Every month or so the OTW will be doing a Q&A with one of its volunteers about their experiences in the organization. The posts express each volunteer’s personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of the OTW or constitute OTW policy. Today’s post is with Angel who volunteers as a co-chair for the Communications Committee.
How does what you do as a volunteer fit into what the OTW does?
I have been one of two chair-track staffers (CTS) for the Communications Committee. The CTS position is for people who are in training to lead committees. While we’re learning we take on other roles in the committee, so in Communications than means helping our chair get information circulated, both within the OTW and to our followers. It could also mean posting news items for our projects, sending out the OTW newsletter, or managing its social media accounts.
What made you decide to volunteer as a chair-track staffer?
I wanted to be involved in the organisation in some fashion and felt my background as a business journalist, and now a full-time fiction writer, gave me a good mix of skills that might be of use. I have flexible time since I work for myself, so I’m able to sort of float around at odd times which can come in handy. I applied for the Chair Track Staffer because I felt it was a good place to use some of those skills — and to learn more about the organisation and how it operates.
What is a typical week like for you as a volunteer?
There are usually two to three meetings with Janita, our chair, and Jess our other chair-track staffer — Janita calls Jess and I her ‘mini-mes’. We respond to any questions from the public or within the organisation, prepare posts for social media, work on campaign notifications and posts with our Elections Committee, and help other committees who need our help. We keep a close eye on social media and on posts to see if we can offer any support, and if we can’t answer questions that are sent to us we find out who it would be best to send them to.
What’s the most fun thing to you about volunteering for the OTW?
Being involved. That sounds kind of odd, I know, but seriously how many organisations do you know where memes, fan fiction, fan art, and pop culture in general are a part of every meeting, because they’re a normal part of the organisational structure? Where else do you get to fly your fan flag (say that fast five times) high and proud as part of your job?
What fannish things do you like to do?
I’m a hard core Supernatural fan — #teamDeanbutSamcurious — and have a growing collection of commissioned fan art and adore SPN fan fiction. I’m in the last few months of preparing my Masters thesis on the impact of fan fiction on the Supernatural source text and creators — so a lot of my research time is spent either watching SPN or reading SPN fics. Dirty job… Last year I met John Barrowman and his husband Scott Gill which was the highlight of my year (John smelled awesome, Scott was lovely). Mostly I just embarrass my adult children by squeeing at inappropriate moments.
Now that our volunteer’s said five things about what they do, it’s your turn to ask one more thing! Feel free to ask about their work in comments. Or if you’d like, you can check out earlier Five Things posts.