There is no escaping the new and imperiled reality we are facing in this nation as the current administration rapidly reveals the depth of deconstruction to which it intends to subject our government, our social safety nets, our civil discourse, and our civil and human rights. These are unprecedented threats — threats which only exacerbate and accentuate the crisis of accelerating climate catastrophe and its impacts.
In this roiling atmosphere of chaotic change and upheaval, the chapter is seeing an increase in memberships, volunteer action-takers, and current volunteers seeking to become more involved with the chapter on specific issues. As there appears no end in sight for disruptive, unhinged dissolutions on the part of the new federal regime, we only anticipate further increases in membership and volunteer growth.
To address this influx, the Atlantic Chapter is recruiting to fill two or three chapter-level volunteer leadership positions: Chapter Membership Chair, Chapter Volunteer Coordinator, and Chapter Fundraising Chair. It is possible to combine the membership and coordinator positions into one role, depending on the time commitment an eager volunteer leader is willing/able to devote to the task — all negotiable as the new leader settles into the role.
The job descriptions for these volunteer leadership positions are explicated below. If you would be interested in, intrigued by, or excited about the possibility of taking on one of these roles and making it your own, please contact the chapter: atlantic.chapter@sierraclub.org or chair@newyork.sierraclub.org — we need and want you!
Volunteer Coordinator
Purpose of Position: The Volunteer Coordinator works with chapter/group leadership to develop and implement programs for volunteer identification and recruitment to support various chapter activities, programs and office functions.
Responsibilities
- Work with group/chapter ExCom and leaders to develop a monthly calendar of volunteer needs. Create a plan and budget, if needed, to meet the objectives of the plan.
- Promote and publicize volunteer opportunities to members and supporters through the Chapter/Group newsletter(s), the web, volunteer and member contacts, general meetings, and other appropriate means. Help organize Chapter/Group's Volunteer Job Fair.
- Collect inquiries from interested members and potential volunteers, contacting them, only if needed to assess skills and interests. Match volunteers to their areas of interest by connecting them to relevant committees and leaders. Follow up with these committees and leaders to assess their follow through with the volunteer, as well as, the volunteer's performance.
- Encourage entry-level volunteer tasks and jobs, in all areas of the chapter/group, to facilitate the engagement of less experienced potential volunteers.
- Before leaving office, train your replacement and pass along all plans, results and materials to your replacement. Introduce them to your key contacts.
Membership Chair
Purpose of Position: The Membership Chair, who enjoys meeting people and going to social events, meets and welcomes new members and volunteers for the Chapter/Group. The Chair works with all parts of the Chapter to help provide people necessary to achieve the Chapter goals. The Chair ensures that people are welcomed and engaged in a way that is satisfying and furthers the Chapter mission.
Responsibilities:
- Creates a monthly planning calendar for member engagement activities working with other leaders in your Chapter and ExCom.
- Recruits 1-5 people to work on your Member Engagement Team (“Team”). Familiarizes each team member on their activities and delegates authority to each to perform their functions.
- Administration (or delegate to Administrator on Team): Be the contact for member inquiries and responses; order all membership materials from National; receives the monthly change reports and sends welcome letters to new members; identifies and personally contacts select volunteers by your preferred method; tracks attendance at new member events and at monthly “activity” or “program" meetings.
- Recruits new members and volunteers(or delegate to Recruiter on Team): recruits new members and volunteers through newsletters, on the web using LinkShare, tabling events, outings, etc.; send out, or places in newsletter, volunteer survey and forward volunteer information on to the various Chapter teams; makes presentations at local team meetings asking for volunteers.
- Member Engagement activities (or delegate to Events Coordinator on Team): Finds someone to create one or more monthly “activities” or “programs” that revolve around an issue of interest to them or the Chapter onto Campfire Events. (ex. travelogue, a book club, restaurant club, etc.) Tracks the progress of these member engagement activities within Campfire Events. Hold a new member welcome party each quarter.
- Volunteer Coordination (need to delegate to Volunteer Coordinator on Team): Involve wider number of members and community support for the 1-2 new “activities” or programs created in #5 above. Keeps records of who came to volunteer and engagement events through Campfire Events; manage correspondence and schedule;, creates volunteer awards and recognition program. Creates a program for the retention and upgrade of volunteer commitment.
- Develops and maintains historical data and procedures for member engagement programs for future planning and future member engagement chairs.
- Before leaving office, train your replacement and pass along all plans, results, and materials to your replacement.
Fundraising Chair
Purpose of Position: To work with the chapter executive committee and appropriate chapter staff to develop and implement an annual chapter fundraising program, based on the annual conservation and other goals and on records from previous years.
Responsibilities:
- Creates a monthly planning calendar for Fundraising events and activities working with the Chapter/Group Chair and ExCom. Attend a Sierra Club Fundraising Training.
- Recruits 3-5 people to work on Fundraising Team (“Team”). Familiarizes each team member on their activities and delegate authority to each to perform their functions. Coordinates with Publicity and the Volunteer Coordinator on Member Engagement Team when needed. Coordinates with the Chapter level Fundraising Chair on major donors, foundations and corporations.
- Develops and maintains historical data and procedures for fundraising programs for future planning and future Fundraising chairs.
- Before leaving office, train your replacement and pass along all plans, results, and materials to your replacement.