Thank you for volunteering at this year’s PLACES! With over 400 attendees over four days across all of downtown Gig Harbor and beyond, this event simply would not be possible without the support of volunteers like you. Thank you!
Below you’ll find an overview of volunteer duties. Please scroll to your designated duty to learn more, or jump right to…
Questions? Visit our Registration HQ at Hop Pharm, and we’ll be happy to assist!
Reminders for Volunteers
- For an overview of all staff and volunteer assignments, view this Google Doc.
- If you’re ever not sure where to go for a task, either stop in at Registration HQ at Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St.) or text Lydia’s personal cell at 419-303-1100. (For questions on Monday or before, please email for the most reliable response!)
Mobile Tour Ushers
Thank you so much for serving as ushers for our Mobile Tours! I know you all have your individual volunteer/staffing schedules, but I’ve included our room Mobile Tour usher schedule below the general guidance, including where to meet and a linked itinerary with key details about your tour. Also take a second to check out our Mobile Tours reminder page here.
General Guidance
Arrival
- Check in at our Registration HQ at Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335) to pick up all the materials you need for your tour, including a gathering sign, attendee list, and tour mics.
- Arrive at your Mobile Tour’s designated meeting spot 30 minutes before your tour is scheduled to depart. Again, you can find that designated meeting spot on the Mobile Tour overview here.
- The tour guides will arrive shortly after you, so you can check in with them, pass along the mic and make sure it works, and get acquainted before attendees start arriving. You can find the tour guides’ names in the program or in the materials you’ll receive at Hop Pharm.
Tour check-in:
- Hold up the sign announcing which tour you’re usher for (you’ll receive at Hop Pharm). There will be several tours meeting at once, so it’ll be important to ensure that folks know they’re in the right place.
- Note: We ask attendees to arrive about 10 minutes before their tour is scheduled to depart.
- You’ll check people in as they arrive so we know everyone who has registered has made it. Once you have everyone accounted for, you can head out.
- If everyone has checked in before the departure time, you’re welcome to head out early!
- If not everyone has checked in a couple minutes past departure time, please check in with Registration HQ – you’ll likely head out at that point anyway, but it’s good for us to know who’s missing!
On the tour:
- Before you depart, check in with the tour guides to see if there are any specific ways you can be helpful (e.g., being at the back of the pack to ensure no one gets left behind), but you should mostly be able to have fun. These tours are going to be fantastic, and so please do enjoy learning alongside everyone!
- If we need to contact the tour after you’ve departed, we will call you at the number you have provided to us. Please be prepared to answer your phone!
- If an emergency arises on your tour and you need to contact us, you will be able to call us at the number provided in your arrival materials.
After the tour:
Please return your tour supplies (especially the mics!) to Registration HQ immediately upon your return. We’ll use the mics for other tours, so it’s important we have them back on time and able to charge in between tours.
Recommended to bring:
- Water bottle
- Walking shoes
- Pen
- Charged phone
- See Mobile Tour Reminders page for personalized recs
Usher Schedule
If your tour meets somewhere other than Hop Pharm, remember to swing by Registration in advance of your Usher arrival time to collect your supplies!
| Time | Tour (Itinerary Linked) | Meeting Location | Usher |
| 10/8, 1:30-3:00 pm (arrive at 1:00 pm) | Gig Harbor & Beyond: Educational Boat Cruise | 8829 N Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 | Cameron Wong |
| 10/8, 1:30-4:30pm (arrive at 1:00 pm) | Cities as Historic Preservation Champions | Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335) | Temple Lentz |
| 10/8, 1:30-4:30pm (arrive at 1:00 pm) | Anchored in Bremerton | Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335) | Emma Oates |
| 10/9, 9:00 am-12:00 pm (arrive at 8:30 am) | Hop-On/Hop-Off Tacoma T-Line Tour | Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335) | Maureen Elenga |
| 10/9, 9:00 am-12:00 pm (arrive at 8:30 am) | Interpretive Planning Made Easier | Harbor History Museum (4121 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98332) | Abby Armato |
| 10/9, 1:30-3:00 pm (arrive at 1:00 pm) | Gig Harbor & Beyond: Educational Boat Cruise | 8829 N Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 | William Sheahan (usher only, not attending) |
| 10/9, 1:30-4:30 pm (arrive at 1:00 pm) | From Policy to Placemaking | Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335) | Chris Moore |
| 10/9, 1:30-4:30 pm (arrive at 1:00 pm) | Gig Harbor through a Main Street Lens | Hop Pharm (3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335) | Desiree Freeland |
| 10/10, 9:00 am-12:00 pm (arrive at 8:30 am) | Gig Harbor’s Maritime Histories and Mysteries | Harbor History Museum (4121 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98332) | William Sheahan |
That’s it! Thank you again so much for supporting PLACES in this role. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Room Host
Thank you so much for being our wonderful room hosts for the conference! We’ve included all the details you’ll need in this Google Doc, which you’ll also have a printed copy of on-site. I know you all have your individual volunteer/staffing schedules, but I’ve included our room host staffing schedule below the general guidance.
General Guidance
- Take a look through the Google Doc please!
- Please confirm with Lydia that you will be able to use your own computer for projecting your room’s PowerPoint presentations.
- If not, let her know by Tuesday (10/7) so she can arrange alternatives!
- Ensure you can access the AirTable webpage with all of the PowerPoint presentations in it.
- Find the correct session and select the “expand” button on the far left (shows up when you hover between the number and person’s name).
- Click on the slide and select “download” in the bottom right corner OR hover over the slide and a download icon will appear in the bottom right.
Host Schedule
| Date, Time (Session Block) | Church of the Nazarene – Fellowship Hall | Church of the Nazarene – Sanctuary | The Club @ the Boatyard (Marina) | Gig Harbor BoatShop (Eddon) | Gig Harbor Yacht Club |
| 10/8, 1:30-2:30 pm (Session Block A) | Josh | Breanne | Farah | Corah | |
| 10/8, 3:00-4:00 pm (Session Block B) | Josh | Breanne | Farah | Corah | |
| 10/9, 9:00-10:30 am (Session Block C) | Breanne + Jonelle | Huy | Farah | Michael Houser | |
| 10/9, 10:30-11:30 am (Session Block D) | Breanne + Jonelle | Huy | Farah | Michael Houser | |
| 10/9, 1:30-2:30 pm (Session Block E) | Jonelle | Huy | Corah | Maddie | |
| 10/9, 3:00-4:00 pm (Session Block F) | Jonelle | Huy | Corah | Maddie | |
| 10/10, 9:00-10:00 am (Session Block G) | Josh | Moira | Michelle | Farah | |
| 10/10, 10:30-11:30 am (Session Block H) | Moira | Michelle | Farah | Maureen | |
| 10/10, 1:30-2:30 pm (Session Block I) | Moira | Maddie | Alex | Maureen | |
| 10/10, 2:30-3:30 pm (Clean Up!) | Moira (lead), Meagan (support) | Maddie (lead), Houser (support), Michelle (support) | Alex (lead), Corah (support) | Maureen (lead), Kim (support) |
That’s it! And of course, reach out with questions!
Shuttle Drivers
Thank you for volunteering to drive shuttles around Gig Harbor for the conference! We are happy to offer these shuttle routes for our attendees to ensure the conference is accessible for all; your willingness to drive these vehicles helps us make that possible!
Before Your Shift
Before your shift begins, you’ll need to register at the Gig Harbor Enterprise (open 8:00 am to 6:00 pm weekdays). You’ll be able to do so anytime after we pick up the vans on Tuesday around noon. The reservation is under Abby Armato, but you may need to provide a contract number (we’ll add that here soon!)
Your Shift
Please come to our Registration HQ at Hop Pharm about 5 minutes before your shuttle shift begins. You will be able to pick up vehicle keys from the registration table and then grab your assigned shuttle from the parking lot. Check to see what times you’re driving at in this Google Doc (Shuttles tab). If you’re driving to your shift, you can park in the Hop Pharm parking lot.
There are two routes that shuttles will run. Again, check which route you have been assigned in this Google Doc. You will also be reminded when you pick up your keys! The routes are:
- Along Harborview Drive. We will have shuttles running along Harborview Drive that will make stops near the session venues, including Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene (Gig Naz), the Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard (for the Club @ the Boatyard), Gig Harbor BoatShop at the Historic Eddon Boatyard, and the Harbor History Museum.
- To and from our Park & Ride and Hop Pharm. Our hotel shuttle will run from the Best Western Wesley Inn & Suites to Hop Pharm, where our Registration and Check In HQ will be located. There is a park and ride across the street from the Wesley Inn, so if you’re staying elsewhere, you can leave your car there and catch the shuttle from the Wesley Inn.
P.S. It’s hard to know how busy each shuttle will be, but we expect it may change during time of day and based on the weather. You’ll be in charge of the music in your van (fingers crossed they have bluetooth!), and if it’s particularly quiet, feel free to queue up a podcast or audiobook! You might even consider bringing a print book or similar activity to take short (15 min) breaks when the shuttles don’t need to run as frequently (e.g., when classroom sessions are happening).
Ending Your Shift
At the end of your shift, bring your shuttle back to Hop Pharm and return your car keys to the registration HQ at Hop Pharm (unless otherwise instructed). If anything comes up, email or text Lydia Felty (, 419-303-1100).
FYI: Full Shuttle Schedule
Along Harborview Drive. We will have shuttles running along Harborview Drive that will make stops near the session venues, including Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene (Gig Naz), the Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard (for the Club @ the Boatyard), Gig Harbor BoatShop at the Historic Eddon Boatyard, and the Harbor History Museum.
- Wednesday, October 8 | 11:30 am-4:30 pm
- Last shuttle | Departs Harbor History Museum at 4:15 pm and arrives at Gig Naz at 4:30 pm
- Thursday, October 9 | 8:30 am-4:30 pm
- Last shuttle | Departs Harbor History Museum at 4:15 pm and arrives at Gig Naz at 4:30 pm
- Friday, October 10 | 8:30 am-2:00 pm
- Last shuttle | Departs Harbor History Museum at 1:45 pm and arrives at Gig Naz at 2:00 pm
To and from our Park & Ride and Hop Pharm. Our hotel shuttle will run from the Best Western Wesley Inn & Suites to Hop Pharm, where our Registration and Check In HQ will be located.
- Wednesday, October 8 | 8:30-10:30 am, 11:30 am-2:00 pm, 3:30-7:30 pm
- Last morning shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 10:25 am and arrives at Hop Pharm at 10:30 am
- Last afternoon shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 1:55 pm and arrives at Hop Pharm at 2:00 pm
- Last evening shuttle | Departs Hop Pharm at 7:25 pm and arrives at Wesley Inn at 7:30 pm
- Thursday, October 9 | 8:30-10:30 am, 4:00-7:00 pm
- Last morning shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 10:25 am and arrives at Hop Pharm at 10:30 am
- Last evening shuttle | Departs Hop Pharm at 6:55 pm and arrives at Wesley Inn at 7:00 pm
- Friday, October 10 | 8:30-10:30 am, 2:00-5:00 pm
- Last morning shuttle | Departs Wesley Inn at 10:25 am and arrives at Hop Pharm at 10:30 am
- Last evening shuttle | Departs Hop Pharm at 4:55 pm and arrives at Wesley Inn at 5:00 pm
Thank you again for helping make our conference more accessible! We appreciate you!
All Other Tasks
Pretty simple directions, here! If you’ve been tasked with setting up, cleaning up, running registration, etc., you’ll just arrive at the designated meeting location. There will be a lead staff/volunteer onsite who will have more information about what needs to be done.
Events and venues you might be assigned to assist at include:
- Early Registration/Pier into the Night at 7 Seas Brewing: 2905 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Registration at Hop Pharm: 3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Consider bringing a book or your computer in case it’s a slow shift!
- Opening Plenary at Gig Harbor Yacht Club: 8209 Stinson Ave, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
- Welcome Block Party meet at Commencement Bank: 7804 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Excellence on Main at Foss Waterway Seaport: 705 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402
- Farewell Picnic in the Park at Skansie Brothers Park: 3211 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Shuttle check-in at Hop Pharm: 3216 Judson St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Sessions at several locations, including…
- Church of the Nazarene – Fellowship Hall (downstairs): 7721 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Church of the Nazarene – Sanctuary (upstairs): 7721 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- The Club @ the Boatyard (Marina): 3117 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
- Gig Harbor BoatShop (Historic Eddon Boatyard): 3805 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
- Gig Harbor Yacht Club: 8209 Stinson Ave, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
- Harbor History Museum: 4121 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
- 7 Seas Brewing: 2905 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335