Volunteer Positions

As you already know, the Conference is an all-volunteer activity. We need YOU to help and to make the Conference a success. Even if you only have a few hours free, look through the list below and

Undoubtedly, we've missed something, so do get in touch if you notice a hole. There is also some need for folks to pitch in on unstructured tasks not listed here. Generally, these would be very short term, hour or so things. Let us know if you'd like to help.

Shift Manager

This person will be the problem solver and decision maker for that shift. Generally, problems should be addressed as close to where they occur as possible, but some problems are severe enough to need higher level attention. Shifts during the day will be five hours, and an on-call person over the evening. You must have a cell phone and lots of minutes. We hope that you will have nothing to do! We'll have a list of folks to call to help, so you can participate in Conference activities, but you might get interrupted.

Available slots:

Thursday, May 29 8:00-1:00
Thursday, May 29 1:00-6:00
Thursday, May 29 Evening On-call
Friday, May 30 8:00-1:00
Friday, May 30 1:00-6:00
Friday, May 30 Evening On-call
Saturday, May 31 8:00-1:00
Saturday, May 31 1:00-6:00
Saturday, May 31 Evening On-call
Sunday, June 1 8:00-1:00

We'll have a Conference readiness meeting (teleconference) on Tuesday, May 27 in the afternoon. All Shift Managers should participate.

Packet Assembly

We will be putting together attendee packets on Wednesday afternoon starting at 2:00, location TBD, and need two or three folks to help assemble materials. We are handling far less paper than in other conferences, so should be able to assemble the packets in a couple of hours.
Packet Assembler #1
Packet Assembler #2

Registration/Check-in

Two people per four hour shift are needed at The Sainte Claire. You will hand out badges, packets and other materials, answer questions etc.. The Thursday afternoon shift will not be able to attend the earlybird tours, but we'll find some way to make it up to you. (Maybe a special personalized tour some other time...)
Thursday, May 29 9:00-1:00
Registrar #1
Registrar #2
Thursday, May 29 1:00-5:00
Registrar #1
Registrar #2
Friday, May 30 7:00-900
Registrar #1

Thursday Tours 1:00 - 4:30

Each tour will require a leader and for the larger ones, a deputy. You will be furnished with enroute and site visit narration materials and other information by Tuesday, May 27.  These will include maps (or more likely pointers to Google maps). Ideally, you should dry run the tour if at all possible. It would also  be ideal if you signup for tours covering an area or site with which you have some familiarity. Some of the tours will be lead by local experts at the site. Both roles will require you have a cell phone for emergencies.

Tour 1 - Greening of Silicon Valley Mini-Tour - Leader
Tour 2 - Industrial History of Santa Clara - Leader
Tour 3 - Japantown/Heinlenville - Leader, Deputy
Tour 4 - Cannery Life - Leader, Deputy

Opening Reception Bus Captain

You will help make sure folks get on the shuttle buses to History San José. This will start about 5:00 take about an hour, then another bit of work at about 8:00. We'll make sure you have food etc. at the reception.

Friday Tours Bus Captain

You will help make sure folks get on the right bus for the tour for which they've signed up. We will figure out a way for you to go to your own tour.

Friday Tours 8:00-5:00

Each tour will require a leader and a deputy. You will be furnished with enroute and site visit narration materials and other information by Tuesday, May 27. (We'd love it if you also could help develop these materials!)  These will include maps (or more likely pointers to Google maps). Ideally, you should dry run the tour if at all possible. It would also  be ideal if you signup for tours covering an area or site with which you have some familiarity. Some of the tours will be lead by local experts at the site. Both roles will require you have a cell phone for emergencies.

Tour A - Over the Hill (already staffed)
Tour B - Oakland/Richmond: Deputy (leader already staffed)
Tour C - Extractive Industries: Leader, Deputy
Tour D - Valley of Heart's Delight: Leader, Deputy
Tour E - Roots of High Tech: Leader, Deputy
Tour F - How Green IS My Valley: Leader, Deputy

Show and Tell Leader Friday May 30, 7:30-9:00

You will moderate the Show and Tell session.

Paper Session Leaders Saturday, May 31, 9:00-12:00 (and maybe 2:30-4:30)

You will moderate the a paper session, making sure it stays on schedule. We won't know until about the end of March exactly what the layout of sessions will be.  We hope to have five to ten distinct sessions.

Conference Banquet Bus Captain

You will help make sure folks get on the shuttle buses to the Computer History Museum. This will start about 5:30 take about an hour, then another bit of work at about 8:00. We'll make sure you have food etc.

Sunday Tours 10:00-12:00

Each tour will need a leader and for the larger ones a deputy. You will be furnished with site information. Some of the tours will have local leaders. Both roles will require you have a cell phone for emergencies.

Treasure Hunt - Already staffed
Worker Housing - leader (local experts will lead the tour)
The Beautiful Way - leader, deputy

Wrapup Teleconference

There will be a teleconference at 7:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 2, 2008 to do a "post partum" assessment of the Conference to which all volunteers are invited. This will be the beginning of the Final Report. There will also be on-line and off-line surveys for attendees.