We can help you match your interest, skills, and experience with an opportunity that fits your schedule. It’s all about doing what you love and loving what you do. To learn more, contact Program Specialist Megan Rutherford at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6583 .
Our instructors report that teaching for OLLI at SOU is highly rewarding. Instructors greatly enjoy sharing their interests, skills, knowledge, and expertise with our community of learners. Formal teaching experience is not required; we provide coaching and support.
Volunteers who prefer practical, hands-on experiences often choose to serve on an OLLI at SOU team. One team tends to the garden at the Campbell Center, another team assists staff at the OLLI office, and a third provides volunteers for our various social events.
Participate in one of our teams
Events Team
The Events Team assists at various OLLI at SOU events throughout the year, including receptions, the annual meeting, and the summer Open House.
Garden Team
The Garden Team tends the Campbell Center courtyard and adjacent garden area. Tasks include planting, pruning, fertilizing, and weeding.
Office Support Team
The Office Support Team greets and assists OLLI members who visit or call the OLLI at SOU office. Team members also provide administrative support to staff. Willingness to learn about OLLI’s mission, programs, events, and activities is required. Competence with online programs, applications, databases, and Google Sheets/Gmail is desirable.
If creating programs and working collaboratively is appealing, consider joining a standing committee. Committees focus on projects pertaining to a particular goal, such as membership, programs, technology, and communications.
Explore committees seeking new members
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee creates and implements plans for recruiting, orienting, and retaining members. This includes distributing course catalogs, developing programs, participating in community events, and encouraging members to volunteer.
Programs and Activities Committee
The Programs and Activities Committee recruit and support presenters and hosts for a variety of programs and activities. These include facilitated discussions, field trips, interviews, lectures with Q&A, and shared interest groups (SIGs).
Venue and Technology Committee
The Venue and Technology Committee trains volunteer OLLI at SOU instructors. Instructors of in-person courses receive training on how to use the classroom audio/visual equipment. Instructors of online courses are trained on how to be effective on Zoom. “Train the Trainers” support is provided to everyone who joins the Venue and Technology Committee.
Members who wish to apply their leadership skills to the OLLI at SOU organization can join the leadership team. By serving on the OLLI at SOU Council or as a Committee Chair, you will enjoy a particularly rich experience, with opportunities to apply a lifetime of expertise in new ways.
See current leadership openings
Membership Committee Chair/Co-Chair
The Membership Committee Chair/Co-Chair are responsible for promoting OLLI at SOU in the Rogue Valley and Southwest Oregon. This committee works to recruit new members, engage existing members, and meet goals for membership growth and retention. Co-chairs oversee the work of committee members and lead committee meetings.
Programs and Activities Committee Co-Chair
The Programs and Activities Committee Chair/Co-Chair are responsible for shaping OLLI at SOU educational program offerings. Their work includes recruiting presenters, vetting program requests, planning and overseeing all of the various programs, and co-leading committee meetings.
Communications Committee Chair/Co-Chair
The Communications Committee Chair/Co-Chair are responsible for developing promotional strategies and materials to ensure OLLI at SOU has consistent branding and messaging. Leaders of the Communication Committee collaborate with staff to coordinate publicity strategy and promotional materials, and they also lead quarterly meetings.
Leadership Development and Recruitment Committee Chair/Co-Chair
The Leadership Development and Recruitment Committee Chair/Co-Chair are responsible for ensuring that OLLI at SOU has the policies, procedures, and programs needed for successfully recruiting, developing, and training OLLI Council Directors and Committee Chairs.
