2023 FMHCA Conference Volunteer Handbook

FMHC VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK

2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE | FEBRUARY 3RD-4TH | LAKE MARY, FL

2023 Annual FMHCA Conference Volunteering Dates: Feb 1st-Feb 4th, 2022 Location: Orlando Marriot in Lake Mary 1501 International Pkwy, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Welcome The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association is thrilled that you have chosen to volunteer during the Annual 2023 FMHCA Conference! Volunteers are a vital part of achieving the goals of the conference. Volunteers have key roles during the conference may include proctoring workshops, helping individuals check-in to the conference, greeting attendees, setting-up for workshops/events, exhibitor/sponsor support in setting up, among other tasks. We hope that you find the duties of your volunteer assignments to be fulfilling and that your volunteer experience with us is rewarding and positive. This manual includes details about the different possible volunteer assignments and the roles and responsibilities of volunteers.

As a volunteer, you get to attend the conference for a discounted rate of $25.00 (plus the cost of your volunteer T-shirt). The Annual Conference is a great networking opportunity. You will be working alongside many professionals in the field.

About FMHCA FMHCA is the only organization in the State of Florida dedicated exclusively to meeting the professional needs of Florida's Licensed Mental Health Counselors. FMHCA is the leading organization advocating for mental health counseling professionals. Our objective is to provide education, legislative oversight, and networking. Our Annual Conference provides an opportunity for advanced professional training.

Protecting, sustaining, and advancing the profession of mental health counseling in the State of Florida is our guiding motto. We have served mental health counselors for more than 20 years, in a variety of professional ways. With the collaboration of our local chapters, individual members, and lobbyist, we have accumulated a record that demonstrates our dedication to your success as a mental health professional and the growth of our profession.

Volunteering Schedule Everyone will be receiving a schedule that will outline the times and locations of volunteer assignments. There is a VOLUNTEER MEETING on Thursday- February 2nd, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the “Hibiscus” Room. It is very important that you attend this meeting as we will be discussing volunteer assignments and other housekeeping tasks. For those of you that cannot attend the meeting in person, the meeting will also be held via zoom. Dinner will be provided during the in-person meeting.

The conference runs from Thursday February 2nd, 2023 to Saturday February 4th, 2023, however volunteering assignments can start as early as Wednesday February 1st, 2023.

Dress Code This is a professional conference. Please avoid wearing jeans, pants that are ripped, and shorts. We recommend that you dress business professional during the conference. We recommend wearing your volunteer shirt. Click here to order your volunteer shirt. Please order your shirt before 1/6/23 to ensure it arrives on time for the conference.

Hotel Room We encourage you to book your hotel room- if needed as soon as possible. Although the early bird rates for the hotel run until January, rooms become sold out before that.

Click here to book your hotel room. Rates are $129.00 USD/Night.

Rates are $129.00 USD/Night.

Volunteer Assignments Proctor As a proctor of a breakout session/workshop you will be a support to the presenter. Whether it is with passing out PowerPoint slides, worksheets, troubleshooting technology issues, helping connect to the Wi-Fi, your role will vary depending on the needs of each presenter. Some break-out sessions/workshops require attendees to sign in- if this is a session that you are proctoring you will be provided with specific instructions to ensure all attendees properly sign in.

Sessions will be live streamed for a virtual audience. You will serve as the moderator for the virtual audience. We will be utilizing Zoom.

Registration Assistance Registrations assistance will consist of helping attendees, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors check in to the conference and obtain their name badges.

Set-up Assistant As a set-up assistant, you will help prepare the rooms for several events that will be taking place during the conference. You may also be assigned to help sponsors/exhibitors set up their area.

Greeter As a greeter, you will be strategically placed I high-traffic areas of the conference. You will have the opportunity to meet and greet attendees, presenters, and sponsors/exhibitors. You will also help direct any attendees/presenters that may be lost.

WhatsApp Application We are encouraging everyone to download an application called “WhatsApp”. This application is free for both apple and android cell phones. This application will allow us to communicate in a group message type of setting. If you have not done so yet, please take a few minutes to download the application. Remember the application is FREE. We will discuss more details on WhatsApp during the Volunteer meeting on Thursday February 2nd, 2023.

We plan to use this application as our main source of communication during the conference.

We want to thank you for your dedication and commitment to helping during the 2023 FMHCA Annual Conference Call us with Questions: 561-228-6129 Email us with Questions: office@FLMHCA.org