TEDxSanDiego local chapter volunteers

TEDxSanDiego 501(c)3 legal name is Speed of Change Inc. TEDxSanDiego local chapter organizer is Laura Hall.

TEDxSanDiego volunteers
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TEDxSanDiego Volunteer Agreement

Version Date: April 5, 2026 provided by local chapter organizer Laura Hall, and assistant Sarah Beauchemin.

The policies and procedures in this Volunteer Agreement apply to all individuals serving as volunteers for TEDxSanDiego, whether on an event day, during planning periods, or in an ongoing volunteer support role. Volunteers are expected to review and comply with them as a condition of volunteering with TEDxSanDiego.

1. Volunteer Role and Status

Volunteers support the mission and operations of TEDxSanDiego by assisting with event execution, planning support, guest experience, logistics, communications, and other assigned functions.

Volunteers are not employees of TEDxSanDiego and are not entitled to wages, compensation, benefits, or employment protections. Volunteer service is unpaid and voluntary.

Volunteers may only perform duties assigned or approved by the TEDxSanDiego Organizer or Co-Organizer as they are the approved leadership authorized by TEDx licensing.

2. Professional Conduct

Volunteers are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful, professional, cooperative, and responsible manner at all times while representing or supporting TEDxSanDiego.

This includes:

TEDxSanDiego reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether a volunteer’s conduct is inconsistent with these expectations.

3. Following Direction and Scope of Role

Volunteers are expected to follow the direction of TEDxSanDiego leadership, including the Executive Director / Organizer, Co-Organizer, and any designated volunteer leads, team leads, or event supervisors. Volunteers may not:

Volunteer roles may be adjusted or reassigned at any time based on event or organizational needs.

4. Attendance, Reliability, and Communication

Volunteers are expected to be reliable and communicative. Volunteers should:

Repeated unreliability, lack of communication, or missed commitments may result in reassignment or removal from volunteer service.

5. Confidentiality

In the course of volunteering, volunteers may learn or have access to non-public information related to TEDxSanDiego, including but not limited to:

Volunteers are expected to keep all non-public information confidential and may not disclose, share, copy, distribute, or discuss such information with any outside person or unauthorized individual unless specifically authorized by TEDxSanDiego leadership.

Confidentiality obligations continue even after a volunteer’s service ends.

6. Representation and Public Statements

Volunteers may not represent themselves as speaking or acting on behalf of TEDxSanDiego unless they have been specifically authorized to do so.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Volunteers should direct media, sponsor, donor, partner, speaker, or other sensitive organizational inquiries to TEDxSanDiego Executive Director and/or Co-Organizer.

7. Social Media and Public Communications

Volunteers are welcome to support and celebrate TEDxSanDiego publicly, but must do so responsibly and professionally.

Volunteers may not:

TEDxSanDiego may request the removal of social media or public content that violates these expectations or is otherwise inconsistent with the organization’s interests.

8. Respectful Workplace and Anti-Harassment Expectations

TEDxSanDiego is committed to maintaining an environment free from harassment, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, and retaliation.

Volunteers are prohibited from engaging in conduct that is:

Any volunteer who experiences or observes concerning behavior should report it promptly to TEDxSanDiego leadership.

9. Safety, Security, and Event Procedures

Volunteers are expected to follow all safety, security, venue, and operational instructions while participating in TEDxSanDiego activities.

This includes:

Volunteers may not engage in conduct that creates an unnecessary safety, security, or operational risk.

10. Appropriate Boundaries and Interactions

Volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries and professionalism in their interactions with attendees, speakers, sponsors, guests, vendors, and fellow volunteers.

Volunteers may not:

The TEDxSanDiego volunteer role is intended to support the event and organization—not personal access or status.

11. No Authority to Bind

The volunteer has no authority to enter into agreements, make commitments, approve expenditures, or otherwise bind TEDxSanDiego in any way unless expressly authorized in writing by TEDxSanDiego leadership.

12. Property, Materials, and Organizational Information

Volunteers are expected to handle TEDxSanDiego materials, credentials, documents, supplies, and equipment responsibly.

Volunteers may not:

Any TEDxSanDiego property or materials provided to a volunteer remain the property of TEDxSanDiego and must be returned upon request.

13. Conflicts of Interest

Volunteers are expected to act in the best interests of TEDxSanDiego while serving in their volunteer role.

Volunteers should disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest, including situations in which their personal, professional, or financial interests could interfere with—or appear to interfere with—their responsibilities as a volunteer.

Volunteers may not use their volunteer role to secure personal, professional, financial, or promotional advantage unless specifically authorized by TEDxSanDiego.

14. Substance Use and Impairment

Volunteers may not report for or perform volunteer duties while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, misuse of prescription medication, or any other substance that may affect judgment, behavior, safety, or performance.

TEDxSanDiego may remove any volunteer whose condition or behavior raises a concern regarding safety, professionalism, or fitness to serve.

15. Reporting Concerns

Volunteers are encouraged to promptly report concerns involving:

Concerns should be reported to the Executive Director / Organizer, Co-Organizer, or another designated TEDxSanDiego leader as soon as reasonably possible.

TEDxSanDiego will review reported concerns as appropriate and reserves discretion in determining any response or action.

16. Ending Volunteer Service

Volunteer service with TEDxSanDiego is voluntary and may be concluded at any time by either the volunteer or TEDxSanDiego, with or without reason, and with or without notice.

TEDxSanDiego may also modify, pause, reassign, or conclude a volunteer’s role at any time, in its discretion, based on organizational needs, event priorities, team structure, or other circumstances it deems relevant.

Circumstances that may result in a volunteer role being modified or concluded include, but are not limited to:

When a volunteer’s service ends, whether by the volunteer or TEDxSanDiego, the volunteer must immediately cease representing themselves as affiliated with TEDxSanDiego and must remove any public-facing statements, titles, biographies, profile descriptions, email signatures, social media references, or other materials that suggest an ongoing role or affiliation with the organization.

17. Respectful Communications

Volunteers are expected to communicate about TEDxSanDiego in a respectful and professional manner.

Volunteers, both during and after their service, may not knowingly make false or intentionally misleading public statements about TEDxSanDiego or its leadership, staff, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, partners, or event participants.

Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict a volunteer from raising good-faith concerns, reporting unlawful conduct, or making truthful statements as permitted by law.

18. Photography, Recording, and Behind-the-Scenes Content

Volunteers may not photograph, record, livestream, or share backstage areas, rehearsals, production materials, speaker preparation, internal meetings, or other non-public TEDxSanDiego content unless specifically authorized.

Any authorized content captured in connection with a volunteer role may be used, shared, or retained only in accordance with TEDxSanDiego direction.

19. Work Product and Materials

Any materials, documents, content, communications, graphics, plans, or other work product created by a volunteer for TEDxSanDiego in connection with their volunteer service shall be considered work created for TEDxSanDiego and may be used, modified, or retained by TEDxSanDiego without restriction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

20. Severability

If any part of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

21. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

Volunteer Acknowledgment

I acknowledge that I have received, read, and understand the policies and procedures set forth in this document, and I agree to abide by them as a condition of my volunteer service.

Volunteer Name: ____________________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________     Date: __________________________

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