The success of The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation is dependent on the proactive nature of our volunteer photographers. Hospitals and families will not be contacting you to request NILMDTS services if they don't know about NILMDTS. It takes introductory phone calls and meetings with the hospitals and other volunteer photographers in your area, to build a successful network and support group in your city or town.
If you feel that you can assist in promoting NILMDTS in your community, build a great team of photographers, and serve as a primary hospital contact, we would love to see you become a NILMDTS Area Coordinator. (You must become a NILMDTS volunteer in order to become a NILMDTS Area Coordinator).
The NILMDTS Area Coordinator's Responsibilities include:
1 AREA OF SERVICE
NILMDTS Area Coordinators should choose a hospital or hospitals that they feel comfortable that they can handle. We ask you to narrow it to two or three hospitals, maximum, to prevent AC overlap and burn out.
2 AREA RECRUITMENT
NILMDTS Area Coordinator's should help recruit additional photographers to assist within each area. Depending on the size of the hospital 3-5 photographers is ideal to start. You do not want to be the single photographer providing this service in your area because of the potential demands.
3 NILMDTS PHOTOGRAPHER PROMOTION (RECRUITMENT)
NILMDTS Area Coordinator's should contact the local and regional photography guilds and ask about having display space donated for NILMDTS recruitment. The NILMDTS Area Coordinator would then be responsible for recruiting photographers to man the display. All display materials are available through the headquarters office: displays@nilmdts.org.
4 LOCAL MEDIA
The NILMDTS Area Coordinator's can send out annual press releases to promote community education about NILMDTS. This is not advisable unless an adequate number of photographers are on board to support the demand. Any media coverage should include mention of a minimum of 2 photographer volunteers in the area. The purpose of the media coverage is to educate the public and hospitals on this organization and the impact of bereavement photography. Involvement in NILMDTS is to never be used as a means to self-promote for purposes of business advancement.
5 BROCHURE DISTRIBUTION
NILMDTS Area Coordinator's are responsible for ordering all brochures for their hospitals in their area. They will be responsible for keeping the Hospitals/Hospice locations stocked and have a good working relationship with these institutions. As the awareness expands, NILMDTS Area Coordinator's will find additional photographer's that are willing to share these responsibilities. You may determine a means to split the cost.
6 HOSPITAL EDUCATION
Hospital staff (nurses, social workers, chaplains, etc) education is of primary importance in order to ensure a smooth introduction into any hospital or institution. The NILMDTS Area Coordinator is responsible for coordinating in-services/training programs for the hospital staff about NILMDTS. This would include a description of the NILMDTS program, how they request NILMDTS photographers, who qualifies, etc. Many materials, including slide set presentations, are available for use by volunteer photographer's for these purposes.
7 VOLUNTEER WELCOME LIAISON
When a new photographer joins NILMDTS, they are added to the "Find a Photographer" listing on the main website. It is the responsibility of the NILMDTS Area Coordinator to periodically review their area's photographer list to determine if new member photographers have been added. The NILMDTS Area Coordinator will then make a personal phone call and/or an e-mail to welcome the newest member. This will give you a chance to explain the work, introduce the forum, answer questions and share important information. We will eventually have a welcome packet that will be sent out to all new members. Our new volunteers are excited, eager and nervous. Many AC's even coordinate monthly coffee meetings to keep in touch and keep everyone informed. This is not required, however, we ask that you please find the time to touch base and return calls and emails.
We have found that the sooner that we are able to make contact with new members and get them acquainted with the procedures for NILMDTS sessions, that they are more likely to become "ACTIVE" members willing to help the families that request NILMDTS services.
As a NILMDTS Area Coordinator, you will gain access to a private area on the NILMDTS Photographers Forum called the "COORDINATORS WATERCOOLER". This section contains several resources on how to get started as an Area Coordinator in your community and where to begin.
To officially volunteer as a NILMDTS Area Coordinator, please CLICK HERE and post the requested information on the NILMDTS Photographers Forum. Please be reminded that you MUST be an Affiliated Photographer AND registered member on the NILMDTS Photographers Forum at www.nowisleep.com in order to access this website.
***Please note: Once you post your information on the NILMDTS Photographers Forum you will be contacted via email. There will also be a follow up phone call with a few questions covering how to use website, how to reach out to new volunteers and hospitals and how the area coordinator will serve as a point person for a group of photographers. ***