Volunteer with PTSA

Help Us Help You!

Volunteers complete work that will help achieve the Society’s strategic and operational initiatives. Volunteering with PTSA is a great way to give back while shaping our profession. Committee involvement offers members a valuable opportunity to develop leadership skills, ang gain insight into the Society’s operations. Committee roles can serve as a pathway to future leadership opportunities.

The committee structure for this year is still being finalized but now is the time to express interest. Don’t miss your chance to be selected to support an initiative that inspires you.

How to Volunteer

Initiatives prioritized for the 2025-26 year include:

Advocacy 

• Engage partners and members to create a framework that supports the advantages of authorizing pharmacy technicians to perform injections. This includes creating a position paper and working with the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) to inform regulatory changes.
• Help increase capacity and capabilities of PTSA board and volunteers to advocate for health system and policy advancements, including responding to consultations.
• Keep abreast of developments within partner organizations and the broader healthcare environment to inform and guide advocacy efforts.

The committee may meet several times per year for 1-2 hours at a time. Daytime availability may be needed for committee members that meet with government or allied organization representatives. Committee members will also complete work between meetings which will vary depending on the campaigns underway. Volunteers must commit to attending training and participate in one, or more, plan development workshops.

Estimated time: 3-5 hours/month

• Raise awareness and understanding of the role of pharmacy technicians and the value they bring to pharmacy practice and patient experiences through social media campaigns.
• Investigate options for outsourcing social media efforts for a campaign during Pharmacy Appreciation Month 2026.
• Maintain consistency across communications and help develop graphics and images that reflect PTSA’s brand.

The committee may meet several times year for 1-2 hours at a time. Committee members will also complete work between meetings with most work needed prior to and during March 2026. Priority may be given to volunteers with social media and/or brand development experience.

Estimated time: 2-4 hours/month

Participation in the finance committee is intended to build the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for the volunteer member to pursue election as Treasurer and eventually fulfil that role.

Finance committee estimated time: 1-2 hours/month

Appointed auditors don’t participate in the finance committee but are appointed to review the records kept by the Treasurer and prepared year-end financial statements. Ideally, auditor volunteers are located in Calgary and will meet in-person together to review the records. Separate review can be facilitated if members are located outside Calgary or scheduling conflicts prevent meeting in-person. Auditors will be appointed for a 2-year term so available opportunities will vary from year to year.

Membership Growth

• Provide presentations to pharmacy technician students and facilitate the free membership program in collaboration with schools.
• Conduct a membership recruitment campaign.
• Examine the value and structure of current membership offerings, including fees and benefits, to ensure they align with member needs and organization goals.

The committee will primarily communicate electronically but may meet virtually as needed. Presentations are provided throughout the year and may be facilitated in-person or virtually. Work effort may increase during specific campaigns.

Estimated time: 2-4 hours/month

Nominations & Volunteer Coordination

• Strengthen board nominations process to encourage continuity and succession.
• Review nominees for board election and make recommendations for the elected slate.
• Encourage members to join committees as a steppingstone to Board involvement.

The committe may track and assess volunteer needs on an ongong basis. Most work will be completed between February to August 2026. The committee may meet several times throughout the year.

Estimated time: 4-5 hours over several months

Recognition

• Facilitate the 2026 Professionalism Award by evaluating criteria, accepting nominations and selecting winners.
• Showcase pharmacy technicians in the bi-monthly newsletter’s highlight series and success stories.

Volunteers can expect to commit 3-4 hours over a several month period for each initiative. The committee will primarily communicate electronically but may meet virtually as needed.

Estimated time: 1-2 hours/month

Website Communications

Communications volunteers may be assigned to one or more of the following roles:

• Blogging – write blog posts and develop content for the PTSA website and newsletter. For each blog post written annually, a blogger will receive a chance to win a free conference registration or a $150 Amazon gift card.
• Newsletter – develop and curate content, and edit the bi-monthly newsletter.
• Website administration – post content to the website, distribute member emails, respond to comments, and keep the website current.
• Job board and advertising – moderate and follow up on submitted posts and distribute a monthly email to the membership.
• Social media – support success of awareness campaigns by engaging on social media platforms.

The committee may meet several times per year for 1-2 hours at a time. Ongoing work completed between meetings varies based on assigned areas.

Estimated time: 1-4 hours/month

Create your own user feedback survey