An important part of MCN’s mission is to provide pathways and opportunities for leadership development and career building to our members. MCN supports, connects, and empowers museum and cultural heritage technologists.
There are many different ways you can contribute to the MCN community, not just during the annual conference but also year-round. We have outlined a few different pathways to get more involved in the organization beyond membership. We hope that all members of the community will get involved, learn, share, and build their own careers through their engagement with MCN.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
MCN is an active, thriving community year-round. If you are looking to get involved in the MCN community to support the annual conference, listed below are ways members can get involved.
Volunteer at the Annual Conference
Conference volunteers serve a variety of key functions in support of the annual conference. The work of these volunteers is typically limited to the time period immediately surrounding and during the annual conference. It is an opportunity for professional networking and discounted conference registration. Typical opportunities include onsite volunteer coordinator and onsite volunteer.
Volunteer on a Conference Committee
Conference-focused committees plan and develop different areas of the conference including the program, local events, volunteers, and media production. In this role you will build your professional network via collaborative learning and participating in projects related to addressing the community’s needs. Typical opportunities include conference program co-chair, proposal reviewer, and local committee.
Volunteer on a Board Standing Committee
You may also serve on one of the board’s committees that focus on a specific functional area of the organization. Projects can range from marketing and development to technical support and planning. Work directly with MCN board members and earn experience planning, leading, executing, and evaluating initiatives that are important to the community.
Leadership-Level Volunteer Opportunities
If you have ideas for projects or initiatives you want to lead, or are you someone who is interested in becoming more engaged in the strategic operations of the organization, below are ways members can get involved.
SIG Chair
SIG chairs serve a one-year renewable term, and commit significant time and effort to develop their SIG’s membership, plan activities, and keep members engaged. Becoming a SIG chair is a professional networking opportunity, as you work with your peers in a leadership role to develop and lead discussions related to addressing community needs in specific practice areas.
Committee Chair
A number of MCN’s standing committees are led by volunteers from the community. Committee chairs serve renewable one-year terms and create guidelines and action plans to develop initiatives for their committee. Not only do these opportunities provide excellent networking opportunities, but also you will gain leadership experience through projects related to the conference or the organization’s strategic initiatives.
MCN Board Director
MCN board directors are appointed before each annual conference and serve a term of three years. Board members commit 8 to 12 hours a month (or more depending on their responsibilities) to board activities and play an active leadership role in delivering on MCN’s overall business in general and on assigned strategic priorities. Calls for board members are typically published each year in the summer. Develop and hone your strategic thinking and leadership skills with opportunities to lead initiatives that are vital to the development and maintenance of the organization and community.
Volunteer Recruitment and Placement
MCN members can email [email protected] for more information about each of these roles and additional volunteer opportunities.