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Orientations
February 11
12-1 pm
February 23
6-7 pm
Sign up now to join us!
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Volunteers By The Numbers
How did YOU hear about Open Books?
* 30% of volunteers found us on the Web
* 27% heard about us from friends -- thanks, friends! Keep it up!
*12% visited the store
*11% came across our ads in the Chicago Reader or on the CTA
* 7% caught a glimpse of us in one of our press pieces
* 7% discovered Open Books at an event
*7% found us through one of our partnerships, picked up a flyer, or spotted us on Facebook and Twitter
Want to join Open Books as a volunteer?
Sign up now!
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Volunteer
Voice
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Curious about what your new volunteer role might entail? Wondering just how great it will be? Hear it from our volunteers!
This month, Cameron Ruen shares some lovely and inspiring words on why she volunteers at the bookstore.
Read on to see what volunteering means to Cameron and what her guilty pleasure is at the store!
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Tips(y) for Literacy
Open Books team members will be bartending for literacy this Thursday at Nisei Lounge in Wrigleyville. Tips collected will help support Open Books!
January 20
8 - 10 pm
Nisei Lounge
3439 N. Sheffield
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Survey Says!
We asked all of our orientation attendees to respond to a survey about their experiences with Open Books, and we were so excited to receive such great and helpful feedback!
A big thank you goes out to all of you who shared. We take the input very seriously and are excited to improve our practices based on your invaluable responses!
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Dearest friends of Open Books,
Happy New Year to you all! We here at Open Books are so energized to dig into 2011 -- we have a lot in store this year, and of course you can imagine that much of the excitement to come will feature our amazing volunteers.
Naturally, the new year brings plans for growth and change for each and every one of us, and we very much hope that Open Books plays a role in your resolutions! Are you hoping to get more involved in your community? Wanting to make sure you spend your free time wisely? Craving a new experience? Looking to reconnect with your love of reading, writing, and education? Whatever your goals, Open Books is absolutely thrilled to provide you with a fulfilling experience in exchange for the wonderful support you give our students and organization. Here's to another amazing year!
Ava Zeligson
Volunteer Manager
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Valentines for Volunteers
The time has come for our annual Valentines for Volunteers event! I've said it time and again, and it only becomes truer with each repetition: Open Books' work would be IMPOSSIBLE without our magnificent volunteers. So, all of you lovely folks who have lent a hand, please join us for Valentines for Volunteers 2011!
Catch up with Open Books staff, mingle with your fellow awesome volunteers, take advantage of exclusive discounts at the bookstore, and maybe even win an exciting prize. Feel free to bring a friend or loved one, too. We'll see you there! February 16
6-8pm
The Open Books Store
213 W Institute Pl. Planning to join us? Fantastic!
RSVP to Ava (volunteer@open-books.org) now!
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Volunteer Opportunity HighlightsGet Involved at the Open Books Store!
We are bringing on more bookstore volunteers this month, and especially need more hands on deck on weekdays during the day! If you'd like to start spending more time at our glorious bookstore, have daytime availability, and have already been to a general Open Books orientation, check out the details and email Ava to get started.
Looking to help out at the store but can't make the orientation or the monthly commitment? Then consider joining us as often as you like for our new Shelf Talker Saturdays! Beginning in February, all are welcome to come by the bookstore anytime between 12-3pm on the first Saturday of each month to meet fellow book lovers and write book recommendations to entice our brethren of browsers. No need to RSVP, just come on by!
Getting Started
If you are interested in joining any one of our fine opportunities, just fill out our volunteer form and sign up for an orientation.
Already been to an orientation?
Email Ava at azeligson@open-books.org to get going!
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January Vol-Star: Joe Sak!
We first met Joe as a friendly neighbor -- he works just a few floors up from Open Books. As soon as he found out what we did here, he jumped in full force. As of next month, Joe will have participated in three of our literacy programs, starting off as an awesome twice-a-week Big Buddy at one of our summer sites, Horizons for Youth, moving on to be a stellar VWrite mentor (read what he says about that experience here), and finally, he will be heading downstairs in the morning to check out our Adventures in Creative Writing Field Trips. Beyond this, Joe is a most excellent advocate for Open Books, going the extra mile to spread the word about our work, not to mention the occasional bag of M&Ms that finds its way to our office. Joe, we are so grateful that you moved into our building and have become such an integral part of the volunteer team!
Find out how Joe answers the 10 Questions We Always Ask, featuring new questions for the new year!
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Have you moved? Changed email addresses? Altered your schedule for volunteering?
Let us know at
updates@open-books.org!
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