Volunteer with GALA

Get involved. Make a difference. Be a volunteer.

Volunteering with GALA enables you to develop as a leader, build your professional network, and sharpen your collaboration skills. Simultaneously, it provides critical support to GALA in high-impact areas and extends the association’s resources.

GALA offers a variety of ways for our members to get involved, from short-term focus groups to strategic leadership. Start planning your involvement now! Please send any questions to [email protected].

GALA members may apply to volunteer during our twice annual Calls for Volunteers. All members have the opportunity to submit an application for open volunteer positions. (Board elections are conducted separately.) The next call for volunteers will be in May/June 2025.

Learn more about the volunteer positions goals and time commitments below.

Opportunity	Description	Term
Member Programs Committee	The Member Programs Committee provides guidance on the programs, events, and services that GALA delivers to its members. This encompasses content, SIGs, conferences, events, and more. Time commitment: 2-5 hours/month.	1 year (max 3)
Board Nominating Committee	The Nominating Committee members ensure that all board candidates meet established criteria for GALA leadership and help identify potential future leaders. Their goal is to ensure that GALA has a board that is balanced, representative of the membership, and equipped to lead the association. The engagement consists of approximately 3 virtual meetings held during September and October, plus a few hours of asynchronous work between meetings.	~5 months
Conference Program Committee	The Conference Program Committee develops the conference theme and call for proposals. It reviews and selects proposals for GALA's annual conference. Committee members also act as on-site session moderators. There are several virtual meetings and several hours worth of asynchronous work in the last few months of the year.	~9 months
Student Global Talent Committee	One aim of GALA’s Global Talent program is to empower the industry’s future leaders. This committee encourages students to share how they need support, explore opportunities to learn and connect, and build community among GALA's 80+ university members. The students serving on this committee collaborate with GALA to plan and execute programming, events, and content for their fellow student members. Volunteers must be currently enrolled in an academic program. The estimated time commitment will depend on the goals of the committee, approximately 5 hours/month.	1 year (max 2)
Rising Star Scholarship Committee	The Rising Star Scholarship Committee develops the theme and rubric for the Rising Star Scholarship contest, which awards registration and a travel stipend to GALA's annual conference to two individuals enrolled in or leading translation, interpreting, or localization programs. Engagement: 3-4 meetings plus submissions review.	~5 months
SIG Leadership	SIG moderators develop goals and programming for GALA's special interest groups. Leaders organize, plan, and moderate meetings and manage working groups, if applicable. Time commitment: 2-5 hours/month.	1 year
Roadshow Co-Host	Roadshow Co-Hosts help plan and execute an in-person event specifically curated to address particular industry challenges/topics with a local perspective. Co-hosting includes location selection, program curation, onsite logistics, and GALA evangelization. Engagement: approximately 5 hours, at least one meeting with GALA staff, plus attending the event.	~5 hours
GALA Board of Directors	The GALA Board sets the strategic direction of the association and provides oversight and stewardship of GALA's operations and resources. It also represents the diverse interests of GALA's stakeholders in decision making. Review the Board FAQ to learn more.	2 years (max 4)
Focus Groups	Focus groups help GALA make strategic changes with member input. Focus groups are ad hoc and may focus on a diverse range of topics, from member benefits and dues to website UX to member programs.	Duration of group

There are a limited number of volunteer roles and placement is not guaranteed. In accordance with our Committee Policies and Procedures, applicants will be considered only if the organization which they represent has been a GALA member for two consecutive years or more. Please refer to the Committee Policies and Procedures document for more details about each committee

New volunteers will be required to attend (or view) a volunteer orientation session in order to serve. They will also be required to complete the GALA Volunteer Service Commitment Form. Operational committee terms last for one year, with an option to renew service for a total of three years of service. Ad hoc committees are short term and members serve just once. GALA members may only serve on one volunteer group at at time. GALA does not reimburse committee or SIG leaders for travel, but will apply discounts to registrations. Meetings are held virtually.

Each special interest group (SIG) has a team of moderators to manage the SIG. SIGs may have different missions such providing a discussion forum or creating a deliverable for the localization community. In addition to the responsibilities outlined in the GALA Volunteer Service Commitment Form, SIG moderators: