Volunteer

Our organization cannot run without volunteers. Get involved in one of our committees. It is a great way to meet new fellow members. Whether you can help a few hours a month or want to work on just one project, we have something for you and your help would be truly appreciated. If interested in any of the volunteer opportunities, email [email protected].

AWA FOUNDATION COMMITTEE LIST

Alliances Committee: Co-Chairs Antonella Grimaldi, Kellie Lindsay and Kristen Balasia
AWAF alliances committee works to bring awareness to AWAF’s mission and initiatives through partnerships with like-minded organizations in Michigan by establishing partnership agreements with our alliance partners. an alliance program manager (committee member) acts as a coordinator between AWAF Alliance chairs and an Alliance organization to ensure they are benefiting each other and aligning with overall goals. Read here for complete volunteer description.

Coaching Committee: Co-Chairs Colleen Thompson and Amy Seibert
The goal of the Coaching Committee is to support the chairperson in activities that engage membership and guests about the purpose and importance of coaching to benefit their personal and professional growth.

Corporate Sponsorship Committee: Co-Chairs Deborah Irvin, Megan Andrew and Deanna S. Lorincz 
The Corporate Sponsorship Committee provides direction on processes and policies, establishes goals, administers and establishes the AWAF fundraising efforts.  They ask for corporate sponsorship and engage the AWAF board in helping them ask their contacts for AWAF support through sponsorship.

Golf Committee: Co-Chairs Erin Schrieber and Keiyania Mann
The Golf Committee plans the annual golf outing – Swinging FORE Scholarships in August. The purpose of the outing is to raise money for scholarships and STEM activities. The Committee secures location, keynote speaker, prizes, gifts for all golfers, raffle items, golfers, and sponsorships. They work with the event planner to handle all the logistics of the event. The Program Committee works closely with the Sponsorship Committee to get additional revenue.

Marketing Committee: Co-Chairs Axel Cooley and Patricia Price
The Marketing Committee oversees the AWAF Newsletter, Website, Social Media, and Media Relations for AWAF.  The Marketing Committee establishes relationships with key industry media contacts and recommends for board approval of the AWAF spokesperson. The Marketing Committee works closely with the Program Committee to promote AWAF events and create opportunities for media coverage.  The Marketing Committee recommends AWAF styling guidelines. 

Membership Committee: Co-Chairs Marley Devergilio, Natalie Chipot, and Jane Bishop
The Membership Committee provides direction on membership forms policies and establishes short and long-term goals for new member recruitment and current member retention.  The committee plans networking mixers usually one to two per year. The Membership Committee administers a biannual survey to measure member satisfaction.

Mentorship Committee: Co-Chairs Anand Gandhi and Venetia Petteway
The goal of the Mentoring committee is to solicit mentors and mentees annually to match up with candidates that meet the Mentoring program specifications. The mentoring program focuses on applicants from various colleges, industries, and individuals who desire to utilize a mentor to navigate their career during the eight-month program. The Mentorship Committee will also “match up” mentors with mentees to ensure the best compatibility for the relationship.

Professional Development Committee: Co-Chairs Jennifer Jones, Anne Partington, and Shameeka Ward
The Professional Development Committee’s main mission is to provide events where members have the opportunity to learn and grow in community. Annual events include a wine tasting event with a speaker and a half day professional development conference. Volunteer positions with this committee include:

Content Coordinator – Gather ideas on topics, lead conversations on content, secure speakers, and prepare content – (2-3 hours per month)  

Secretary – Take notes in weekly meetings and provide reminders of agreed tasks (2 hours per month)

Event Budget Manager – Keep track of event costs with input from the rest of the committee (2-3 hours in March, April, and September)

Venue Coordinator – Gather venue requirements, lead evaluation of possible venues, lead decorations, and coordinate arrangements with venues (8-10 hours per event)

Refreshment Coordinator – Select and arrange for refreshments at events (4-6 hours per event)

Event Volunteers – Volunteers are needed for event set-up, hosts/registration, clean-up (up to 8 hours per event)

Program Committee: Co-Chairs Megan Fisher and Jashmita Kashat 
The Program Committee member-only Fireside chats (usually two a year) and three additional events (usually on in the spring, one in October and one in early December). The Program Committee secures locations and speakers for the event and works with the administrator on budgets for the event. The Program Committee works closely with Marketing to promote AWAF events and create opportunities for media coverage.  The Program Committee works closely with the Sponsorship Committee to get additional revenue from the event.

Scholarship Committee: Co-Chairs Carolyn Sauer and Bertha Smiley
The Scholarship Committee establishes criteria for selecting applicants and encourages students to apply for AWAF scholarships through our website.  AWAF scholarship offerings are also listed on numerous external scholarship websites in North America, and with the help of academic contacts in Michigan to promote these offerings.  The Scholarship Committee is responsible for all administrative responsibilities regarding recipient award notification, writing recipient biographies, and direct collaboration with scholarship sponsors for notification and announcements.  The Scholarship Committee also follows scholarship recipients to offer guidance through their career progress and strongly encourages participation in the Mentorship program.  Member volunteers are needed to help during the actual selection process, write winner biographies, and or follow up with recipient students.  Volunteers' time is 4 hours to 20 hours per year.

STEM Committee:  Co-Chairs Riley Keehn and Maya Makhlouf
The STEM Committee focuses on K – 12 outreach and engagement to support young women in building an interest and confidence in STEM skills, with an automotive and mobility slant. HER Story panel Q&As, career-readiness workshops, and hands-on STEM Kit activities aim to guide students to success and educate them on their options for college, internships, early-career, and beyond – as well as how to navigate the lingering challenges of being a woman in a still male-dominated field - through real-world examples, candid conversations, and a network of mentors and support.  The Committee encourages all genders to participate in our events to help build an early foundation of allyship and collaboration and generate more interest in the industry at large. Lastly, the STEM Committee helps to drive the AWAF scholarship pipeline forward, providing our scholarship application resources to 11^th and 12^th grade students.

Member volunteers are desired. Please contact the Committee chairs if you are interested in joining our volunteer pools to share your personal and professional stories through HER Story or to teach STEM Kit modules (MagicBit), both to groups of 7^th – 12^th graders. Volunteers within the pool are selected by relevancy of experience for an event (based on a school or organization’s requests) and availability. We also invite you to sit on the Committee directly to provide your unique perspective to our growth. Direct Committee members with ideas for or contacts in K – 6 education will be strongly preferred at this time.