ON HONORING OUR VOLUNTEERS

ABSTRACT

The success of SIGCHI depends wholly on the time and energy that our volunteers are able to give to it. Through the years, and particularly upon the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have heard a great deal about volunteer burnout, prompting ongoing discussions within the Executive Committee and beyond about how we can support our volunteers better. In October last year, the EC hosted two open sessions on volunteering for SIGCHI, led by Volunteer Support Chair Priya Kumar. These were followed in November by a fireside chat with Geraldine Fitzpatrick on service and leadership. Here, we share some reflections from these conversations, and welcome your input on better caring for our volunteers--and for ourselves as volunteers. It is our commitment to make space for a culture of volunteering that is visible, nurturing, and compassionate, engendering a sense of belonging across SIGCHI.