IAAC

Volunteer Opportunity

Infertility Awareness Association of Canada - BC Lower Mainland

If you would like further information on this opportunity, please email Acubalance at: iaac [at] acubalance [dot] ca or call: 604-678-8600.

Chapter Leader

(Start Date: September, 2005)

Characteristics/Background:

• Someone who understands infertility from either past or present personal experience or has provided service to people who have gone through infertility at any given stage. (If you have/are experiencing infertility, it is highly suggested that you consult with a counsellor about this opportunity, especially if you are in the middle of treatment or going through an emotional time.)
• Willing to volunteer your time for this good cause
• Someone who can exercise "emphatic skills" and listen well
• Comfortable facilitating meetings
• Able to organize well
• Possess some leadership qualities
• Good time management skills
• Basic marketing skills
• Committed
• Willing to speak to the media (if necessary)
• Wanting to make a difference on the awareness of infertility in Canada
• Basic presentation skills

Position Responsibilities:

• Attend the support & educational meetings every fourth Monday of each month (except for December, July and August). Meetings begin at 7:30pm and end at 9:30pm. Plan to arrive 20 minutes earlier and stay 15+ minutes later in case there are questions.
• Arrange for guest speakers. You need to call/email people you think would be good guest speakers a few months in advance.
• Promote membership and its benefits at meetings etc (first meeting free, then the annual fee is $40 per couple)
• Provide marketing support materials (brochures, posters, journals etc ) to the fertility clinics in Vancouver and any other place where people with infertility might see the information. Stock up this information quarterly (if needed).
• Book and pay the rented room at Willingdon Church twice a year.
• Bring a thermos of coffee and tea and cookies to each monthly meeting.
• Set up a non-profit bank account for membership money to be deposited and to pay for any expenses. Keep a basic book-keeping record of all expenses and incoming cheques from head office.
• Mail any cheques and member forms (on behalf of new members) to head office (Most people do this directly on-line/by mail).
• Respond to any emails or phone calls you might get (average of 4 per month).
• Bring the supply of library books (average of 5-10) to the meeting. Keep track of books lent out (in book provided).
• Bring other brochures to the monthly meetings (from Sorono, IAAC, others).
• Send out a bi-monthly schedule of upcoming meetings to the email listserve (to be given).
• Send out an email reminder to the listserve members of the upcoming meeting one week prior.
• Keep in touch with the local fertility clinics (2) with a visit to the office manager/head nurse twice a year (or more).
• Optional: Attend a staff administration fertility clinic meeting (if you can) to remind them to tell their patients about IAAC or do an update on IAAC.
• Participate in teleconference meetings held every few months at 5pm (western time) to update the Board on how your chapter is doing.
• Keep in touch by copying/calling/emailing the executive director of IAAC with any activities you are planning etc...
• Refer people to professionals in the Lower Mainland (i.e. Counsellors, Naturopaths, Gynecologists, Fertility Clinics etc...).
• Provide basic counselling to people who just need to "talk to someone." You are not expected to be trained in this field as your role will be to pass any serious concerns over to others who are qualified.
• Estimated commitment time per month (including attending the monthly meeting): 4 -6 hours.

Please note that an orientation/training meeting(s) with the current Chapter Leader will be provided.

For more information on IAAC please visit their website: www.iaac.ca