VOLUNTEER WITH COLAGE

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Be a part of the COLAGE Family Week Volunteer Staff Team!
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COLAGE is thrilled to once again be a part of two amazing Family Week events in summer 2008! ( Saugatuck, MI Family Week is July 12th - 19th and Family Week in Provincetown, MA is July 26th - August 2nd). During these events, hundreds of LGBTQ families take over a town for parties, family events, workshops, dances, beach time, and more. COLAGE provides a dynamic community building, youth empowerment, and leadership development program for young people with LGBTQ parents during Family Week. We are looking for adult COLAGErs (folks 18 and over who have or had one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parents) to serve as volunteer COLAGE staff for this fun and inspiring event. Volunteering your time on the COLAGE Family Week Staff is not only a great opportunity to gain skills working with youth, but a truly unique chance to connect with COLAGEr adults.

FOR MICHIGAN: Staff will be expected to arrive in Saugatuck, MI by the night of July 11th and will stay through about 11 am on Friday, July 18th.

FOR MASSACHUSETTS: Staff will be expected to arrive in Provincetown, MA by the afternoon (ideally by 4:30 pm) of Friday, July 25th for staff orientation and training and to stay through about 1 pm on Saturday, August 2nd.

Who can apply? To be a part of the COLAGE Family Week Staff you must be at least 18 years old and have (or had) one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parents. We are especially are looking for folks who can do sign language interpretation, people of color, and men to join our staff.

What does it mean to be on the Family Week Staff?
If you commit to serving as volunteer staff, it means that Family Week becomes more of a job, albeit a fun and exciting one, than a vacation. We also do ask that our staff commit to being present for the entire week starting with staff training on July 25th.

In addition to the week of the event itself, Family Week Staff will help with workshop and activity planning beginning in May 2008 via email and 1 or 2 phone conference calls in the month and a half prior to Family Week. Family Week Staff will receive orientation and training resources by mail in the months before the event and will be expected to review these materials.

In return, you'll have the chance to affect the lives of youth with LGBTQ parents by sharing your experiences, your enthusiasm, and your energy with an amazing group of youth. You also have the unique opportunity to connect with other adults with LGBT parents who are a part of the team. You also are contributing to the national movement of children, youth and adults with LGBTQ parents. And lots more!

Room, Board, and Travel: COLAGE Volunteer Staff are given the option of communal COLAGE housing. You may also choose to stay with your family or friends on your own. If you have the option of housing with your family or friends, we encourage you to do so as the Staff Houses are generally quite full. Staff volunteers are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Family Week but we assist with travel stipends, flight vouchers, carpools, etc. in certain cases. COLAGE covers the cost of housing (if you stay in the COLAGE Staff house) and meals (everyone can eat in the staff houses no matter where they are sleeping) for staff during Family Week.

If you are interested in these volunteer opportunities and want the full call for staff and application, please contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director.