Volunteer Information

Click here to go to our volunteer application.

Volunteering as a Summer Conference volunteer staff member is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and create wonderful memories while obtaining valuable work experience. Volunteers receive free admission to the Summer Conference and a discounted rate for room/board and meals.

All volunteers must be 18 or older. Due to United States governmental regulations we can only accept volunteers who are U.S. citizens, or who have U.S. green cards or working permits. Part-time volunteers are not accepted. Volunteers must be able to work on their team for the duration of the conference.

Completion of this application does not guarantee acceptance as a volunteer staff member. If you have questions, please e-mail the National Volunteer Director at volunteer@thepowerofnaturalhealing.org.

Volunteer Work Commitment
Volunteer staff members are required to work 6 to 8 hours per day.

Arrival time for all volunteers is 11:00 am on Sunday, July 27, 2008. However, some volunteers will be asked to arrive at a different time.

Mandatory volunteer staff training will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2008 (time and place TBD). We will e-mail you the specific time and place of the training before the conference. Kushi will hold a general volunteer orientation and then each volunteer will be separated into their groups for specific training. Please note that you will not be able to volunteer if you do not attend this training.

There will be a mandatory volunteer staff orientation for all volunteers and staff at 7:00 pm on Sunday, July 27th in Trim Dining Hall. The Summer Conference staff t-shirts will be given out at this time (if you are not at the staff meeting you will not receive a free t-shirt). On Sunday, August 3, 2008 we ask that all volunteer staff help with the site cleanup from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Anyone not participating in the after conference cleanup crew is required to leave as soon after 1:00 pm as possible to facilitate the cleanup crew getting their job done. Please note: During the initial set up, which lasts until the evening of the conference on Sunday, August 3, staff must be available for ANY TASK, and work until the job has been completed.

Volunteer Application Fee
All volunteer staff members are required to pay a $200.00 fee upon acceptance as a staff member. For volunteers with off-campus housing arrangements the fee is $100.00. This fee is due by July 1, 2008 to secure your position and includes a $50 non-refundable deposit. The total fee covers a portion of volunteer housing, meals and administrative expenses.

Upon acceptance as a volunteer, Kushi Institute prefers that you pay by credit card by calling
1-800-975-8744 (please indicate you are a volunteer). If you need to mail a check, please make check payable to: Kushi Institute.

Please mail check to:
Kushi Institute
Attn: Registration
PO Box 7
Becket, MA 01223

Volunteer Benefits
In appreciation for volunteering, the $200 volunteer fee can be used as credit towards the following Kushi Institute programs: Way to Health, Macrobiotic Leadership Program Levels I, II or III, or Summer Conference 2009. The $200 credit is valid for programs occurring on or before August 5, 2009 and cannot be combined with other discounts. Please note that the credit is non-transferable. Additionally, you may attend any lecture, workshop, or other events at the Summer Conference which are open to participants when you are not scheduled to work. Volunteers also receive a t-shirt, discounted housing and meals, free admission to the conference, and an amazing learning experience.

Housing
Accommodations include a double or triple dorm room shared with other volunteer staff member(s) or participants. You may request a fellow volunteer staff member or participant as a roommate. The Summer Conference Registrar will try to accommodate your request, but there is no guarantee. If you would like a single room, it may be available at the following extra charges:

Unit Single Dorm Room
One single bed, six singles to a shared bathroom and living room area, $125

Single Dorm Room
One single bed, shared bathrooms on each wing, $100

There will be no room changes for volunteers. Family members accompanying volunteers must pay the full conference price.

Being a staff member is a great way to meet people and to further your knowledge of macrobiotics at the same time, so enjoy the experience and opportunity to learn a lot and to work hard! Thank you for volunteering!

Contact Information
If you have questions about volunteering, please e-mail volunteer@thepowerofnaturalhealing.org

Team Job Descriptions
The following are descriptions of all teams requiring volunteers for the 2008 Summer Conference. Please carefully review each team's description and determine if you are eligible to apply to work as a volunteer at the conference according to the criteria below.

Audio / Visual 11 volunteer positions available.
A/V volunteers must possess basic knowledge of operating analog/digital recorders, small mixing consoles, CD duplication & labeling machines. Responsibilities include preparing microphones for lectures; sitting, watching, and recording lectures; adjusting record and mix levels for the full length of lectures, approx. 75 minutes each. At times, there may be up to four sessions per day. Must be able to take detailed instructions, be flexible in completing all audio tasks, and be able to work with an audio partner and team.

Café 8 volunteer positions available.
Café volunteers must have general knowledge of macrobiotic cooking. Responsibilities include preparing, cooking, and serving food in addition to managing the register and keeping the Café area clean. Volunteers must be able to lift 30-50 pounds, be able to stand on their feet all day, and should possess strong customer service and organizational skills. The café is a fast food style setting and volunteers must be able to begin working at 6 am. Knowing how to make coffee is a plus! Kushi Institute seeks one volunteer who knows Macrobiotic cooking very well and knows their way around the kitchen.

Children's Program 10 volunteer positions available.
Children's Program volunteers are responsible for taking care of children's safety and well-being. Responsibilities include leading and supervising games and activities, cleaning and organizing play areas, and accompanying children safely to and from various locations. Volunteers will be assigned to one of the following age groups: 3-6 yr. olds, 7-12 yr. olds, or teens. Please note: You must be willing to submit to a background check in order to work in the Children's Program. Experience working with children is highly desired. We need one volunteer for this position who speaks Japanese and at least one male volunteer with strong leadership skills in order to balance the team.

Cooking Class Assistant 11 volunteer positions available.
The Cooking Class Assistant volunteers will work in a high-energy, fast-paced environment. They must be able to stand on their feet for several hours at a time as they prepare, cook and serve food, and clean up the kitchen. Volunteers must demonstrate cooperation when working with staff. Experience cooking in restaurants if a strong plus, but not required.

Golf Cart Transportation 1 volunteer position available.
Drive conference participants to and from classes, as well as to other destinations on the college campus. A valid driver's license is required.

Gopher 1-2 volunteer positions available.
Responsibilities include taking notes and directions from Summer Conference Administrative staff, delivering messages and important documents, and running errands. Must have a car for running errands, a positive "can-do" attitude, and should be able to work quickly and efficiently. Gopher's will be asked to fill in on other teams as needed, please be flexible.

Wellness Services (Life Guidance and Counseling Team) 11 volunteer positions available.
Volunteers for this team should possess strong organizational skills, be able to multitask, and be able to interact with people in a calm, professional manner. Excellent English speaking skills and the ability to communicate in a professional and considerate tone are necessary. Responsibilities include welcoming participants, scheduling appointments and assigning rooms, invoicing payments, and possibly scribing for counselors. Dress requirements are business casual; no T-shirts or blue jeans.

Operations Support 5 volunteer positions available.
The Operations Support Team serves to help the conference run smoothly and provide assistance to conference staff. Volunteers must be able to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, be on their feet for the duration of their shifts, be skilled in the use of basic hand tools to set up equipment and displays, and have a valid driver's license. One volunteer is needed the week before the conference (July 21-27) and for 2 days following the conference (August 4-5). This volunteer will attend the conference without volunteering obligations during the week of the conference. If you are interested and available to volunteer the week before and 2 days after, please note this in question number 11 below.

Registration 6-12 volunteer positions available.
Registration volunteers must have excellent customer service and communications skills, a friendly disposition, and the ability to understand registrants with foreign accents. Volunteers must have legible handwriting and basic computer and credit card machine skills. Responsibilities include welcoming participants and staff to the conference, answering questions, giving directions, answering the phone, Xeroxing, and invoicing payments. Dress requirements are business casual (no t-shirts or blue jeans). Experience in retail, office work, and using a computer is a strong plus.

Safety and Information 1 volunteer position available.
The Safety and Information Officer should be mature, responsible, self motivated, and carry themselves with authority. The hours of duty are 7:00 pm - 1:00 am, which means that the Safety and Information Officer will not be able to attend evening events during the conference. Responsibilities include walking around the campus and enforcing conference policies such as the children's curfew, the no alcohol policy, and quiet hours. The Safety and Information Officer is also in charge of contacting Summer Conference Administration in the event that individuals do not comply with policies.

Store 9 volunteer positions available.
Store volunteers must provide excellent customer service to customers, restock items in the store, price items, and possibly work on the cash register. Volunteers must be able to lift and carry boxes weighing up to 50 lbs. Volunteers must be flexible with scheduling for the week of the conference. Previous retail experience and knowledge about store products is helpful.

Kitchen Team 5-8 positions available.
Volunteers will be assisting Kitchen staff with desert set up in the mornings and afternoons, and assisting the kitchen staff during the serving times for each meal. Knowledge of macrobiotic cooking and experience working in a kitchen is helpful.

Bakery 2 positions available.
Bakery volunteers must have some cooking experience, although this experience does not need to be in macrobiotic cooking. Bakery volunteers will assist the baker in preparing and serving desserts, including cookies, cakes, puddings, and other desserts.

After Conference Cleanup Crew (ACCUC) 15 volunteer positions available.
The ACCUC works August 3 - 4 (Sunday & Monday). The ACCUC helps with the post-conference cleanup for the teams. Hours are Sunday from 1 pm - 6 pm and Monday from 9 am - 1 pm. Volunteers on this team must be able to lift and carry equipment, work well on their own and with others, and follow directions well. In appreciation for being part of the ACCUC, volunteers will receive an additional night of housing, meals and a $50 gift certificate redeemable towards any Kushi Institute program. Breakfast and a special movement class will be offered in the morning for all volunteers who stay to help with after conference clean up on Monday.

Kushi Institute is a division of the Kushi Foundation, a federally approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or handicap in its programs, procedures and operations

If you are interested in volunteering please call Paige at 413-623-5741 x 182.