Event Committee
SAAA coordinates upwards of 40 events per year, both in-person and online. Historically, all events were hosted by our Board of Directors, but as our society grew across Alberta, volunteers were needed to help bring events to more locations. In 2022, the Events Committee was officially founded.
The committee includes:
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SAAA’s President (a de facto member of all committees). They act in an advisory role and support event promotions, and may also host events.
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At least one other member of the Board of Directors. They are responsible for updating event details on the website calendar, social media, and monthly newsletter, and may also host events.
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Event Hosts (volunteers). They form the majority of the committee.
We're happy to welcome hosts from anywhere in Alberta! Right now, we are especially seeking event hosts from Calgary, Lethbridge, and Northern Alberta. Interested? Have questions? Let us know.
Event Committee
FAQ
What are event hosts?
Event Hosts are volunteers who commit to hosting a minimum of 2 events during the year. At least 1 of those events should be held in person. (You can also host events online or hybrid format.) The time commitment mainly depends on the type of events that you host and how much preparation is required.
The Events Committee communicates via a private channel in our “Alberta Aces and Aros” Discord server; this is used to prevent scheduling overlap, and keeps SAAA’s Board of Directors informed so that they can advertise the events.
What are the host's responsibilities?
Hosting is easy and a rewarding way to meet your local community!
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Pick the event type, date, time, and location.
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Share it on the Events Committee Discord channel so that it can be advertised. (You are not responsible for advertising, unless you want to.)
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Attend the event with something to visually identify yourself, such as bringing an ace/aro flag or wearing green/purple.
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Be a friendly face when welcoming attendees!
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Optional - Take a group photo and share it on the Discord channel, to be posted on SAAA's social media (please ask permission and give attendees the chance to opt out). Event photos help create traction for people to find us.
What type of event can I host?
Some of the common events that we have done in the past include:
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Meet and Greets - mixer-style meetups that are open to the public, where people can drop in to chat.
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Discussion Nights - the host plans several questions in advance, based on a theme for the discussion night, and facilitates conversation.
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Game Nights - held at board game cafes, libraries, or online.
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Picnics - meeting at a local park, with people bringing food & outdoor games.
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Walk and Talks - going for an easy walk as a group. The host should plan a walking route in advance and note accessibility impacts (e.g. if there are stairs/hills, or benches along the route).
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Educational Talks - these are more formal presentations. Event hosts who are interested in giving talks will receive support from SAAA’s current Speakers to come up with topics & presentation materials.
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Recurring Events - e.g. our Book Club is a monthly online event. In the past we had other recurring events such as movie nights a few times per year.
You are also welcome to propose your own event!