Events Committee

Purpose: The Events Committee supports the NUA mission by connecting members and industry partners in both casual and educational settings.

Committee Chair: Andrew Bodjanac is serving as the CWC 2021 Event Coordinator. There is no Events Committee currently in session (as of Nov 2020), as there are no events other than CWC 2021 in the planning stage at this time.

Size of the Committee: Chair plus two to three (2-3) members, and six to eight (6-8) leading up to a large event.

Duties / Activities: The Event Committee is responsible for designing both live and virtual events that benefit NUA members and promote the industry. This may include organizing the annual meeting, exhibit space for vendors at national or regional conferences, workshops and presentations at trade shows, opportunities to interact with the media, and evening networking events.

Typical activities include:

• Working with the Membership Committee to determine the frequency, type, location, and theme for each event
• Working with the Finance Committee to develop a budget for each event
• Identifying and booking a suitable conference location (when applicable)
• Recruiting vendors, industry partners, and instructors for the event
• Working with the PR Committee to promote the event
• Cultivating a list of backup speakers or presenters in case of last minute cancelation
• Maintaining required insurance and assigning attending committee member as an emergency contact during the event
• Reporting information gathered from the conference to the Board after the event
• Formation of Ad Hoc subcommittees as needed to focus on specific scheduled events or conferences

Time Commitment: One (1) hour per week ongoing and up to four to six (4-6) hours per week leading up to and including event dates, and post-event wrap-up.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Finance Committee

Purpose: The Finance Committee supports the NUA mission by preparing the annual budget and supporting other committees in managing their budgets.

Committee Chair: Grace Reff

Size of the Committee: Chair plus two (2) members

Duties / Activities: The Finance Committee primarily provides financial oversight for the organization. Typical tasks include budgeting and financial planning, financial reporting, and the creation and monitoring of internal controls and accountability policies.

Typical activities include:

• Working with each committee to understand their financial needs for the upcoming year
• Preparing the annual budget
• Creating the quarterly actuals vs. budget report
• Executing monthly account reconciliation
• Reviewing funding requests outside of committee budgets
• Responding to any committee inquiries
• Providing and amending budget tracking tools, as needed
• Prioritizing and managing association spending through the annual budget
• Assure all governmental regulatory reporting performed including any State and/or Federal reports by either the treasurer or by an accounting firm approved by the Board of Directors

Time Commitment: One (1) hour per week ongoing and up to three to four (3-4) hours per week during budgeting period (September through December). The Finance Committee performs a large portion of its duties from September through December as it prepares the following year’s budget.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Membership Committee

Purpose: The Membership Committee supports the NUA mission by establishing member benefits and perks, and recruiting members at all membership levels.

Committee Chair: Harmony Maraldo

Size of the Committee: Chair plus four to six (4-6) members

Duties / Activities: The Membership Committee is responsible for bringing in new members and retaining the current membership base. This committee serves as the primary resource for current and potential members, helping them with questions that they may have about the NUA or how to get involved in the organization once they join.

Typical activities include:

• Creating and amending (as needed) the new member welcome email
• Annually reviewing membership applications, presenting the Board with any recommendations
• Researching and developing member perks and presenting proposals to the Board
• Guiding member involvement in National Upholstery Awareness Month, working closely with the PR Committee
• Researching and developing member merchandise
• Conducting member surveys, ideally twice annually; compiling and distributing survey data
• Maintaining member database
• Coordinating with Newsletter Subcommittee to identify candidates for Member Spotlight
• Responding to member and potential member inquiries
• Coordinating with Webinar Subcommittee to utilize industry partners for webinars
• Working with PR Committee to facilitate posting of blogs from industry partners to website, including photos
• Managing industry partner and educator relationships, to include soliciting member perks and event sponsorships

Time Commitment: Three to four (3-4) hours per month, depending on role. Larger commitments possible leading up to National Upholstery Awareness month (October) and during annual budgeting period. The Membership Committee will meet at least once monthly between Board meetings.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Newsletter Subcommittee (Public Relations)

Purpose: The Newsletter Subcommittee is a sub-unit of the Public Relations Committee. The Newsletter Subcommittee supports the NUA mission by keeping members informed about NUA activities, including networking and educational possibilities.

Committee Chair: Jamie Facciola

Size of the Committee: Chair only

Duties / Activities: The Newsletter Subcommittee is responsible for the coordination and electronic publication of quarterly newsletters available to NUA members and the public.

Typical activities include:

• Compiling and reporting news from other committees
• Creating content relevant to the quarter
• Editing content and formatting emails for distribution
• Finalizing and distributing monthly newsletter
• Time Commitment: Eight to fifteen (8-15) hours per quarter. Work for this committee is mostly concentrated to the three weeks spanning solicitation of content to publication

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Nominating Committee

Purpose: The Nominating Committee supports the NUA mission by providing a slate of nominees for the office of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and reviewing eligibility of nominations for vacancies on the Board of Directors.

Committee Chair: Kim Newell

Size of the Committee: Chair plus Immediate Past President plus three (3) additional members

Duties / Activities: The Nominating Committee identifies potential candidates for current or upcoming vacancies and to work diligently toward attracting and securing top talent. The committee’s duties include identifying, recruiting, screening and interviewing candidates for Board positions.

Typical activities include:

• Assessing the specific needs of the organization and the next Board of Directors
• Gathering a list of interested candidates from various means, including recommendations throughout the year from members and Directors.
• Interviewing interested candidates, identifying potential needs-skills matches
• Reviewing applicants and finalizing list of candidates
• Setting the rules and procedures for conducting the balloting for the election
• Auditing the results of the election
• Announcing the results of the election at the Annual Board Meeting

Time Commitment: One (1) hour per week ongoing and up to four to six (4-6) hours per week leading up to and including election dates, and post-election wrap-up.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Public Relations Committee

Purpose: The Public Relations Committee promotes the NUA’s mission and benefits through online and print media (social media, website, email, direct mail, fliers/inserts, etc.).

Committee Chair: Michelle Minner

Size of the Committee: Chair plus a minimum of six (6) members

Duties / Activities: The Public Relations Committee is responsible for building brand identity and online presence through the creation and dissemination of multimedia content online. The committee creates awareness of the NUA’s projects and activities and promotes the values and work of the organization.

Typical activities include:

• Acting as the framework through which information is disseminated to members and the public
• Handing all marketing, advertising, press releases, promotions of events, and other communications
• Creating and maintaining brand cohesiveness and ensuring all PR communication adheres to set guidelines
• Maintaining relevant social media accounts; scheduling and posting content on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and moderating comments on each platform
• Identifying and recruiting subject matter experts and content contributors to produce stories of interest for the NUA blog and newsletters
• Working with other committees and members to develop new content
• Identifying creative ways to engage members and the community at large

Time Commitment: One to two (1-2) hours per week ongoing, with larger commitments possible during special events. Work for this committee will generally be evenly distributed throughout the year.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Volunteer Coordination Committee

Purpose: The Volunteer Coordination Committee supports the NUA mission by growing the pool of qualified volunteers through prospecting, recruitment, and retention efforts. This committee helps volunteers find their best fit and looks for ways to ensure high volunteer engagement and enhance the overall member experience.

Committee Chair: Carla Pyle

Size of the Committee: Chair plus three to four (3-4) members. Additional positions will be added as the organization grows.

Duties / Activities: The Volunteer Coordination Committee recruits and trains new volunteers, keeps a database of volunteer information and skills, matches volunteers to opportunities that suit their skills, keeps volunteers informed, and conveys the organization's purpose to the public.

Typical activities include:

• Writing and posting volunteer job descriptions based on organization’s needs
• Developing and communicating volunteer incentives
• Identifying and recruiting new volunteers
• Matching interested volunteers’ skills with organization’s needs
• Providing organization orientation/onboarding for new volunteers
• Supervising volunteer activities and working with other committees to assess ongoing volunteer requirements
• Tracking volunteer hours and initiatives for reporting
• Retaining current volunteers through ongoing training, recognition, and development
• Ensuring Volunteers have the necessary resources to support the mission of the organization

Time Commitment: Two to three (2-3) hours per week ongoing, with larger commitments possible during special events or volunteer recruitment periods.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.

Webinar Subcommittee (Membership)

Purpose: The Webinar Subcommittee is a sub-unit of the Membership Committee. The Webinar Subcommittee supports the NUA mission by providing educational opportunities to its members.

Committee Chair: Jill Ragan Scully

Size of the Committee: Chair plus two to three (2-3) members

Duties / Activities: The Webinar Subcommittee designs and implements the webinar program that serves the organization’s needs, identifies topics, and finds appropriate speakers to fill the schedule.

Typical activities include:

• Developing list of webinar topics
• Finding and scheduling appropriate presenters to facilitate webinars (presenters should be scheduled and under contract a minimum of six (6) months before their scheduled webinar)
• Coordinating with Membership Committee to utilize industry partners for webinars
• Scheduling software testing before each webinar
• Downloading, editing and uploading webinars to YouTube within 48 hours of broadcast
• Working within the approved budget
• Annually revising speaker contracts and submitting to the Board for approval

Time Commitment: One (1) hour per week ongoing and up to two to three (2-3) hours per week during webinars planning period (September). The Webinar Committee performs a large portion of its duties in September as that is when it develops potential topics based on a list approved by the Board. The committee operates on a regular schedule that renews each month for webinar recording and distribution.

How to apply/contact information: If you are interested in a Committee position, please email us at info@nationalupholsteryassociation.org. Please include “Committee Interest” in the subject line.