FMHCA 2024 Conference Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Handbook Volunteering Dates: Jan 31st-Feb 3rd, 2024 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 2024 FMHCA Conference! Volunteers are a vital part of achieving the goals of the conference. Volunteers have key roles during the conference which include proctoring workshops, helping individuals check-in, greeting attendees, setting up for workshops, and exhibitor/sponsor support. 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 handbook includes details about the different possible volunteer assignments and the roles and responsibilities of volunteers. The event is a great networking opportunity, you will be working alongside many professionals in the field.

ABO UT 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 1st, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Hotel Restaurant. It is very important that you attend this meeting as we will be discussing volunteer assignments and other housekeeping tasks. For those of you who cannot attend the meeting in person, the meeting will also be held via Zoom. Dinner will be provided during the inperson meeting.

DRE SS CODE This is a professional conference. Please avoid wearing jeans, pants that are ripped, and shorts.

We recommend that you dress as a business professional during the conference. We recommend wearing your volunteer shirt. Click here to order your volunteer shirt. Please order your shirt before 1/15/24 to ensure it arrives on time for the conference.

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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.

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 inif this is a session that you are proctoring you will be provided with specific instructions to ensure all attendees properly sign in.

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

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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.

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Greeter: As a greeter, you will be strategically placed in 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 plan to use this application as our main source of communication during the conference.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to helping during the FMHCA Annual Conference, see you soon!

Call us with Questions: 561-228-6129 Email us with Questions: office@FLMHCA.org

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