AFDC Ambassadors Volunteer Program
Overview:
Our volunteers are essential to the smooth running of our many, varied cultural events. Generally, volunteers help us set up and clean up for these events, welcome people and take names at the door, serve wine, and help prepare and serve the cheese/crudité/dips/bread. For every event, we ask that volunteers arrive at least half an hour early to help with the preparations and to be ready to welcome the guests when they arrive. We also have a dedicated team of volunteers in our library, who assist with basic maintenance, such as re-shelving, labeling and other organizational tasks throughout the week.
Volunteer Commitment:
In order to successfully host the large number of cultural events presented at l’Alliance Française, we need committed and dependable volunteers. Therefore we have laid out some guidelines regarding participation in our Cultural Events Volunteer Program. First, to maintain the status of “AFDC Ambassador,” a volunteer must be involved in an average of 1 event per month over 6 months. Second, if a volunteer is not involved in any events for one year, it will be taken as an indication that he or she is no longer interested and wishes to be removed from the volunteer list. Volunteers must give at least 48 hours notice if they will be unable to attend an event to which they had previously committed. No-shows risk being removed from the volunteer list immediately and permanently.
Benefits for Non- Work-Study Volunteers:
Volunteering at l’Alliance Française brings a number of benefits. In addition to immersing yourself in a francophone atmosphere and being able attend a good portion of each event you sign up for, “AFDC Ambassadors,” may also receive:
- Free admission to conversation clubs at l’Alliance
- One-year individual membership after 12 hours (4 events) of service. This membership may be renewed yearly as long as the volunteer maintains his or her status as an “AFDC Ambassador.”
- Free admission to 2 Ciné Clubs per trimester.
- 18 hours (~6 events) over 2 months = 1 place at a lecture, concert, or play, OR
- 24 hours (~8 events) over 2 months = 1 place at a wine tasting,
Work-Study Program:
AFDC Ambassadors may also take advantage of our work-study program whereby you may earn free French classes in exchange for the events you work. To earn your first session of free classes, you must work 12 events in a 6 month period. These hours cannot also be put towards free admission to cultural events, so it is important to indicate whether you would like to participate in the work-study program. Also, the number of volunteer opportunities available per trimester being limited, we may need to impose a limit on the number of people taking part in the work-study program, so if you are interested in participating in this program, it’s important to express your interest early on.
Time and effort donated to the Library, Cultural Department and occasionally to the Administrative staff will qualify toward the Work-Study program.
To become an AFDC Ambassador, please send a brief letter introducing yourself and describing your interest in volunteering at l'Alliance Française along with a current copy of your résumé and the following form (Cultural Events Volunteer Profile.doc) to Greta at volunteers@francedc.org.
Please note that l’Alliance Française de Washington selects new volunteers based on its needs and that submitting application materials does not guarantee the applicant a place as a volunteer.
L’Alliance Française de Washington says « Merci » to all its Volunteers! Without them, nothing would be possible at the Alliance Française. Thanks to all of them for their time, their work and their talent!