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Volunteer with GALA

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.

Volunteer Descriptions

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.

Engagement: 2-5 hours/month.

1 year (max 3)

WorldReady Program Committee

The  WorldReady 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.

Engagement: There are several virtual meetings and several hours worth of asynchronous work in the last few months of the year.   

~9 months

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 Moderators

SIG moderators develop goals and programming for GALA's special interest groups. Leaders organize, plan, and moderate meetings and manage working groups, if applicable.

Engagement: 2-5 hours/month.

1 year

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 6)

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

Barometer Task Forces

GALA's Business Barometers provide industry benchmarking data on operations and trends. Each task force is composed of subject matter experts who can improve the quality and relevance of GALA's surveys and reports by reviewing survey questions, analyzing data, and co-presenting findings.

Engagement: ~6-7 hours.

Duration of group

GALA Academy Leader

GALA Academy is a localization academy offering quarterly courses that take an in-depth look at the top issues facing our industry.

Engagement: As a GALA Academy leader, you'll team up with our content strategist to develop 3-4 sessions on a specific topic. That means you'll research and select the topics, interview and select the speakers, and in some cases moderate the live online sessions.

Planning period followed by 4 weeks of course

There are a limited number of volunteer roles and placement is not guaranteed. In accordance with our Committee Policies, 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 a 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 as 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:

  • Create the schedule and meeting frequency (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly).

  • Attend the meetings, moderate the discussion, and ensure minutes are taken.

  • Develop meeting topics and source expert speakers.

  • Create content for GALA based on the SIG meetings.

  • Host 1 webinar or live stream for GALA based on SIG meetings.

  • Ensure progress towards the SIG's mission.

  • Represent the SIG at GALA's annual conference.

  • Represent GALA and the SIG at industry events and conferences.