Ocean Friendly Gardens Activist Toolkit/Chapter Committee and Jobs

Ocean Friendly Gardens Activist Toolkit
<html> Chapters </html> Introduction Objectives Working With Professionals Levels of Programming Informational Program Lawn Patrol Program Series Program Chapter Committee and Jobs Sample OFG Strategic Plan Case Studies <html> </html>	<html> Appendices </html> Appendix A: Lawn Patrol Appendix B: Basics Class Appendix C: Hands-On Workshops Appendix D: Garden Assistance Program Appendix E: OFG Yard Sign and Online Tracker<html> </html>

Chapter 8: OFG Jobs and Committee

Objective – create “do-able” volunteer opportunities for people with limited time. Always be recruiting new volunteers, whether to replace those that have to step down or to expand the Program.

Chair

Calls meetings and takes notes;
Keeps events on track - manage a calendar;
Conducts orientations - before Committee meetings;
Works with Surfrider National OFG Program Coordinator;
Policy & Fundraising:
Stays current on local policy issues relating to OFG and LID, & participates in policy meetings if possible
Seeks funding opportunities from local sources – confer with Surfrider National for anything over $5,000 – as well as experience with successful grant opportunities and other fundraising efforts.

Communications & Outreach

Updates OFG webpage, blogs, and social media
Sends out announcements about outreach opportunities
Sends media alerts and other external outreach to the community at-large about upcoming events
Follow-Up with Program Participants - Either refer new people or follow up with past OFG Program participants. Refer them to online tracking tool and sub-committee blog resources.

Lawn Patrol

Identify existing OFG's in your area, whether private or public, and help create an online database with photos, etc.
Conduct a prep walk to identify a route to take, starting at an OFG and looking for at least a few gardens with OFG elements.
Photo/video document Lawn Patrols.

GAP Application Reviewer(s) and Workday Crew Leads

Reviews GAP Applications and helps applicants complete the prerequisites for consideration;
Keeps applicants on track.
Leads a short OFG orientation for Workday volunteers.
Ensures materials and tools are on-site before Workday begins;
Oversees a workday crew
Photo/video document OFG events

Role of an OFG Sub-Committee

Overview

OFG Committee meetings are both an opportunity to organize and track projects and events as well as a way to recruit, educate and involve new volunteers. An orientation about OFG principles, practices and programs can be done before each meeting for new volunteers. In addition, a short online orientation can be posted on Chapter websites for prospective volunteers to watch before attending a meeting. Chapters can provide a handout at Chapter meetings and tabling events that explains the program briefly and also lists volunteer opportunities. OFG sign-up lists should also be available at Chapter meetings and tabling events.

Here are some options for how to incorporate orientations and conduct Committee business:

Initially, draft a “Program Plan” with timelines, objectives and targeted audiences. Most importantly, the Plan should be definitive enough to recruit members with diverse interests and skills, yet flexible enough to launch the program at some capacity before all the roles are filled.
Start each subsequent meeting with a really quick 5-minute overview of the program: what we do and the progress in meeting the Program Plan objectives, timelines and recruitment goals. That way everyone is up to speed so hopefully we can make progress at each meeting.
Have every other meeting be just the core group members (the ones who know what’s what) so that we can get more decision making done during those meetings and then the other half could be more for recruiting -- where we do a bit more introduction of the Chapter’s OFG Program Plan and opportunities to get involved in a way that utilizes an individual’s skills and/or is most rewarding. For example, members may be photographers, skilled at communication tools, or simply interested in spending some time getting their hands in the soil.

Committee Members

Chapter members, OFG program participants (esp. people we’ve helped and are asked to pay-it-forward), landscape professionals. You might also invite water supply and water quality agency staff to participate, and ask them to not vote on matters that may involve their agencies.