Volunteer Usher Login

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to join ENCORE!
or renew your
ENCORE! membership online.

CLICK HERE
for a printable(PDF) application
to join ENCORE! or renew your ENCORE! membership

ENCORE! Membership Benefits

• Meet and work with other volunteers with common interests.
• Receive four (4) ticket vouchers good for general admission tickets to any performance in the 2010-2011 season.
• Opportunity to register for education classes and summer camps prior to the general public.
• Private shopping hours for Santa’s Bag.
• Invitations to the following social events:
  • Fall Membership Coffee
  • Santa’s Bag
  • Spring Brunch & Auction
  • Spring Jam
  • Women’s Doubles Tennis Tournament
• Opportunity to work with one of the most successful and fun arts organizations in our community!
  

Membership Requirements

• Pay dues of $50.00.
• Work as an active member
  on at least one of 14 committees (see right).
• Usher three times during the year.
• Ushering involves arriving one hour prior to a performance, taking tickets as the audience enters the theatre, directing the audience to their seats and remaining in the theatre for the entirety of the performance. An ushering shift averages 3-4 hours.
• New members only:
  Work one 3-hour shift (Summer or Fall) at one of Santa’s Bag Workshops, and one 3-hour shift as a Santa's Bag Elf. This is a great way to meet new people while learning about ENCORE!’s oldest and dearest tradition, Santa’s Bag.

ENCORE!

If you've ever shopped at Santa's Bag, jammed at the Spring Jam, or gotten a helping hand finding your seat from a friendly usher, then you have met ENCORE!, one of the most active volunteer organizations in the local arts community. ENCORE! is comprised of almost 300 individuals of all ages and backgrounds who play a vital role in the theatre’s success. In addition to ushering at performances, ENCORE! coordinates Santa’s Bag, one of our largest annual fundraising and charity events. They also plan and host the Spring Jam (Children’s Theatre’s annual gala), our annual Women's Doubles Tennis Tournament and the Spring Brunch & Silent Auction.

ENCORE! Members enjoy special benefits, too, like priority processing for tickets and classes (see full list of benefits and requirements below left). If you’re interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with ENCORE! check the appropriate box on your order form or contact Cristi Carras, our Volunteer Coordinator, at 704-973-2806.

2010-2011 ENCORE! Committee Descriptions

The 2010-2011 ENCORE! President is Katharine Cowan.

General ENCORE! Committees

CHILDREN’S ART (Dorothy Smith and Alison Van Pelt)
This is a very flexible commitment. Committee members contact area schools to collect artwork that supports the theme of Main Stage plays in the McColl Family Theatre, as well as for the holiday and summer seasons. This committee consults with the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule collecting and displaying artwork. Each committee member chooses performances that best fit her schedule for the pick up, display, and return of artwork during daytime hours. (August - May)

ENCORE! BOUTIQUE (Kim Moore and Nancy Targgart)
This committee operates the Boutique during the Fall Coffee, Santa’s Bag, and possibly the Spring Luncheon. Members need to attend 2 workshops in the fall to unpack and price merchandise. The committee may meet once or twice in the spring to price items for the Spring Luncheon, if necessary. During Santa’s Bag, members are required to work 3 or 4 three-hour morning or evening shifts in the Boutique. Shift assignments are made on a first-come first-served basis. Committee members get to shop and buy early. In preparation for Santa’s Bag, there will be a set-up day in addition to the concentrated time commitment November 29th – December 4th. Committee members should not choose to serve on another Santa’s Bag committee.

PATRON’S PARTY (Christie Hinshaw and Rhoda Juckett)
This committee plans, executes and serves as hostesses for a “Thank You” party for Theatre Patrons and their families. Includes designing invitations, decorating at ImaginOn, and preparing and/or buying and serving food at the event. The committee will meet several times to assign party planning responsibilities. This is a very popular and fun occasion for our Patrons (Donor level of $200 +) and their families. This year’s party will be in January or February 2011 and the performance is TBD. You must be present for the party and dress in the theme of the play. Date: TBD.

OFFICE SUPPORT/ MAILING (Susan McGinn and Suzy Owens)
This committee will provide support to the administrative staff of CTC at ImaginOn in a variety of ways including administrative and assisting with large mailings. Responsibilities may include folding, stuffing, labeling and sealing envelopes, organizing files, some data entry, and other office tasks as needed. This committee also supports the Annual Board meeting in May. Each committee member will be required to work one 90-minute shift per month and may be an individual shift or as part of a group depending on the needs. All work is done at ImaginOn during the day, and scheduling is flexible. A great way to learn first hand about CTC and get to know the people that make it work! (September - May)

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
(2010 – Lisa Cashion and Rebecca Canady; 2011 – Sallie Beason and Julie Wall-Burris)
Each committee member will be assigned a group of new members to help through their first year in ENCORE! by keeping them informed of events and making them feel welcomed. Other responsibilities include planning and executing the Fall Membership Coffee, recruiting at least six new members, making personal contacts with prospective members, and sending out membership packets in February – March, 2011. This committee will work periodically through the year and is not open to new members. We request that members not serve two consecutive years. (August - April)

SPRING JAM COMMITTEE (Jennifer Davis-Martin and Catherine Hensley)
This committee plans and executes the Theatre’s largest annual “friend”-raiser and fundraiser to support programming for Children’s Theatre. Includes working with Development Director and Volunteer Coordinator on soliciting and securing corporate sponsorships and recruiting host couples, selecting the event site, menu planning, designing invitations, decorating, and having fun! Short meetings start in the fall, with time commitment concentrated near the event date in spring.
Tentative Date: March, 2011

SPRING BRUNCH & AUCTION (Lynn Crutchfield and Claire Herring)
Committee members will plan and host a brunch and silent auction in a member’s home. Responsibilities include soliciting five - six items for the silent auction, cooking for the brunch and working on the day of brunch. Be in on planning a great morning of ENCORE! fellowship and shopping! All proceeds benefit CTC programs. Tentative date: April, 2011

TENNIS TOURNAMENT (Sydney Coffin, Paige Hamilton, and Amy Langdon)
If tennis is your game, or you just want to have a great morning outdoors, then this committee is for you. This committee plans and executes a women’s doubles tournament and luncheon in the spring. The level 3 & 4 tournament is open to area doubles players, ENCORE! members, and friends! Committee members are responsible for collecting door prizes, refreshments, facilitating the catered lunch, and for set-up and clean-up on game day. Tentative date: May, 2011

USHERING (Sarah Prochaska and Becky Stowe)

USHERING - SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
Do you enjoy the performances at Children’s Theatre and want a Monday – Friday volunteer position? Then this is the committee you want! At our first and only committee meeting you will select six weekday mornings that fit your schedule to usher at ImaginOn. Time commitment is from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Please note that you will need to stay through the entire performance when you usher. Parking underneath ImaginOn is free of charge while you are ushering the school shows (based on availability). This committee fulfills all ENCORE! committee and ushering requirements. (September - May).

USHERING - PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
If you love to usher and need a night or weekend committee, this is perfect for you. You will usher at six performances of your choice fulfilling all ENCORE! committee and ushering requirements. Perfect for members with full time jobs. Please note that you will need to stay through the entire performance when you usher. Some weekend placements may involve two shows. Time commitment is anywhere from 3 – 5 hours per shift. Great placement if you have a child over age 8 who wants to see the performance while you perform your ushering duties, or teens who may want to usher alongside you! (September – May)

Santa’s Bag Sub-Committees

SANTA’S ELVES (Libby Gordon and PerMar Olin)
This committee makes the magic happen at Santa’s Bag. Committee members will help set-up OR take-down Santa’s Bag and will commit to a minimum of three
3-hour elf shifts during the hours of Santa’s Bag. Elves will be responsible for assisting children as they shop and visit with Santa, restocking gift items, and spreading good cheer. Some evening elfing shifts will be available. Time commitment is intense during the week of Santa’s Bag but the responsibilities are heartwarming and fun. Sign up with your friends! (Set-up: Nov. 22, 23, & either Nov. 20 or 27 if necessary; Take-down: Dec. 6th; Santa’s Bag: Nov. 29th – Dec. 4th)

DAYCARE/ SANTA SCHEDULING (Page Hull,Valerie McKernan,and Boo Viser)
Santa’s Bag welcomes over 50 daycare and pre-school groups during the weekday mornings, and this committee will assist the Committee Chair with follow-up confirmation calls, as well as welcoming the groups, checking them in, and escorting them through the exciting process of visiting with Santa and shopping at Santa’s Bag. In addition, this committee will schedule and welcome Santa each day, ensuring that he is prepared to greet the children. There will be one committee meeting in the fall to choose your shifts. (Nov.29th – Dec. 4th)

TRIM-A-TREE DECORATING (Karen Cotchett)
Transform the lobby in ImaginOn into a magical Christmas wonderland with trees, garlands and wreaths. This committee also helps with décor for Santa’s Bag. This is a very concentrated time commitment but also flexible for working members as some weekend shifts are needed. Committee members will need to be available before Thanksgiving to decorate and after New Years to take decorations down. A great way to get into the Christmas spirit! Decorating/ Take-down dates are tbd during the following time periods: Saturday- Tuesday Nov. 20th – 23rd, December 6th, and/or January 3rd.

WORKSHOPS (Ginny Cobb and Blair Donald)
This committee is responsible for the sorting, bagging, and tagging of items that will be sold at Santa’s Bag. There will be workshops scheduled from June through November and each committee member will be asked to work at four of the workshops of her choice, as well as one “elf” shift during Santa’s Bag. Time commitment for each workshop is approximately 3 hours. This committee is a great way to meet fellow ENCORE! members and socialize. (June – November)