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Volunteer Opportunities
There are wonderful opportunities to volunteer at St. Mark’s. For those who want to become involved in Outreach, the parish sponsors numerous
programs that provide both long term and short-term opportunities. The Outreach committee also has
suggestions how to volunteer in a wealth of other activities. In addition, there are numerous ways to become
involved as a volunteer in one of the areas of our rich parish life. To find out more about volunteer opportunities in that way, please contact the
parish managers responsible for the area in which you might want to offer your talents and service.
A detailed listing of Volunteer Opportunities in individual program areas is being prepared by Anne Barton.
Leadership Opportunities
We are seeking a co-chair for the Parish Life Pillar and a chair of the Shrine Mont Comfort Team. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Kenn Allen, Senior Warden, at kenn@civilsocietyconsulting.com or at 202/628-4360.
Parish Life Pillar Co-Chair
Position Description
The Parish Life pillar encompasses a broad range of church activities described as “community building” in nature. At its best, the Parish Life pillar creates opportunities for members of the parish to gather for social events, around special interests, and to communicate with one another.
The Parish Life Pillar Co-Chairs are not responsible for organizing any of the activities of the pillar (unless they wish to). Their primary job is support the people who provide leadership for the various activities within the pillar, to maintain the financial records for the pillar, and to assist the vestry in identifying leaders for activities or events, as needed.
The following activities comprise the Parish Life Pillar:
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Communications Team: Works with the Rector and Senior Warden to formulate and regularly update an overall communications strategy and to implement specific components of it, e.g., the Gospel, the web site, potentially some aspects of TWASM, the Yahoo e-group, etc.
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Shrine Mont: Assists the Senior Warden in identifying 3-4 people to serve as the Comfort Team
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Social Events: Assists in identifying organizers of an annual dance (i.e., Mardi Gras), annual picnic, and occasional special receptions [note: the College of Crustaceans has full responsibility for the annual crab feast]
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Interest Groups: Young Adults, Celluloid Lions (film group), Lambda Lions (gay & lesbian), College of Crustaceans, Man to Man (currently has no leadership), Literary Lions (book group), Third Agers (over 60), Women to Women, Caregivers (for homebound, aged, or infirm).
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The Pub of the Winged Lion: Pub Steward (beverages), Brewmeister’s group, lunch and coffee hour coordinator(s), Kitchen Committee, Pub treasurer
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Parish Librarian, Historians, Lichfield Cathedral (U.K.) Liaison
The duties of a parish life pillar co-chair include the following:
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Oversee all activities identified as part of the Parish Life pillar. Stay in contact with each group leader to provide assistance as needed.
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Serve as an advocate for all groups under this pillar.
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Gather information from groups requiring meeting space in the church for the annual calendaring meeting (June). Generally, all interest groups (except the Lambda Lions and the film group) hold their events in the church. In addition to regular group meetings/gatherings, a dance, the Crab Feast, and a picnic also need to be scheduled.
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Attend the annual calendaring meeting to schedule the requested dates on a master calendar and work out any time/space conflicts. {Groups are responsible for re-scheduling changes directly through Baxter House}.
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Maintain a pillar brochure (for the tract racks) with current contact information for each group (assistance available from Baxter House). Provide the webmaster with the same information.
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Provide the office with current contact information of group leaders
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Attend Pillar Council meetings (generally held quarterly)
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Submit a short summary of activities for the annual meeting.
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Provide a monthly report to the vestry liaison and the parish treasurer (if requested).
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Determine the financial needs of each group and request funding from the parish budget for the next year. [Most do not request funds. Some are funded through other accounts, e.g., pub lunch and pub are under the Pub Fund; Mardi Gras under the Social Events Fund].
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Determine, with the Vestry pillar liaison and the treasurer, what expenses can be reimbursed.
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Train all organization treasurers re: annual Parish Life budget including the process for filing expense vouchers. Parish Life activities are funded through account #51130 which provides funds for expenses incurred by the organizations and for reimbursement to coffee hour food contributors. [Vouchers are available online, in the undercroft, or at Baxter House. All require the signature of one co-chair and are then submitted to the bookkeeper’s box in the undercroft or sent to Baxter House.]
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Encourage parish life groups to communicate and interact with one another and with individuals under other pillars to fulfill priorities adopted by the Vestry and to support and expand their projects.
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With the assistance of the vestry liaison, identify your successor and the replacement leaders of any Parish Life groups as needed (usually done by Shrine Mont).
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Assist parishioners interested in creating a new special-interest group or planning a parish-wide activity
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Assist the vestry with identifying leaders for major parish events (picnic, dances, etc.)
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Supervise the materials posted on the Parish Life bulletin board, assuring they are current and correct.
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Assist newcomers with their interest in becoming involved in Parish Life activities.
Shrine Mont Comfort Team Chair
Position Description
The primary responsibility of the Comfort Team Chair is to coordinate all logistical arrangements for Shrine Mont, working with and through a team he/she recruits. The goal is to ensure that everyone who comes to Shrine Mont has a positive experience, from the time they first hear about it, through registration and until they leave after Sunday lunch.
Specific responsibilities include:
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Coordinating with the Senior Warden, Rector and Content Team to ensure that the logistical arrangements support their goals for the program and the overall weekend;
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Recruiting and managing the Comfort Team;
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Be the primary liaison with Shrine Mont – turn in confirmation sheet, reserve spaces, turn in list of attendees, talk to Shrine Mont staff about needs during the weekend, solve problems, etc.
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Work with the Senior Warden and Treasurer to develop the registration fee;
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Work with the Senior Warden, Rector and Content Team to promote the weekend;
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Manage advance registration –create sign up sheet; find people to help conduct registrations for two months of Sundays leading up to retreat; manage money collected in advance;
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Make reservations at campground; make sure there is a camping coordinator;
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Process checks and make deposits; request checks as necessary for Shrine Mont, babysitters, campground, firewood, any other reimbursements necessary;
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Make room assignments;
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Create nametags or find someone to create nametags;
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Work with the Senior Warden to plan and execute the receptions;
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Ensure that any needs of the youth coordinator and Content Team during the weekend are met;
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Check people in at Shrine Mont on Friday; be available to meet any needs people have and to address problems throughout the weekend.
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