Volunteer with MaineTransNet!
Volunteers are the heartbeat of MaineTransNet. We rely almost entirely on the efforts of our volunteers to accomplish the monumental task of serving the trans community of Maine, and we are always looking for new members (trans people and allies alike) of our volunteer force! Sign up here and keep your eyes peeled for our monthly e-Newsletter which details upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Our volunteers tend to fall into four main categories:
1. Group Facilitators
Our support groups and social programs are central to our mission of ending isolation for trans people. Each group and program requires a facilitator and a co-facilitator. We need people from all demographics, all over the state to help us ensure that our community has access to these vital resources. Facilitator trainings are held online, once a week for 11 weeks. They are free of charge and will be offered twice a year. Facilitators should be patient and empathetic individuals who are skilled at maintaining a supportive environment. Facilitators are expected to make a commitment of at least six months for the sake of consistency in our programming, and are required to complete 10 hours of continued learning each year in order to remain certified to facilitate.
2. Caucuses and Elected Positions
MaineTransNet is spearheaded by a team of elected volunteers called the Steering Committee, which is made up of officers, at large members, and caucus chairs. The Steering Committee is elected at the Annual Meeting every October. All trans people and allies are welcome to attend Annual Meeting and vote for our leadership.
Caucuses are in place to provide a formal voice for systemically underrepresented demographics within the trans community, and guide the MTN work that specifically affects or benefits a members of a particular demographic. The following caucuses send elected representatives to the Steering Committee: People of Color Caucus, Disabled and Neurodivergent Caucus, Youth Caucus, Elders Caucus, Homelessness Caucus, and Rural Caucus. The representatives for these caucuses are also elected at Annual Meeting.
3. Work Teams
All the events and programs we offer start as the glimmer of an idea in the minds of a few dedicated people who are committed to bringing that idea into the world. MTN’s planning work is divided into four teams: the Capacity Team, the Care Team, the Change Team, and the Community Team. These teams need a variety of people with different skill sets. We need big-picture people and detail-oriented people, people with lots of planning experience and people willing to learn, people who enjoy the responsibility of leadership and people who are more comfortable in support roles. To find out more about our work teams, see their descriptions here.
4. Miscellaneous Tasks
Are you the kind of person who wants to help but can’t make a long-term commitment? We still need you! MaineTransNet hosts and attends many events that need people to fill odd jobs such as selling tickets, ushering, serving food, decorating, clean-up, running errands, painting banners, and lots of other random one-off tasks that make an event run smoothly. We also regularly need help with tasks around the office, such as cleaning, button making, and data entry. Our Miscellaneous Tasks volunteers help make sure nothing falls through the cracks.