The Value of Volunteering 

FCAA needs volunteers who can:

  • Recruit new members
  • Decorate at FCAA events
  • Teach classes and workshops
  • Solicit sponsors and advertisers
  • Promote the tradeshow to exhibitors and attendees
  • Assist with technology needs
  • Help with FCAA’s charitable fundraising events
  • Visit local and state lawmakers
  • Promote FCAA events and programs

FCAA Committees

FCAA Committees meet regularly to plan everything from networking events, education classes and topics, and legislative issues facing our industry. Our committee volunteers are what make our association successful! 

Awards:

Every year, the First Coast Apartment Association acknowledges the leaders of our industry through the Circle of Excellence Awards. Committee members establish criteria for the awards, encourage participation in each category, recruit individuals to judge entries, raise funds to cover the cost of the awards, and manage the event itself.

Awards Chair –Danielle Stacy - Chair

Communications:

FCAA’s primary lines of communication with its members are its e-newsletter and its Website. Members of the Communications Committee report news that affects the multi-housing industry identify articles of interest, create and edit articles, solicit advertisers for & the Membership Directory, and ensure that Website content is current and contains useful industry links.

Communications –Melissa Wenger - Chair

Education/Programs:

FCAA provides comprehensive education programs with national certifications.    Programs include the NALP (National Apartment Leasing Professional), CAM (Certified Apartment Manager), CAPS (Certified Apartment Property Supervisor), CAS (Certified Apartment Supplier), and CAMT (Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician), as well as pertinent workshops and seminars.  Education committee members plan and develop workshops and seminars, recruit instructors and speakers, and teach classes.

Education/Programs – Katie Wrenn - Chair, - Co-Chair

Hospitality:

The Hospitality Committee is responsible for ensuring that new members receive an orientation to FCAA activities.  Members meet and greet new FCAA members, serve as mentors, solicit door prizes for dinner meetings, assist with registration, and decorate tables.

Hospitality  – Samantha Harvey - Chair, - Co-Chair

Legislative:

The Legislative Committee provides Association members with up-to-date information on local, state, and national legislative issues affecting the multifamily housing industry.  Members engage in fundraising for the National Apartment Association PAC and the Florida APAC. Members are also required to attend FAA legislative meetings.

Legislative  –Shannon Gregory – WRH Realty Services Inc. 

Maintenance:

The Maintenance Committee develops and conducts workshops and seminars that provide maintenance technicians with skills required for the PMC license, prepare them for the PMC licensing test and provide them with the continuing education credits required to renew their PMC license.   Committee members also schedule CAMT classes, recruit CAMT instructors, and teach CAMT classes.

Maintenance  –Kris Millerschone  - Chair, Ben Zeigler - Co-Chair

Membership:

Membership dues and programs provide FCAA with its primary source of revenue, making the Membership Committee an important one.  Members of the Membership Committee recruit new Community and Associate Members, serve as mentors to new members, recommend procedures to retain existing members, and identify membership benefits and services.  Members also promote Dinner Meetings and Special Events.

Membership  – Melissa Benes - Chair, Michelle Murphy - Co-Chair

Special Events:

Members of the Special Events Committee oversee all details of special events (Business Exchange, Bingo, Holiday Party, etc.), including site selection, decorations, food and beverages, and entertainment.  FCAA reaches out to the community through its charitable activities.  Members of the Special Events Committee also plan and conduct the annual Harbor House Softball Game, the Canned Food Drive to benefit the Clara White Mission, the Annual Poker Run, and other charitable activities approved by the Board of Directors.

Special Events  –Brittany Goodson - Chair, Brenda Sherrill - Co-Chair

Tradeshow:

The annual tradeshow provides an opportunity for Associate Members to promote their goods and services to Community Members.   Committee Members plan, organize, and promote the tradeshow and solicit corporate sponsorships.

Trade Show  – Danny Fusinatto - Chair 

NextGen:

The NextGen Committee is composed of the future leaders of the First Coast Apartment Association. NextGen committee is open to Supplier and Community members under the age of 35 who are interested in getting involved. NextGen plans the annual Apartment Day event as well as some charity events. 

NextGen  –Sam Dougherty - Chair

How can board service or other volunteer activities boost your career?

Volunteering for a trade association provides several benefits, including the opportunity to network with your peers around your professional background or interests. It also exposes you to trends and best practices within your profession and gives you leadership training and experience.

Volunteering for a cause-related charity or program also has its benefits, such as broadening your exposure beyond the boundaries of your specific professional network and allowing you to show a more compassionate or passionate side.

Regardless of where and why you volunteer, the experience undoubtedly helps build your resume and adds to your marketability. And volunteering can be an excellent way to learn more about a particular role or sector, especially if you’re coming from the for-profit sector.

How can people align their skill sets with their volunteer activities?

There are two things to consider here. Are you looking to utilize existing skills or build new skills and gain expertise in an area slightly outside your professional circle? If you’re seeking the latter, explore areas where you’ll get valuable experience, potential contacts, and fodder for your resume.

How should your volunteer activities change as you advance in your career?

As our careers advance, different drivers or motivators come into play. Very often, what changes the most is our desire to give back to the profession or community that contributed to our success. We switch our focus from being mentored to mentoring—or from getting experience to giving experience.

Reprinted from Associations Now, January 2013.

FCAA offers volunteer opportunities in communications, education, special events, and membership development. For information on how you can make a difference as a volunteer, contact the FCAA office at 904-292-1345,[email protected].