not signing in or out for their assigned volunteer responsibility may be required to pay a no-show fee for assignments missed or for their registration if they do not attend the Conference at all.
Volunteer Room volunteers are often the Volunteer Coordinator’s “right-hand person!”
Please be aware that changes to instructions and/or meeting locations may occur. If this happens, correspondence will be sent to your email address on file. Please keep an eye on your email while you attend the conference to the best of your ability.
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Ashburn, VA 20148-4501
PH: 800.626.NRPA (6772)
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