The ESPA is always seeking new volunteers!

Whether as a special event attendant, production assistant, assisting with our office re-organization and cataloguing project, or even on our Board of Directors, ESPA has plenty of engaging volunteer opportunities!

This page highlights our general ongoing volunteer opportunities (repeat or annual seasonal). If you are interested in volunteering for a specific event, please contact us at any time leading up to the event, preferably at least 2 weeks in advance (check upcoming events on the what's new page at left).
You can also download our (PDF) Volunteer Form HERE - print, fill out and mail in, or copy and paste the info into an email.

Seeking P/T Website Administrator
Hours per month: 5-10 (hours flexible)
Location: Flexible (from home or in-office during Stanley Milner Library regular hours)
Details: The key administrator function will be to consistently and pro-actively perform visual scans of the website, noting any content updates that need making, requesting details from the ESPA Board of new content/revisions, and implementing said updates under the direction of the Web Designers. For example: adding new postings (eg: upcoming events, meetings, "Our Voice" thumbnails, etc.), and archiving past events (moving postings from the 'what's new' page to the 'past events' page immediately after each event's completion), checking to make sure links are working properly, and generally cross-referencing info on the website with info being advertised elsewhere to ensure consistency.
Qualifications: Practical knowledge/experience using HTML, CSS, graphic manipulation. Knowledge of both PC and Mac Operating systems an asset. Must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement in regards to usage of administrator passwords and other sensitive information. Ability to communicate regularly via email is an absolute requirement.

Other Notes: This position could be split between 2 volunteers/duties: one 'scanner' who is not required to have any prevous web experience, and one programmer who makes the actual updates. These positions open in January 2009.

General Office/Infoshop Volunteers
Hours per month: 12-16+ (minimum 1 day per week for min. 3-4 hours/shift)
Location: In-office during Stanley Milner Library regular hours
Details: General Office Volunteers are needed to literally hang out in the ESPA office/infoshop, so that we can start advertising more consistent office hours and increase our accessibility. Minor duties spent passing the time might include membership mail prep, logging of hard-copy distro materials that need re-ordering or re-printing, shelving library items in the appropriate places and other low-physical office duties. After reliability is established, handling basic inventory, merch sales, and cash reconciliations.
Qualifications: Available and reliable to work at least 1 afternoon/week (approx. noon-6pm), preferably the same day every week; friendly enough to be able to meet & greet people who drop by, give them more info about ESPA's general operating activities, including liasing with "Our Voice" vendors on occasion. Good volunteer job for a student (time can also be used to study, etc.). Must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement in regards to usage of office key, etc.
Other Notes: Volunteers applying for this position are highly recommended to establish a volunteer relationship with ESPA PRIOR to applying, as the position includes full office access and requires certain etiquette be followed. These positions open in March 2009.

Seeking P/T Archivists/Catalogue Administrators
Hours per month: 12-16+ (minimum 1 day per week for min. 3-4 hours/shift)
Location: In-office during Stanley Milner Library regular hours
Details: A great opportunity for zine-lovers who have a healthy interest in zines, comics and associated print & visual materials, this job involves reading a lot of zines! After receiving in-office training from the Coordinator, archivists will be responsible for adding new donated/acquired materials to the ESPA's online catalogue. The 'work' part includes scanning covers of zines, CDs, etc., and re-formatting images into 2 sizes of thumbnails using Photoshop; visual/read assessment of items donated (not in-depth, but 'thoroughly scanned'), and entering the appropriate item headings into pre-set fields (eg: 'zine' vs. 'comic'), including item dimensions, contact info, short item descriptions, etc.. Archivists will be trained to interpret standard zine formats upon sight (eg: zine vs. mini-comic, digest vs. broadsheet), as well as broadly interpret their contents (eg: GMO vs. globalization vs. feminist, etc.).
Qualifications: Beyond-beginner-level computer experience including basic internet and troubleshooting. Ability to communicate via email. Ability to work alone, without supervision, after training is completed. Previous knowledge of small press/formats a definite asset. Must be attentive to detail (spot typos!) and have decent grammatical skills.
Other Notes: Volunteers applying for this position are highly recommended to familiarize themselves with ESPA's online catalogue PRIOR to applying (see link at left). Volunteers applying for this position are highly recommended to establish a volunteer relationship with ESPA PRIOR to applying, as the position includes full office access and requires certain etiquette be followed. This is an in-office position only (sorry, but items cannot leave the infoshop, although ESPA is willing to re-consider 'remote' cataloguing after a relationship has been well-established). Must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement in regards to usage of administrator passwords and other sensitive information, and office/infoshop key provision. These positions open in March 2009.

Production Committee Members (many different positions available)
Hours per month: 8+ (varies, pending amount and scale of upcoming events/projects). As ESPA produces and participates in many varied events year-round, both weekday and evening/weekend positions are available.
Location: Varies (all production & events are centrally-located)
Details: Production Committee Members will work directly with the Board & Artistic Director in producing our public events (art installations, film screenings, etc.). Production Committee Members will have a good opportunity to learn a LOT about event production and management (without going into debt 'paying for some education'). Keeners can even learn how to operate tech equipment and become bona-fide guerilla projectionists or general coordinators, and (after proven performance & reliability), will lead to good practical references and could very likely lead to a paid position. The list of production opportunities is extensive and includes both pre- and on-site event responsibilities:
• Pre-event responsibilities might include publicity & promotion (eg: gathering information for media releases, liasing with advertisers & sponsors, promotional tabling at [non-ESPA] events, postering/distributing handbills and other materials, etc.); prepping & installing artwork (eg: digital design, matting/framing, etc.); general coordinating/event planning (eg: booking venues)
• On-Site Event responsibilities might include helping set-up, taking admissions, managing other volunteers, as tabling or general attendants, and tear-down.
Qualifications: Skills required vary with each position. Tabling or admissions attendants require good math skills to perform cash reconciliations and/or inventory control. Ability to communicate via email is a must, as it facilitates the exchange of preliminary info.
Other Notes: Production Committee Members MUST be willing to make a 'short-term intensive' or 'long-term casual' commitment to ESPA, as our investment in training appropriate volunteers for some of these positions is substantial - please, do NOT apply for these positions if you will not be able to commit either very heavily for a short-term, or consistently/repeatedly for a long-term. Vehicle is an asset for physical/in-person production ops as some positions require hauling artwork, merch, etc. (gas/mileage/parking paid by ESPA). These positions open in January 2009. When applying, indicate which of the above you are interested in, your level of experience in said position(s), and any time/schedule restrictions we should know about (eg: going back-packing across Europe in 3 months? Going to school full-time? Tell us.)

Drivers (with vehicle)!
Hours per month: 4-8 (varies, pending amount and scale of upcoming events/projects)
Details: Literally, just driving (OK, some light lifting/hauling too). Most of our members don't drive/have vehicles, so we could use more drivers 'on stand-by' to help get things from one place to another, and back. As ESPA produces and participates in many varied events year-round, both weekday and evening/weekend drivers are needed.
Qualifications: Have a license? Have a vehicle? Good driving record? You're qualified!
Other Notes: Gas/mileage/parking paid by ESPA. Drivers needed 'anytime'.

Board Members
Hours per month: 16+ (minimum 4 hours per week expected; hours otherwise flexible)
Location: Varies (most 'home-based' throughout the year with online communication; all production & events are centrally-located)
Details: Board Members govern the ESPA, a registered non-profit society, including setting policy and implementing Bylaws. Board Members make responsible decisions regarding ESPA's programming and projects, finances & fundraising, volunteer management and pretty much everything else it takes to run the organization, including active implementation.
Qualifications: Previous Board experience is not necessary but volunteers applying for this position are highly recommended to establish a volunteer relationship with ESPA PRIOR to applying, as the position includes full office access and comes with certain legal obligations. Must be willing to sign a legal governance agreement which is sent to Alberta Registries. Ability to communicate regularly via email is an absolute requirement.
Other Notes: The Board is elected at our November AGM every year, but our Bylaws also allow for mid-term elections if good candidates present themselves. Board Members are expected to make a minimum one-year commitment (two years preferred). When applying, provide full contact info and a bio/resumé of your experience with non-profit organizing, and any time/schedule restrictions we should know about (eg: going back-packing across Europe in 3 months? Going to school full-time? Tell us.) If you are deemed a good candidate for the Board, full info about Board responsibilities will be provided.

Volunteering with ESPA can be an enormously rewarding and educational experience. Thank You for your interest.


Download our (PDF) Volunteer Form HERE - print, fill out and mail in, or copy and paste the info into an email.