• March 22-24, 2024
  • Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster, PA
Zenkaikon Staff

Zenkaikon Staff

Are you interested in becoming a part of the Zenkaikon staff? Zenkaikon’s all-volunteer staff run the convention during the event and help out year round. For more info and a link to apply, please read the following:

Benefits of Being Zenkaikon Staff

  • Working in a fun and friendly environment with other fans
  • Input into the planning of the convention through staff meetings and online discussions
  • Eligibility to vote for the Zenkaikon Board of Directors
  • In exchange for working 24 hours at the convention:
    • Hotel room space for the convention (will room with other staff members)
    • Convention staff badge
    • Staff T-shirt
    • Meals during the convention
    • Access to staff areas
    • Parking reimbursement
  • Giving back to your fellow fans by helping to make Zenkaikon a success!

Zenkaikon Staff Policies

Zenkaikon 2024 Staff COVID-19 Policy

For Zenkaikon 2024, masks are optional for all individuals, including staff. While we strongly encourage all staff to be properly vaccinated and boosted, we will not require staff to show proof of vaccination. Should the situation change between now and the convention, we will update you with new information.

General Requirements

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Have reliable transportation to the convention
  • Provide at least 2 references
  • It is highly recommended that the applicant has attended or staffed a convention before to be familiar with convention activities

Professionalism

  • Uphold a positive, mature and professional image of Zenkaikon at all times.
  • Be respectful and courteous to venue staff, convention attendees, guests, vendors, artists, and other Zenkaikon staff members.
  • Work with other volunteer staff as a team, while having the flexibility to work independently.
  • Be willing to receive constructive criticism and incorporate approved changes.
  • Quickly resolve departmental problems, seeking help from other staff members when necessary. Grievances that cannot be resolved within the department may be brought to your division head, the con chair, or Staff Services.
  • Grievances should be handled through direct communication with the affected person and never in any public forum.

Confidentiality

Treat any information heard in meetings or received via email, and any other Zenkaikon staff only forums, as confidential, unless convention senior leadership has evaluated and cleared it for public consumption.

Participation

  • Check e-mail regularly and reply to all inquiries promptly.
  • Complete the Hotel Planning form on time. Failure to complete this form by the deadline may result in loss of staff status or loss of hotel space.
  • Actively participate in online staff discussions via the staff Discord and Facebook groups.
  • Regularly attend staff meetings, minimum 1 per year – online, on the phone, or in-person.

Working at the Convention

  • All staff members are expected to work at the convention (unless they cannot attend due to unforeseen circumstances, or a position has been clearly identified as purely off-site/pre-convention).
    • Zenkaikon relies on all of its staff to make the convention a success. Failure to show up to work at the convention without notification to one’s Department Head will result in a minimum one year suspension from Zenkaikon Staff status. (Exceptions due to severe extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.)
  • Follow directions given by Zenkaikon Senior Staff and your Department Head.
  • Familiarize yourself with other staff members, staff protocols, convention rules, scheduled events and the convention floor layout.
  • Be on time for your shifts.
  • Do not leave an assigned post without alerting your Department Head or Shift Supervisor.

Enforcing the Rules

  • If you notice a convention attendee breaking a rule, ask courteously that they cease the behavior.
    • If the attendee does not cooperate, alert Convention Safety immediately and provide a detailed description of the offenders and their offenses.
  • When dealing with extremely uncooperative people, do not physically touch them or any items in their possession. Alert Convention Safety immediately and provide a detailed description of the offenders and their offenses.

Behavior Toward Guests of Honor

  • Behave politely and in a friendly manner towards guests.
  • Be helpful to guests or direct them to who can help them if you are unable to assist them.
  • Help make sure attendees behave respectfully towards guests.
  • A Zenkaikon staff member will not:
    • Give drugs or alcohol to a guest.
    • Participate in any conduct with a guest that would give the convention and its staff a bad reputation (i.e. nudity, law-breaking, or other behaviors like it)
    • Be rude, unhelpful, or physically harm a guest.

Department Head Responsibilities

In addition to the responsibilities described above, Department Heads are also asked to fulfill the following:

  • Check e-mails at least 3 times a week and reply to all inquiries within 3 days of receipt. Closer to the convention, emails may require shorter response times
  • Submit to a post-convention evaluation. All Departments Heads will be given an annual evaluation after each convention has concluded and may be terminated or re-assigned if they are not fulfilling their duties.
  • Provide non-confidential information/updates to Division Head for staff meeting slides.
  • Submit updated content regarding your department for publishing on the web on a timely basis.

Division Director Responsibilities

In addition to the responsibilities described above, Division Directors are also asked to fulfill the following:

  • Meet on a monthly basis with convention leadership to give regular division updates
  • Meet with the Treasurer and convention leadership to determine divisional budgets
  • Meet with their respective department heads on a regular basis for department updates, budgetary actions, and overall guidance
  • Keep the Timeline document up-to-date by adding action items and deadlines as needed and marking off when an item is completed

Still interested in being the newest member of our Zenkaikon family? 
Click here to go to the Zenkaikon Volunteer Staff application link!

Staff Application Process

We are managing our volunteer staff on the website timecounts.app. When you click the staff application link, you will be taken to timecounts and prompted to create an account using an e-mail address. Please allow up to 2 weeks to review your application.

All applicants will be considered initially as General Staff. After being selected as a General Staff member, your application will be passed on to any departments you’ve requested for consideration.

Please note we cannot guarantee placement with your preferred department but we will work to place you in a role based on your interests and experience.

Any questions about the application process can be directed to staffservices@zenkaikon.org.