Call for Nominations – August Wilson Society Executive Board
The Nominations and Elections Committee of the August Wilson Society calls for the nomination of eligible officers on its executive board to serve a two-year term beginning August 2018. Candidates are eligible for nomination if a) their AWS membership is current and b) they meet the qualifications of their office of interest. The August Wilson Society is particularly interested in nominees with a keen interest in the work of AWS, demonstrated leadership experience, and strong professional standing.
A description of each office is below.
Please consider self-nominating and/or assist us by encouraging other excellent candidates to self-nominate. All viable candidates should email Artisia Green (avgreen@wm.edu) on or before June 30 with an expression of interest (250 words or less) and an abbreviated CV.
VICE PRESIDENT:
Duties: Work closely with the President in upholding AWS’s mission, sustaining its financial stability, determining the direction of the organization, and assuring its long-term stability. The VP can speak on behalf of the AWS President in the event of his or her absence.
Minimum Requirements: Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission. Knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Organizational skills. Institutional support. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Ability to work well with others.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR:
Duties: Work closely with the President and Social Media Coordinator to sustain AWS’s public branding. Manage and direct AWS’s
Minimum Requirements: Familiar with current trends in communications. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Skilled at verbal and written communication. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR:
Duties: Develop and execute new and imaginative ways of promoting the work of AWS via Social Media and enhancing its presence. Keep AWS President apprised of these plans at every level; Manage and continually update AWS’s content on its Facebook and Twitter accounts. Determine the form, content, quality and appropriateness of any newsworthy information to be posted on these platforms. Identify and share timely and relevant newsworthy information—such as Press Releases, web links or fliers announcing conferences, lectures, or an August Wilson-related activity hosted by other organizations— with AWS Website Director for posting. Publicize current productions of August Wilson’s plays performed at any AWS Organization Member theatre.
Minimum Requirements: Skill and hands-on experience with various social media platforms. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
WEBSITE MANAGER:
Duties: Create and maintain an aesthetically pleasing, fully functional, and current website. Work closely with the Communications Director and Social Media Coordinator in determining appropriate materials for possible cross posting on these three outlets. Post links to current productions of August Wilson’s plays performed at any AWS Organization Member theatre. Screen and oversee the input of timely and relevant information. Perform routine quality control checks. Report, at intervals, directly to the President an all matters pertaining to the site.
Minimum Requirements: Skill and hands-on experience with various website platforms. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
CONFERENCE PLANNER:
Duties: Oversee all aspects of AWS conference planning and execution. This includes—but is not limited to—being the major point of contact for all conference-related details; setting and adhering to a budget; composing and disseminating the CFP and vetting proposal submissions; securing an appropriate conference venue; identifying and inviting appropriate plenary speakers (if needed); arranging guest transportation (if needed); securing and working with a reputable food supplier; designating rooms for various events; designing and printing conference program (if needed), etc. Minimum Requirements: Skill at event planning. Savvy at interpersonal communications. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Duties: Receive and keep an accurate record of incoming AWS memberships. Host and manage at least one major AWS membership drive per year in collaboration with AWS Communications Director and Social Media Coordinator. Devise other creative ways to get the word out about AWS and increase its membership roster. Design membership promotional materials that list the benefits of an AWS membership. Target theatres and other institutions as potential AWS members.
Minimum Requirements: Savvy at marketing and interpersonal communications. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR
Duties: Identify, pursue, and secure significant funding from donors and sponsors to support the ongoing work of AWS. Design public relations fundraising blitz for immediate execution. Devise and execute ongoing creative fundraising strategies. Put together and execute a 5-year AWS fundraising goal. Identify and apply for potential grant opportunities relevant to AWS’s mission.
Minimum requirements: Proven record of fundraising. Well connected with major corporations, theatre programs, and universities, and other potential funders. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
EDUCATIONAL COORDINATOR:
Duties: Identify opportunities for AWS to serve as an educational resource. Produce educational material—such as innovative Study Guides, current theatre reviews, and a constantly updated annotated bibliography of Wilson scholarship—for web posting. Create and manage an interactive FAQ webpage about August Wilson and his American Century Cycle. Create and post educational videos, blogs, etc. on Wilson’s plays. Organize and coordinate webinars. Highlight various research ports on Wilson’s work. Serve as a resource for high school and university classrooms seeking various approaches to teaching Wilson’s plays; etc.
Minimum requirements: Currently employed at an educational institution. Evidence of having taught, directed, performed, or written about one or more of Wilson’s plays. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
TREASURER:
Duties: Work closely with AWS President in all financial matters. Keep up to date financial records of deposits and withdrawals to AWS accounts. Work closely with Fundraising Coordinator to identify and solicit sponsors, donors and other sources of funding; Prepare and present Treasurer’s report to be given during AWS’s monthly conference calls.
Minimum requirements: Experience with managing funds and keeping good financial records. Two brief letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate’s trustworthiness and experience with handling finances. Current AWS membership. Familiarity with AWS’s mission and knowledge of August Wilson’s body of work. Proven skills at organization and accountability. Institutional support. Ability to work well with others.
The August Wilson Society (AWS) was founded within Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences in spring 2006, shortly after the passing of August Wilson at age 60. This group defines itself as an interdisciplinary learning community
of instructors, students, and theatre lovers who remain dedicated to commemorating August Wilson’s legacy by promoting the studying, teaching, researching, performing, and ultimately the safeguarding of the rich narrative of the African American past that Wilson has bequeathed to us in the form of 10 plays that chronicle the stories of African Americans from 1904 to 1997.