Interested in becoming a member of NALP? Learn more about membership here.

As a member-driven association, NALP relies on the contributions of volunteers at every turn. Whether you’ve been a NALP member for years or are new to the profession, you have a unique perspective and there are many ways to contribute. We regularly need volunteers at all levels, whether you have a couple of hours to spare or would like to commit yourself to serving in a leadership role on a Section, Advisory Group, Work Group, or the Board of Directors.

For many, joining a NALP Section is often the first step toward learning and sharing your ideas, meeting your colleagues and contributing your skills and experience to advancing some aspect of the profession. Maybe you have talent or expertise that you’d like to share, or perhaps there are unfamiliar areas you’d like to explore—regardless, Sections provide the perfect setting to connect with members who have similar interests.

While the members of Advisory Groups and some Work Groups are generally established by the President-Elect prior to the Annual Education Conference, their membership changes throughout the year because of inevitable transitions, and new Work Groups may form around a new task or issue.

Beyond Sections, Advisory Groups and Work Groups, there are numerous ways to get involved in NALP. You could offer to:

• Contribute an article to the NALP Bulletin or other publication
• Nominate a colleague for a leadership position (find information on available positions and the 2012 nominations process here)
• Run for a leadership position yourself as a Regional Representative, as a Conference Planning Coordinator, on the Nominating Committee or on the Board of Directors (find information on available positions and the 2012 nominations process here)
• Serve as a NALP liaison to one of our many affiliate organizations
• Advise the association as a member of an ad hoc task force or working group that the President or Board of Directors might establish to explore a time-sensitive topic

Read more about how others have assumed leadership roles in NALP in this NALP Bulletin article.