2026 Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the fuel that power RHAWA. Dedicated volunteers are essential to the ongoing success of RHAWA’s programs and publications. RHAWA offers a variety of ways for our members to get involved, from short-term volunteer projects to committee service. With every new volunteer, RHAWA grows more energized and better equipped to reach our common goals.
JOIN A COMMITTEE
Take an active role in determining how the association allocates its resources. RHAWA is at its best when the Board of Directors, staff, and members all have input and can collaborate to further the interests of independent housing providers throughout Washington.
Budget + Finance
Chair: Neil Wilson | Staff: Chloe Moser – cmoser@RHAwa.org | Frequency: Bi-Monthly
Purpose: Oversees preliminary financial planning and provides guidance to the Board of Directors in support of approval of the annual budget, safeguarding organizational assets, recommends organizational financial policies, anticipates financial matters for the Board’s consideration, provides the Board of Directors regular, timely, and accurate financial statements, and assists in financial record retention.
Member Programs
Chair: Chris Benis | Staff: Denise Myers – dmyers@RHAwa.org | Frequency: Call of the Chair
Purpose: To discuss and recommend improvements to educational resources and programs.
Legal Defense Fund
Chair: Chris Benis | Staff: Daniel Klemme – dklemme@RHAwa.org | Frequency: Call of the Chair
Purpose: To review and recommend to the Board of Directors legal positions in which RHAWA may choose to become involved.
Legislative Issues
Co-Chairs: Larry Crites, Christopher Cutting | Staff: Daniel Bannon – dbannon@RHAwa.org | Frequency: Monthly
Purpose: To ensure RHAWA actively promotes the interests of the rental housing industry to state, county, and local legislative bodies. Makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding legislative policy.
Political Action Committee
Co-Chairs: Larry Crites, William Shadbolt | Staff: Daniel Bannon – dbannon@RHAwa.org | Frequency: Bi-Monthly
Purpose: To raise funds for activities of the Political Action Committee (PAC). To determine which candidates for state, county, and local offices support the rental housing industry, and should be financially supported by RHAWA through recommendations made by the PAC.
BECOME A GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE
As a grassroots membership-based organization, RHAWA is made stronger by the involvement of its members. Your stories and experiences create the foundation RHAWA uses to turn the tide of rental housing legislation in Washington state. RHAWA makes involvement in legislative sessions as easy as clicking a link on our advocacy emails.
It is imperative that members:
- Respond to calls to action: show your support by attending mobilizations and emailing elected officials. Sharing your personal experience with lawmakers is the best way to communicate the needs of small housing providers. If you’re nervous about testifying in front of lawmakers, our staff is available to walk you through sharing your experiences as a small housing provider. This will help you feel prepared and motivated to share your stories with our elected officials.
- Share your opinions on legislation: In addition to participating in public testimony, messaging lawmakers using the RHAWA Advocacy Center, and submitting written testimony on key bills is crucial to our advocacy efforts. RHAWA will make it as easy as possible to participate in legislative sessions, even if you are not able to provide virtual or in-person testimony.
- Sharing your perspectives on legislation is key to influencing the tide of rental housing policies in Washington state. During your participation in our advocacy efforts, you may even have the opportunity to be interviewed in our Housing Matters Podcast. If you would like to share your story with staff, contact dbannon@RHAwa.org today.
BECOME A CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
It’s been said you can’t claim to be an author until you’re published. If that’s the case, we’ve got a couple of ways for you to become an official author right here. RHAWA’s CURRENT Newspaper and blog are the leading rental housing industry news sources in Washington State. These publications review industry-related legislative activity, vacancy trends, property management and maintenance information, as well as business and personal finance.
If you would like to submit an article or blog post, the articles must be:
- Educational in nature and cannot compete with products and services offered by RHAWA
- Around 700 words in a Word document
- Optional graphics or photos
- Author byline + head shot
- Final paragraph about the author or company, including contact info
RHAWA reserves the right to edit or refuse articles. RHAWA may give permission for articles to be reprinted with the stipulation that credit be given to the original author and the publication. Submit your article or blog post to Sisi Mereness at smereness@RHAwa.org.
If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please refer to Current’s ad agreement for ad specs, rates, and deadlines found at: RHAwa.org/vendor-benefits.
BECOME AN EDUCATION OR EVENT VOLUNTEER
RHAWA is looking for volunteer educators for our ongoing seminars and other educational resources to become part of a fast-moving, vibrant community that is experiencing dramatic growth.
Instruct a Class
We provide you with adult learning training, all the class material, and work with your schedule. You provide an enthusiastic and engaging personality, experience with group facilitation, great communication skills, and act as a representative of the Rental Housing Association of Washington. Review our Instructor Handbook for policies and benefit information.
Contribute to Curriculum
Relying upon your knowledge and experience in the industry, you help us build and maintain curriculum and other educational resources.
LINK Meetings in 2026: New Venues, New Opportunities!
Facilitate a LINK Meeting
You take a leadership role at a monthly member networking meeting at a restaurant in your area. We mail you discussion guides on various rental operations topics and invite members to the meetings. Based on the topic, you lead the discussion yourself or invite an appropriate professional from your area to help. LINK meetings currently take place in East King County, North King County, South King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, Clark County, Downtown Spokane, Spokane Valley and ONLINE.
RHAWA is looking to expand its LINK Meetings to other locations as well. However, we need the help of a few RHAWA volunteers to make this happen. This is a great opportunity to work directly with RHAWA staff to pick a location, organize topics for future meetings, and take an active role in the association. Volunteering to lead a LINK meeting is a service to your fellow members and is greatly appreciated by the association and our members. Contact Daniel Bannon at dbannon@RHAwa.org to learn more.
Volunteer at an Event
Event volunteers help well-planned events go off without a hitch, providing necessary support and facilitating a fun and informative event. For more information about upcoming opportunities, please reach out to Denise Myers at dmyers@RHAwa.org.
To volunteer, please contact me directly to talk about your interests and talents, and we can connect you with meaningful ways to get involved.