INFORMS Open Forum

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

I think most people start volunteering with subdivisions because those are a group of people that are closest to your research interests. Unless you know that you are already interested in INFORMS society issues like: membership, outreach, publications, education, etc.

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Another thing to consider to start volunteering is attending the business meetings and/or receptions of your interest groups. This allows you to learn first hand about the events happening and opportunities to get involved.

I think most people start volunteering with subdivisions because those are a group of people that are closest to your research interests. Unless you know that you are already interested in INFORMS society issues like: membership, outreach, publications, education, etc.

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

And Sofia is referring to the business meetings and receptions that occur at the annual meeting for INFORMS. This year in Phoenix in October.

Another thing to consider to start volunteering is attending the business meetings and/or receptions of your interest groups. This allows you to learn first hand about the events happening and opportunities to get involved.

I think most people start volunteering with subdivisions because those are a group of people that are closest to your research interests. Unless you know that you are already interested in INFORMS society issues like: membership, outreach, publications, education, etc.

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Talking of the annual meeting, how can I be part of it virtually as I am in Nigeria and does not have the intention of travelling abroad?

And Sofia is referring to the business meetings and receptions that occur at the annual meeting for INFORMS. This year in Phoenix in October.

Another thing to consider to start volunteering is attending the business meetings and/or receptions of your interest groups. This allows you to learn first hand about the events happening and opportunities to get involved.

I think most people start volunteering with subdivisions because those are a group of people that are closest to your research interests. Unless you know that you are already interested in INFORMS society issues like: membership, outreach, publications, education, etc.

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

What are some of the paradigms for mentoring or volunteering that have been successful for INFORMS members in the past?

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Ira Gershkoff
President
SlipStream Aviation Software, Inc.
Novato CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-22-2023 13:00
From: Jill Capello
Subject: Ask Me Anything: Volunteering with INFORMS

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

------------------------------
Jill Capello
Membership Associate
INFORMS
Catonsville MD
jcapello@informs.org

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Hi Jill, Robin,

I am interested in finding out about volunteering opportunities as well. What are they? What do we do? How does this work?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Hi Man,

We'll discuss a number of different volunteering opportunities in the next hour.

Hi Jill, Robin,

I am interested in finding out about volunteering opportunities as well. What are they? What do we do? How does this work?

Welcome to our first Ask Me Anything thread on the topic of Volunteering with INFORMS. As you know, INFORMS is a volunteer-run association and everything we do involves the support of volunteers. If you're interested in getting involved, please don't be shy – reach out and we'll help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you. If you have a question about volunteering with INFORMS, please post it. Sofia and Robin, could you both please make a post introducing yourselves and then we'll start answering members' questions?

Are there any volunteering opportunities that involve research work in the summer?

Are there volunteer opportunities where one can contribute to Open-Source projects? Also, is there a possibility to obtain a LinkedIn reference post a successful volunteership?

Hi Anubhav, I'm not aware of any formal opportunities through INFORMS like this, but you might post about your interest in doing this in the Industry Open Forum. Some folks there may be able to connect with you if they know of anything. As for LinkedIn references, I can't speak to the specific opportunity you asked about, but as an INFORMS staff member who works with volunteers sometimes, I'd be happy to write one and I'm sure my colleagues would as well!

Are there volunteer opportunities where one can contribute to Open-Source projects? Also, is there a possibility to obtain a LinkedIn reference post a successful volunteership?

Are there volunteer opportunities where one can contribute to Open-Source projects? Also, is there a possibility to obtain a LinkedIn reference post a successful volunteership?

How did you first get involved with volunteering at INFORMS?

 I first got involved with INFORMS like many people do, through a subdivision. My research has always aligned with the Decision Analysis Society and my mentors were active participants so they helped bring me into that community. -Robin

How did you first get involved with volunteering at INFORMS?

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

 You may be introverted but do you have other skills. Most subdivisions need help keeping their webpages up to date, drafting newsletters, communicating with social media, activities like that. -Robin

------------------------------
Robin Dillon-Merrill
Professor
Georgetown University
Washington DC
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-22-2023 13:06
From: Jill Capello
Subject: Ask Me Anything: Volunteering with INFORMS

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

Hello all,

I am a doctoral student in IS from Eli Broad College of Business school from Michigan State. I am highly interested in learning more about volunteering for any data science opportunities at the annual meeting or going forward. Please let me know if any opportunities are there?.

Thanks,

Krishna Pothugunta

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

Hello all,

I am a doctoral student in IS from Eli Broad College of Business school from Michigan State. I am highly interested in learning more about volunteering for any data science opportunities at the annual meeting or going forward. Please let me know if any opportunities are there?.

Thanks,

Krishna Pothugunta

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

One of the INFORMS subdivisions/societies is specifically called the Analytics Society. That might be a good place to find volunteer opportunities.

Hello all,

I am a doctoral student in IS from Eli Broad College of Business school from Michigan State. I am highly interested in learning more about volunteering for any data science opportunities at the annual meeting or going forward. Please let me know if any opportunities are there?.

Thanks,

Krishna Pothugunta

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

Hi Robin, thanks for the information. What would be the best way of finding those opportunities within a subdivision/society? I don't think these opportunities are announced much. 

One of the INFORMS subdivisions/societies is specifically called the Analytics Society. That might be a good place to find volunteer opportunities.

Hello all,

I am a doctoral student in IS from Eli Broad College of Business school from Michigan State. I am highly interested in learning more about volunteering for any data science opportunities at the annual meeting or going forward. Please let me know if any opportunities are there?.

Thanks,

Krishna Pothugunta

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

Hi Robin, thanks for the information. What would be the best way of finding those opportunities within a subdivision/society? I don't think these opportunities are announced much. 

One of the INFORMS subdivisions/societies is specifically called the Analytics Society. That might be a good place to find volunteer opportunities.

Hello all,

I am a doctoral student in IS from Eli Broad College of Business school from Michigan State. I am highly interested in learning more about volunteering for any data science opportunities at the annual meeting or going forward. Please let me know if any opportunities are there?.

Thanks,

Krishna Pothugunta

What volunteering opportunities can you suggest for someone who is quite an introvert?

Could you share some success stories or experiences of members who started volunteering within INFORMS with limited time availability and eventually increased their involvement?

Could you share some success stories or experiences of members who started volunteering within INFORMS with limited time availability and eventually increased their involvement?

Good afternoon, 

I'm an early career analytics professional. What opportunities are there with INFORMS to do pro-bono volunteer work (data analysis, decision support, etc)? I'm especially interested in humanitarian applications.

Good afternoon, 

I'm an early career analytics professional. What opportunities are there with INFORMS to do pro-bono volunteer work (data analysis, decision support, etc)? I'm especially interested in humanitarian applications.

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

Consider getting involved with the OR/MS Tomorrow publication.  www.informs.org/Publications/OR-MS-Tomorrow!  Do you have any interest in becoming a mentee in our Mentor Match program?

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

Hi Jacob! With your current background, you are as eligible as anybody else to join the volunteering opportunities we're mentioning here. The type of volunteering you do would depend on the groups or activities you get involved in, rather than your previous education. If you do start a master's degree, big shout out to ORMS Tomorrow! Keep an eye on the Open Forum and follow their LinkedIn page to learn about open volunteering positions!

Consider getting involved with the OR/MS Tomorrow publication.  www.informs.org/Publications/OR-MS-Tomorrow!  Do you have any interest in becoming a mentee in our Mentor Match program?

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

Consider getting involved with the OR/MS Tomorrow publication.  www.informs.org/Publications/OR-MS-Tomorrow!  Do you have any interest in becoming a mentee in our Mentor Match program?

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

I'll read up on that mentorship program - it sounds great at a glance! 

Consider getting involved with the OR/MS Tomorrow publication.  www.informs.org/Publications/OR-MS-Tomorrow!  Do you have any interest in becoming a mentee in our Mentor Match program?

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

Hi Jacob,

I am sure many of your faculty from Purdue were involved with INFORMS and its different societies. Especially if you are interested in graduate school, finding more mentors and advisors could be really helpful in understanding what graduate programs are good fits for you. Given your stage of career, the micro-volunteering opportunities that Jill listed above might be good places to start. But INFORMS and its members and societies are great places to find more mentors and advisors to help you in career decisions.

Hi! 

I'm extremely interested in volunteering, but unsure where to start. 

I have a bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and a job title to match. I spend most of my day configuring our ERPs and creating metrics or whole systems to enable informed decision-making. OR is extremely interesting to me, but I don't have any kind of foothold yet. I'm planning to return to school for a masters in the field - are there volunteering opportunities available to someone with my background before that? 

What are some lesser-known volunteering roles within INFORMS that have a significant impact on the organization's initiatives?

Thank Sofia, Robin and Jill for taking the time to answer questions and offer insights.   Could you share some success stories or examples of impactful volunteering projects including some lesser-known volunteering initiatives that have been undertaken within INFORMS?

------------------------------
Hungpo Chao
President & CEO
Energy Trading Analytics, LLC
Phoenixville PA
------------------------------

Hello! I was trying to find some basic information.

1. How do we sign up for volunteering at the annual conference? How can I choose the date and task that I am interested in volunteering for?
2. Will there be any discount on registration if we sign up for volunteering?

Hello! I was trying to find some basic information.

1. How do we sign up for volunteering at the annual conference? How can I choose the date and task that I am interested in volunteering for?
2. Will there be any discount on registration if we sign up for volunteering?

I'm a retired member, what volunteering opportunities are best suited for me?

I'm a retired member, what volunteering opportunities are best suited for me?

How has volunteering with INFORMS benefitted you – both personally and professionally?

Is there any volunteer opportunity with informs journals, and what are the best ways of participating if there is?

How has volunteering with INFORMS benefitted you – both personally and professionally?

If you have a specific journal in mind, you can reach out to us and we will pass your information along to the appropriate managing editor who can share any volunteering opportunities they may have available.

Is there any volunteer opportunity with informs journals, and what are the best ways of participating if there is?

How has volunteering with INFORMS benefitted you – both personally and professionally?

How has volunteering with INFORMS benefitted you – both personally and professionally?

How do I get involved with your mentoring program?

We are at the end of the hour. Thank you to Robin and Sofia! If you posted a question that was not addressed, we will get back to you. And if you have any other volunteer related questions, please post them on this thread as it will stay open. Thank you to everyone who participated. Enjoy the rest of your day!