SWA Leadership Positions

SWA Leadership Positions

Last Update:
February 12, 2012


The Schenectady Wargamers Association is an all-volunteer, labor-of-love hobby club. As such, we're always looking for people to help us get things done. There are a lot of things we could be doing if we had more people willing and able to do the work.


What we're looking for:

We need people who have some time & enthusiasm to get things done. You don't need special skills - we'll train you. If you do have special skills (excellent writing, graphic design, desktop publishing, database programming and management, HTML coding, web programming, reflexology, etc.), that's even better. But enthusiasm and some time to apply it are the most important requirements.

What we're not looking for:

What we do not need is people who want to give us ideas about things the SWA could be doing, but want someone else to actually do the work. We have pages and pages of good ideas we could be implementing if we had more volunteers. If you just want to talk and make suggestions, contact us and we’ll add your idea to the list.

To be absolutely clear: We don’t need more ideas. We need more volunteers willing to do some work to implement ideas.

How much of a time commitment are you looking for?

Here is a list of all the special roles we've identified, along with the current incumbent(s). We've listed them in the priority order that we'd like to see them filled.  Perhaps you'd be a good fit with one of them?

If you'd like to be involved with the SWA Planning & Leadership Team, we require that you take on at least one of these offices as your responsibility. One of our most important operating procedures is that you don't get a vote at planning meetings if you don't have an office.


Web Promotion Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Very High

• Researches and catalogs a list web sites relevant to Adventure Gaming and of interest to the SWA and its members
• Targets specific subject matter sites when appropriate (ex. sites where TITAN fans congregate when promoting our annual TITAN tournament)
  
• Posts promotional information about SWA events on these sites
• Maintains a good relationship with the webmasters of these sites.
  

SWA Web Programming Czar
Office Holder: John Fitzpatrick, OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High

• Maintains the workings of the SWA web site
• Has working knowledge of HTML coding
• Web programming (SQL, PHP) knowledge a huge bonus.

The Iron Right Hand of the Benevolent Dictator
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High

There are a lot of things that Dave takes care of himself, sometimes on short notice. Having another pair of hands to help would be nice. Such a person will be called upon to help with these kinds of things:

• Cutting and stamping postcards
• Stamping and stuffing envelopes for mailings
  
• Editing membership lists
• Database data entry
  
• Procuring supplies
• Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
  
• Lots of other tasks, administrative and otherwise.

Local Retailer Czars
Office Holder:  Multiple OPEN Spots
Priority to Fill:  High

• Maintains excellent relations with our local game retailers
• Visits them on a regular basis and regularly participates in gaming at that store
  
• We ideally want one person for each game retailer
  
• Distributes promotional information about SWA events to the stores, and makes sure it gets displayed prominently.

Proctors & Downtown Schenectady Czar
Office Holder: Bill Dickerson, OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High

• Major liaison with Proctors when discussion facilites needs for Council of Five Nations, and perhaps other SWA events
• Helps promote Proctors events of interest to the SWA community
• Works with Schenectady hotels to secure discount rates for Council attendees.
  
• Works with downtown Schenectady retailers and restaurants so they are prepared for the crowd at Council time.  Arranges for discounts for Council attendees.
  
• Coordinates with the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce.  Enlists their support as necessary and appropriate.
  
• Prepares the Council Food & Drink Guide for Council attendees.
  

Historical Miniatures Czar
Office Holder: John Rigley, OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High

• Responsible for arranging Historical Miniatures events at Council and Game-a-thons
• Acts as an ambassador to the Historical Miniatures community
• Works to get Historical Miniatures players to SWA events.

Internet Mailing List Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High

• Maintains subscriptions to email lists and digests relevant to Adventure Gamig and of interest to the SWA and its members
• Publishes a list of these mailing lists on the Capital District Gaming web site for the benefit of our members
  
• Sends promotional information about SWA events to these mailing lists.

Marketing Communications Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High/Medium

• Writes effective marketing and publicity copy
• Superior writing skills are necessary
  
• Provides marketing and publicity copy for other SWA officers to distribute, as necessary
• This would be an excellent role for someone in an advertising or marketing career, or someone looking to build their resume toward such a career.
  

Council Registration Desk Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High/Medium

• Coordinates the Registration Desk schedule for Council each year
• Recruits volunteers to supplement the SWA Planning Team for this duty
• Recruits volunteers to work the annual Council Discount Game Auction too
  
• Ensures the Registration Desk operates with the high level of dedication to customer service that our Council attendees have come to expect.
  

Social Media Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  High/Medium

• Manages the SWA Facebook page and Twitter account
• Ensures maximum positive community outreach and publicity via these social e-media
• Posts announcements & photos in a timely manner
  
• Given the nature of these media, frequent attendance at SWA events is practically a requirement
• Would be an excellent opporutnity for a Marketing student with a social media focus/specialty.
  

Council of Five Nations Czars
Office Holders: Karen Seiz (RPGs), Eric Paperman (Board Games), John Rigley (Miniatures), Steve Kent (Registration), David Cheng, Vince Romeo, Mike Rogozinski, OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Medium

• Collects events
• Produces the pre-registration booklet
• Prepares for the Auction
• Prepares event registration materials
• Lots of other stuff
• As Council grows, there will be more opportunities here.

Prize Support Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Medium

• Contacts gaming companies to request promotional prize support for Council of Five Nations
• Sends confirmation of proper advertising support to game companies
• Maintains good relationships with game company representatives.

Gaming Club Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Medium/Low

• Researches and catalogs a list of all game clubs in the Northeastern United States (we already have a good list)
  
• Helps maintain this list on the Capital District Gaming web site for the benefit of our members
  
• Maintains good relations with their officers and membership
  
• Distributes promotional information about SWA events to them
• Encourages their membership to attend SWA events.

Convention Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Medium/Low

• Researches and catalogs a list of all Adventure Gaming conventions around the Northeastern United States
  
• Publishes this list on the SWA's Capital District Gaming web calendar for the benefit of our members
• Sends promotional materials about SWA events to these conventions for distribution on their freebie tables.

Public Relations Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Medium/Low

• Works with local radio, TV and print media
  
• Publicizes SWA events though these channels
• Works to secure favorable public relations and coverage.
  

Promo Flyer Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Low

• Prepares one-page flyers for Council of Five Nations and the monthly Game-a-thons, both paper and PDF versions
• Distributes these to other Officers in a timely manner so they can distribute to their constituent groups.

Regional Retailer Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Low

• Researches and catalogs a list of all game retailers in the Northeastern United States (we already have a good list)
• Helps maintain this list on the SWA web site for the benefit of our members
  
• Maintains good relations with their owners
  
• Distributes promotional information about SWA events to them.
  

Magazine Convention Listing Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Very Low

• Researches and catalogs a list of Adventure Gaming magazines that publish convention calendars
• Submits promotional information about SWA events to these magazines for publication.

School Gaming Club Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Very Low

• Researches and catalogs a list of gaming clubs at colleges, universities and high schools in the Capital District
• Researches and catalogs the cost of advertising in the school newspaper. Coordinates the effort, if we decide to pay for such ads
  
• Maintains relationships with the officers & faculty advisors of these clubs, especially tracking new officers with yearly graduation turnover
• Distributes promotional information about SWA events to them
• Encourages their membership to attend SWA events.
• (Please note: We have not had good luck with this effort in the past.  It's hard to work transient students...)
  

Internet News Group Czar
Office Holder: OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Very Low

• Researches and catalogs a list of internet News Groups relevant to Adventure Gaming and of interest to the SWA and its members
• Publishes this list on the SWA web site for the benefit of our members
  
• Submits promotional information about SWA events to these News Groups for publication.

Game-a-thon Czars
Office Holders: Bill Dickerson, Eric Paperman, Steve Bachman, Potentially OPEN
Priority to Fill:  Low

The main organizers of our monthly Game-a-thon gaming events.  Make sure the following things get done:

• Solicit volunteer GMs
  
• Prepare event descriptions for the SWA web site
• Prepare the event summary for SWANews distribution
  
• Distribute info via SWANews.

Role-Play Games Czarina
Office Holder: Karen Seiz

• Arranges RPG events at Council and Game-a-thons
• Acts as an ambassador to the various RPG communities
• Works to get RPG players to SWA events.

Board Game Czar
Office Holder: Eric Paperman

• Arranges board game events at Council and Game-a-thons
• Acts as an ambassador to the various board game communites
• Works to get board game players to SWA events.

Miniatures Czar
Office Holder: John Rigley, Potentially OPEN

• Arranges miniatures events at Council and Game-a-thons.
• Acts as an ambassador to the various Miniature gaming communities
• Works to get Miniatures players to SWA events.

Pathfinder Society Czar
Office Holders: Evan Whitefield, Brett McLean

• Coordinates a Pathfinder Society event track for Council of Five Nations each year
• Arranges for Pathfinder events at Game-a-thons
• Publicizes SWA events via Pathfinder publicity vehicles
  
• Encourages the local and regional Pathfinder Society fan base to attend SWA events.
  

RPGA Czar
Office Holders: Matt Gallinger, Rob Kirker

• Coordinates an RPGA event track for Council of Five Nations each year
• Arranges for RPGA D&D events at Game-a-thons
• Publicizes SWA events via RPGA publicity vehicles
  
• Encourages the local and regional RPGA fan base to attend SWA events.

Board Game Geek Czar
Office Holder: Ben Maggi

• Promotes SWA events on Board Game Geek
• Keeps tabs on what games are popular in the BGG community
• Encourages BGG members to run games at SWA events
  
• Coordinates the creation, gifting and sale of SWA Geek Badges
  

Graphic Design Czar
Office Holder: Nick Klercker

• Responsible for the graphic design needs of the SWA
• Works in both print and web media
  
• Makes the SWA look good.
  

Web Site Photo Czar
Office Holder: Nick Klercker, Potentially OPEN

• Takes photos at SWA events, and collects the photos that other folks take.
• Organizes these photos on the SWA web photo album.
• Organizes and posts photos from the SWA archives.
  

Studio Gaming Czar
Office Holder: Bill Dickerson

• Coordinates regular gaming groups who want to meet at the Studio of Bridge and Games.
• Acts as Liasion with Norma Shelly & the Golub Corporation to check availability and get permission.
• Makes sure people understand and respect the procedures for using the Studio for their gaming.

Keeper of the Imperial Treasury
Office Holder: Eric Paperman

• Takes care of the money.
  

Benevolent Dictator
Office Holder: Dave Cheng

• Coordinates the efforts of all the other club officers
• Cracks the whip when necessary.

Benefits of taking a leadership role with the SWA:

• The satisfaction of helping the SWA do better
• Input on the direction and future of the SWA
• Free admission to all SWA Game-a-thons
  
• Free admission to Council of Five Nations each year
• The honor of wearing a bright orange Staff shirt at Council each year
  
• The admiration and respect of your peers
• You know how women are drawn to men in positions of authority? That applies to Gamer Chicks too. Just sayin'...
  

If you're interested in helping out with one of the open roles, please email us at officers /at/ swa-gaming.org and let us know.

Don't worry about needing to get "elected" or anything. If you've got enthusiasm and some time to help us, you're in. Just let us know of your interest.