1. Visiting Professionals Program (VPP) Manual Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Created by: Section Chapter Support Committee

2. “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” -Elizabeth Andrew Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public

3. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Goal:Increase advocacy for AEG and the professions of engineering geology, environmental geology, and related fields AEG members who volunteer their time and share their experiences: Professionals Community members Students VPP Provide Greater awareness of AEG Role our industry plays in society New members

4. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Goal: Increase advocacy for AEG and the professions of engineering geology, environmental geology, and related fields, continued……. Administered within the Section level Section is responsible for the program within their boundaries Scheduling VPP presentations Promoting the VPP VPP Liaison position - voluntary position

5. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Responsibilities and Duties of Section VPP Liaison Recruit Volunteers for VPPIdentify Venues and Events Solicit Organizations or Points of Contact to Promote VPP Assign a VPP Volunteer to a Scheduled Event Attend a Scheduled Semi-annual VPP Conference Call

6. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Recruiting volunteers for the VPP Maintain a list of current VPP volunteers Enlist additional Section members to participate Email requesting participation Ask members to respond if they are interested in participating

7. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Recruiting volunteers for the VPP, continued… Section Chair maintains email and contact information Create a list of those who responded Request volunteers on an annual basis Volunteer can then volunteer for a specific event, based on Interest and proximity to the function location

8. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Example Email Dear Section members; The ______ Section is seeking a Visiting Professional Program (VPP) Liaison to oversee the VPP program in our section. The goal of the VPP is to increase advocacy for AEG and the professions of engineering geology, environmental geology, and related fields to the general public. This can be accomplished by AEG members who volunteer their time in order to share their experiences with other professionals, community members, students, and others who may benefit from the services AEG and its members provide. The VPP liaison will coordinate with both VPP volunteers and potential venues to set up specific activities. If you are interested in this worthwhile role, please contact _____ at _____. Thank you, Jane Doe, _______Section VPP Liaison

9. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Don’t Forget… Recruit at Section Activities VPP liaison may recruit volunteers at Section meetings and activities Section Chair can introduce the VPP liaison Explain the VPP program Ask for volunteers Network at Section activities

10. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Don’t Forget… Recruit at Section Activities, continued…. Best candidates Interesting work/projects Experience speaking in front of large audiences Passion for advocating environmental and engineering geology

11. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Identify Venues and Events in Your Area Community – Rotary Club, Lions Club, YMCA, etc. Education – Universities, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school science clubs, science fairs USE AEG K-12 Committee and the AEG Student and Young Professionals Support Committee (SYPSC) Geosciences organizations – Association of Women Geoscientists, Geoscientists without borders, local geology clubs, etc. Other Professionals – lawyers, bankers, real-estate professionals, surveyors, well drillers Design Professionals – architects, engineers Government – legislators, state agencies, regulators, etc.

12. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Solicit Organizations or Points of Contact to Promote the VPP VPP volunteers can: Give a presentation Attend a function Host a booth VPP liaison can: Email to the contact person Telephone the contact person Request to participate in a function Attend a monthly meeting Schedule a presentation

13. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Solicit Organizations or Points of Contact to Promote the VPP, continued… “How to” is explained in the VPP Manual on line

14. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Assign a VPP Volunteer to a Scheduled Event Coordinate with available VPP volunteers to schedule their participation in a specific activity: Email volunteers with details Date Time Location Task (handing out materials, giving a presentation, etc.) Ask the VPP liaison if they are willing to participate in the event

15. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Assign a VPP Volunteer to a Scheduled Event, continued…. Once a volunteer has agreed to participate in an activity: Contact the organization Give them the volunteer’s name and contact information Volunteer can then contact the organization directly, or Organization can contact the volunteer Provide supporting materials to VPP volunteers PowerPoint presentations Handouts Other materials

16. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Attend a scheduled Semi-annual VPP Liaison Conference Call Conference calls serve to: 1.Update committees on status of VPP and recommend improvements/request new supporting materials, where appropriate 2.Share successes, strategies, areas where improvement may be needed, get motivated/inspired, etc. 3.Stay in regular contact with VPP volunteers 4.Provide short article on VPP activities for Section newsletter and AEG NEWS VPP liaisons will get an email notifying them of the date/time set-up for the semi-annual conference call.

17. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Keep of record of all VPP activities within your section Keep an ongoing record of all VPP activities Lists of organizations given talks Specific individuals - good contacts Letters or requests sent to organizations Any responses from organizations Examples of what worked well Example topics that were well received

18. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Responsibilities of VPP Volunteers The Section VPP Liaison is the point of contact for VPP tasks: Scheduling presentations Requesting supporting materials When Appropriate the VPP volunteer may: Schedule the event Provide materials

19. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Responsibilities of VPP Volunteers, continued….. For example: The VPP volunteer is a member of the Lion’s Club and volunteered to give a presentation on the profession to them. The VPP volunteer may schedule their own activity, and should notify the VPP. The VPP Liaison may facilitate this request by providing PowerPoint materials or handouts. In addition, this presentation should be included in the Outstanding Section Award application submitted to HQ.

20. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Responsibilities of VPP Volunteers Continued… With support of the Liaison Develop a presentation topic Advocacy Committee - PowerPoint presentation that may be used PowerPoint can be revised/edited as needed

21. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Responsibilities of VPP Volunteers Continued… No minimum number of presentations is required, and the VPP volunteer maintains the right to accept or decline any presentation. Help the VPP Liaison to identify those venues (and points of contact) Volunteers that live in various areas have knowledge of venues (i.e. science fairs, Lion’s club meetings etc.) Communicate these venues/events to the VPP Liaison so that they can be added to the list of potential venues

22. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Available VPP Packet Materials The electronic packet will include at least the following: Detailed VPP Liaison manual List of VPP volunteers within the Section List of well-established venues AEG printable brochures and flyers AEG membership forms New Student Chapter application forms Sample PowerPoint(s) FAQ list for VPP volunteers Post-visit survey

23. Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Responsibilities of AEG Operational Committees AEG Committee member must attend the semi-annual VPP Liaison conference call Evaluate surveys from VPP volunteers at least annually Revise the VPP program as necessary Continue to create supporting materials for the VPP Provide these materials to the VPP Liaison: Handouts Presentations List of Section venues List of geology programs at colleges/universities Survey

24. Thank You! Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Connecting Professionals, Practice and the Public Questions? Feedback – Marie Garsjo at texasgarsjo@sbcglobal.net