Volunteer FAQs

Volunteering with the College (ACR, ARP, and RRF) offers meaningful opportunities to grow, connect, and make a lasting impact on the rheumatology community. Volunteers gain both personal fulfillment and professional enrichment while contributing to work that advances rheumatology. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and practice settings who are excited to collaborate and help strengthen our global leadership in the field of rheumatology.

Volunteering is perfect for those who are:

• New to rheumatology and looking to build meaningful connections within the community
• Interested in discovering how the College can support their growth, from expanding knowledge to developing new skills
• Looking to deepen their expertise while giving back to the specialty
• Ready to share their insights and experience to help strengthen and advance the field of rheumatology
• Curious about exploring leadership opportunities and shaping the future of the College and the field

Any current ACR/ARP member in good standing who submits a volunteer application form can be considered for a volunteer role. Many volunteer positions have requirements based on membership type, and we have additional guidelines for members employed by commercial entities.

The ACR, ARP and RRF have a wide range of volunteer opportunities available:

Whether focused on education, practice, research, quality, advocacy, or something else, the College has volunteer opportunities in your areas of interest. Consider your training, work, and volunteer experience (within the College as well as at your own institution, for other associations/organizations, in your community, etc.) – where do you have skills or expertise?

Go to the Volunteering page to see a list of opportunities and start by reviewing each volunteer opportunity. Check the recommended qualifications and complete the application to demonstrate alignment of your experience, interests, background, and perspectives. Also make note of the anticipated time commitment – do you have the time to commit to the role? Traditional committees may require less than 3 hours a month, between 3 and 5 hours a month, or more than 5 hours a month.

Officer, Board, and Standing Committee, and Foundation Council Opportunities

Interested members must submit a volunteer application during the open call for volunteers (mid April–June 1).

For consideration, all applicants must submit:

• Completed application
• Current CV/résumé (include past volunteer positions)
• Conflict of interest disclosure (requested separately after we receive your application)

ACR and ARP Officer, ARP Executive Committee, and ACR and RRF Board of Directors positions also require:

• One letter of recommendation (see the Who can write a letter of recommendation? section)
• A brief personal statement of interest (see the What makes a strong personal statement of interest for an Officer, Board of Directors, or Executive Committee volunteer opportunity? section)
• Video responses to several additional questions, as noted in the application details provided below

Applications for these positions are carefully reviewed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments and approved by the Board of Directors.

Subcommittee Opportunities

The primary call for subcommittee volunteers is June through August; however, opportunities may also open throughout the year. Subcommittee opportunities require a completed application, CV/résumé, and conflict of interest disclosure.

Standing committees are responsible for reviewing applications and selecting volunteers whose skills, experience, and availability align with the subcommittee’s requirements.

Short-Term and Micro-Volunteering Opportunities

Short-term and micro-volunteering opportunities become available as needed and generally last less than one year. The monthly time commitment may vary depending on the type of project. See individual short-term and micro-volunteering opportunity pages for details. To apply for these opportunities, click the apply now button on the opportunity page.

The committee, subcommittee, or staff responsible for oversight of the short-term or micro-volunteer opportunity is responsible for reviewing applications and selecting volunteers whose skills, experience, and availability align with the stated requirements of the opportunity.

Only direct applications from the individual are accepted. If you know someone who would be a strong fit for a volunteer role, please encourage them to apply.

Letters of recommendation for Officer, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee applicants are accepted from anyone within the College, excluding the following volunteers:

Current members and officers of the three leadership groups across the College:

• ACR Board of Directors
• Foundation Board of Directors
• ARP Executive Committee

Current members of the appointing committees across the College:

• ACR Committee on Nominations and Appointments
• Foundation Leadership Development Council
• ARP Committee on Nominations and Appointments

Letters of recommendation should be submitted in one of two ways: if the leadership applicant has not submitted their volunteer application, they can upload your letter of recommendation as part of their application materials. If they have already submitted their application, the letter of recommendation can be sent to volunteer@rheumatology.org.

Best practice is a concise, focused letter – ideally one page, maximum of two pages (double-spaced); brevity is encouraged.

A strong letter should include:

• The recommender’s relationship to the candidate
• Evidence-based examples of leadership, collaboration, and integrity
• Demonstrated readiness for senior governance responsibilities
• Alignment with the ACR/ARP/RRF’s mission and values
• A clear and confident closing endorsement of the individual

A strong personal statement of interest is brief – a paragraph – and adds insight that isn’t covered elsewhere in your application. Think of it as a concise reflection that adds dimension to your application. Because you’ve already provided written responses and recorded video answers this brief statement should offer something new rather than repeat what you’ve already shared.

What should the statement focus on?

• Your deeper motivation: Why this opportunity/the mission of the College matters to you personally
• Your values: A belief or principle that shapes how you approach service or leadership
• Your perspective on impact: How you hope to contribute to the organization’s mission – beyond your résumé, qualifications, or responses to applications

What should the statement avoid?

• Repeating written application answers
• Revisiting topics covered in your video responses
• Listing accomplishments or restating items on your CV/résumé
• Summarizing the organization’s mission instead of your relationship to it