IMA is looking for volunteers to serve as Leaders, Moderators, and Champions for our Shared Interest Group (SIG) communities. These groups will provide a space where individuals can come together to share common interests and expertise. This platform is for like-minded professionals to connect, learn, and collaborate in a supportive community to engage, share best practices, and have a feeling of belonging.

Shared Interest Group Leader

SIG leaders serve as the key coordinator of Shared Interest Group. In this role, the Leader plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration and engagement withing the group. The leader is responsible for creating and nurturing a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals connect, share knowledge, and work towards educating each other on common shared interest. They will also be responsible for managing group volunteer resources and promoting the group to attract new members into the community of like-minded individuals.

Responsibilities:

· Facilitating communication among group members including sharing updates, coordinating discussions, and encouraging active participation of the group moderators, champions, and members.

· Create a supportive environment by encouraging collaboration, respect for diverse perspectives, and proactively address any issues that may come up.

· Oversight of group resources such as shared documents, events related to the shared topic and ensure these documents are posted in a clear place in the online community for members to access.

· Identify future shared interest group leaders, moderators, and champions to ensure sustainability of the shared interest group through volunteer and community engagement.

Criteria for Leader Role:

· IMA member in good standing

· Subject matter expert in SIG topic(s)

· Time to commit to the role (regular rather than periodic engagement)

Activity Expectation for Shared Interest Group Leaders

Each Shared Interest Group will have at least 1 leader for who should serve up to 12 months and identify a replacement Leader after the 12-month period.

To submit an application to volunteer as a SIG Leader, please click here.

Shared Interest Group Moderator

SIG moderators will facilitate engaging discussions, curate quality content, and foster an inclusive environment by actively moderating the community. They serve as a bridge between the group and IMA staff by monitoring trends, addressing guideline violations, and making recommendations for improvements to better support members.

Responsibilities:

· Initiate and moderate engaging SIG discussions through thought-provoking questions, relevant content sharing, and encouraging diverse perspectives.

· Enforce group guidelines by monitoring activities, removing inappropriate content, addressing violations, and escalating repeat offenders to staff.

· Monitor the quality of content shared within the group. Evaluate and curate posts to ensure they align with the group's purpose and provide value to members.

· Always positively encourage members to share quality content that is relevant to the SIG topic focus.

· Foster a positive, respectful environment by promptly addressing conflicts and encouraging professional conduct.

· Welcome new members, reiterate the purpose, promote involvement, and cultivate a sense of belonging.

· Track overall group engagement, popular topics, and emerging trends to inform potential product/training enhancements.

· Serve as a bridge between the group and staff by elevating member insights and recommendations for improvements.

Criteria for Moderator Role:

· IMA member in good standing

· Subject matter expert in SIG topic(s)

· Time to commit to the role (regular rather than periodic engagement)

Activity Expectation for Shared Interest Group Moderators:

Each SIG will have at least 4-6 moderators who rotate the timeline to ensure constant monitoring of the SIG.

To submit an application to volunteer as a SIG Moderator, please click here.

Shared Interest Group Champion

SIG Champions proactively advocate for and promote the benefits of the shared interest group within their region or industry to ensure global engagement. They actively raise awareness of the group while also fostering an engaged, supportive community, supporting the discussions initiated by the SIG Moderator and creating an inclusive environment.

Responsibilities:

The focus of the SIG Champion is on externally advocating for the group, creating a vibrant community experience, inspiring participation through recognition and mentorship and facilitating continuous learning among members.

· Proactively promote and raise awareness of the SIG's value within their region or industry to ensure a diverse and global voice.

· Contribute and add to engaging discussions and share relevant, high-quality content where relevant.

· Cultivate an energetic, welcoming atmosphere that encourages open sharing of ideas and experiences.

· Motivate members to actively participate by sharing best practices and insights.

· Recognize and appreciate active members' contributions to inspire continued engagement.

· Provide mentorship through a buddy system to guide newer members to actively participate with the group.

Criteria for Champion Role:

· IMA member in good standing

· Time to commit to the role (regular rather than periodic engagement)

Activity Expectation for SIG Champions:

Each SIG will have at least 4-6 champions who should coordinate efforts and rotate timeline for commitment to focus on responsibilities outlined above.

To submit an application to volunteer as a SIG Champion, please click here.