Volunteers

Communication channels
Arrival in Belgrade
Volunteer orientation
Volunteer information video
Food for volunteers
Volunteer social
Contributor Day
Travel information
Sava Centar Map
Expected behaviour & Code of Conduct
Detailed Work Instructions

Communication channels

Before the event

During the event:

  • Slack: #wceu-volunteers
  • When I Work

Slack

Slack will be our main communication channel during the event so we need every volunteer to be on the channel before the event starts. It is mandatory that you have the Slack app installed and activated on your phone.

If you are not on Slack yet, now is the time to create your account:

  1. Log in to your WordPress.org account or create one. Remember your username, you’ll need it in the next step.
  2. Go to chat.wordpress.org. About half-way the page, click the link I understand. Please send me an invite. to receive your invite to the Make WordPress Slack.
  3. Follow the instructions in the email to complete your signup. Remember to use the email address [your-username]@chat.wordpress.org during the process.
  4. Send us an e-mail at volunteers@wp-europe.org and tell us your Slack username so we can add you to the private #wceu-volunteer channel.

You can read more about using Slack via this link.

When I Work

This year we are working with a self-planning tool called When I Work.

On Friday, May 11 every volunteer received an invitation from Igor Klimer <noreply@wheniwork.com> with the subject “Igor Klimer invited you to join When I Work”.
Even if you didn’t want to pick your own shift you need to accept the When I Work invitation because it will be our primary schedule communication tool.

We created several videos on how to use When I Work: link to the videos.

If you didn’t have a preference for your shifts we assigned you to an open shift after the sign up had closed. Please note: the exact shift times might be subject to minor changes as we get closer to the event.

You can request a shift swap or drop at any point before the start of your shift if there is a need to do that.

This is a new experience for all of us. We are super excited about what this could add to the volunteering experience. However, we are sure there will be things we bump into because that’s what happens with new things. If you have any questions, feedback or remarks at all feel free contact us via volunteers@wp-europe.org. Please ask as much as you can think of. You will be helping yourself and us to make this an awesome experience by doing that.

Arrival in Belgrade

We expect you to arrive in Belgrade before or on Thursday, June 14th, 16:00 latest.
This will allow you to take part in the mandatory Volunteer orientation at the main venue (Sava Centar) which starts at 16:30 (where you’ll also get your badges and volunteer t-shirts).
The Volunteer social starts at 19:00 on the same day.

If you signed up to volunteer at Contributor Day (Belexpo) on Thursday, please arrive on Wednesday, June 13th, because the Contributor Day volunteer orientation starts early in the next morning.

Here you can find additional information about the two main venues, Sava Centar and Belexpo.

Volunteer orientation

The mandatory volunteer orientation will start on Thursday, June 14th at 16.30h at Sava Centar. We’ll meet you at the Andromeda Registration desk (marked Nr 10 on the venue map).
Please make sure that you arrive in Belgrade in time for the volunteer orientation.
If you are attending Contributor Day make sure to plan enough time to get to the Sava Centar in time.
The volunteer orientation will take between 60 and 90 minutes and at the end of the orientation, we will provide you with your badge and your volunteer t-shirts in the Volunteers Headquarter. Therefore, it could be useful to bring a bag.
After the volunteer orientation, we’ll go directly to the Volunteer social.

Orientation for Contributor Day volunteers on Thursday, June 14th at Belexpo:
– 7.30h for the morning shift
– 12.45h for the afternoon shift

Please note, that some of you might get invited to additional, role-specific orientations before the event.

Volunteer information video

In order to give you an overview of your volunteering mission during WordCamp Europe as well as a first impression of the people you’re gonna work with, we created a Volunteer information video.


Volunteer social

If you have signed up, you are cordially invited to attend the 6th annual WCEU volunteer social. It’s the least we can do for all of your hard work as a volunteer!

The party will happen on Thursday, June 14, from 19:00 – 23:00, we emailed you the address.

It’s about 15 minutes walk from the main event venue (Sava Centar), and 30 minutes walk from the Contributor day venue (Belexpo).

We will serve a buffet dinner with both hot and cold dishes, with vegetarian and vegan options available. Drinks are on the house. Unfortunately, we cannot except +1’s.

Food for Volunteers

Contributor day

On contributor day there will not be breakfast for volunteers, so if you are on the morning registration shift please make sure you have breakfast before coming to the venue. There will be snacks available starting at 7.30.  Lunch is provided at Bell Expo for Volunteers on shifts on Contributor day.

Conference

Breakfast will be provided for all volunteers on Friday and Saturday. You can find it in Volunteers HQ starting at 7h.  The menu will consist of:

  • Bread roll, croissant (sweet/salty)
  • Salty spreads (a la kajmak, margarine, ajvar)
  • Sweet spreads (jam, eurocream)
  • Muesli (several options)
  • Fruits/piece (apple, banana, orange)

PLEASE NOTE: The above menu does not consider dietary requirements.

Lunch for volunteers is the same as lunch for attendees. You can find the menus in this post. Lunch is provided in the Volunteers HQ between 12h & 14h. At volunteer HQ only the meat menu is served, other options are only available at the food stations in the expo area (vegan, vegetarian) and restaurant (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher).

Contributor Day

If you didn’t pick a shift on Thursday at the Contributor Day, we happily invite you to join the Contributor Day as an attendee. All you have to do is sign up here.

Please know that you’ll have to leave the Contributor Day a bit early (at 16:00 latest) because we expect you to attend the Volunteer orientation at 16.30h at Sava Centar.

Travel information

If you haven’t arranged your travels and accommodation so far, now is the time to do so. Our local team has spared no effort to provide you with all important information on these topics:

Sava Centar Map

 

Expected behaviour & Code of Conduct

You’re the friendly face of the Community and the WordPress project during the event. Therefore, we expect you to be

  • considerate, respectful, helpful and collaborative
  • keep a positive attitude
  • review the Code of  Conduct
  • wear your volunteer t-shirt when you are on shift

We believe our community should be truly open for everyone. As such, we are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all which is the purpose of our Code of Conduct.

In case of a violation of the Code of Conduct that you might witness or experience or which might be reported to you as a volunteer, we want you to know how to deal with the situation. Please review the process on https://2018.europe.wordcamp.org/volunteer-information/handling-an-incident/.

Detailed Work Instructions

We created an overview page with detailed work instructions link. Please read the instruction before starting your shift.

We can’t wait to meet you in Belgrade and thanks for volunteering!

 

Important information for volunteers

Time to check your email! We’ve started the self-planning phase for volunteers, which means that you can pick your own shifts!
For more information on the tool we’re working with, please check the When I Work page.

General information

Ever since the very first event, WordCamps depend on volunteers, just like the WordPress software itself. Every year, thousands of volunteers around the world help their (local) WordPress community organise conferences that benefit others as much as themselves. And once a year, we, the WordCamp Europe organizers, need a large team of volunteers to help us create a successful WordCamp Europe.

Why does WordCamp Europe Need Volunteers?

The goal of any WordCamp is to be as accessible as possible. This also includes financial accessibility. The ticket pricing of our events shouldn’t be an obstacle for anyone. That’s why we have so many supportive sponsors. But that’s not all. To keep the event cost as low as possible, we need helping hands. And that’s why we turn to you, as a member of our community, and ask you to help WordCamp Europe as a volunteer. By dedicating a bit of your time, you help to make the event accessible for all.

At an event the size of WordCamp Europe 2018, there are a numerous (different) tasks that need to be completed. That’s why we’ve created an overview of all the roles we need to fill this year. You can find it at https://2018.europe.wordcamp.org/volunteer-information/volunteer-roles/. And there’s more. If you click a role, it will show you all its details!

What Does Signing Up as a Volunteer Mean?

When you sign up as a volunteer, you tell us that you are ready to commit your time at WordCamp Europe 2018 to helping the organizing team. From that moment on, we expect you to be available for volunteer duties during the event. Of course, you won’t be scheduled to work during the entire event. Our goal is to put you on the schedule for a maximum of two half days or one full day so that you still have time to enjoy the conference as an attendee. And the more people sign up, the less you’ll be required to work. So do bring all your friends!

Being a volunteer also means that you’re the friendly face of the WordPress project to a great number of people. That’s why we require you to agree to our Code of Conduct, respect the WordPress trademark and embrace the WordPress license. Because technically you’re doing work, you’re required to be at least 18 years of age.

And when you become part of our team, we take care of your ticket. That means you’ll receive a stunning 100% discount on the ticket price. In other words, free access to the Volunteers’ social (invite-only pre-party), conference and the after-party!

Volunteering Is a Life Changing Experience!

It would be easy for us to list a thousand reasons why volunteering is awesome, fantastic, rewarding, amazing, fulfilling, and many other things. But why don’t you listen to last year’s volunteers?