Make a Difference

No matter what your skills and interests may be, there's a way for you to make a difference to protect and restore Northeast Georgia's natural and human environment. Not only that – serving as a Sierra Club volunteer leader is a great way to develop your skills and gain practical experience in public relations, event planning, nonprofit leadership, conservation science, and public policy. Volunteers are what make the Sierra Club strong—locally and nationally—and we want to make sure it's an enjoyable and empowering experience that helps you develop personally.

Outreach and Membership Team

The Outreach and Membership Team helps introduce people to the Sierra Club. Specifically, Team members are involved in welcoming members who recently joined the Sierra Club and staffing outreach tables at community events. Members are also invited to plan the Group's membership development and outreach work.

If you enjoy meeting new people and talking about environmental issues from a personal perspective, this is the role for you. Serving on the Team will give you solid experience in the fundamental work of changing the world—talking to people one at a time, inviting them to join us in our work. The time commitment is flexible, ranging from occasional help every couple of months to serving 4 hours a month.

Interested? Contact Fred at fgalyean68@gmail.com.

Party Team

The Party Team organizes and runs the special events that introduce most people to the Group and our work. Team members may simply help out at events by pouring beer, welcoming attendees, or managing logistics; they may also be involved in promotion for events by distributing handbills, posting flyers, or sending announcements to the media. Team members are also invited to plan our events, including working with sponsors, envisioning fun activities, and coordinating volunteers.

This team is perfect for people who have more ideas for parties than they could ever host themselves. It's also great experience for anyone interested in public relations or event planning. The time commitment is quite flexible: you could help out for a couple hours at several events in the year, or you could devote 4 hours a month to planning and coordinating events.

Interested? Contact Andrew at blahblah@riseup.net.

Stop I-3 Team

The Stop I-3 Team coordinates our primary campaign – gathering public support for dropping the concept of the proposed Interstate 3 and using the money for something that serves the residents of Northeast Georgia. This team needs a wide range of people, including those who can envision unique ways to engage the public and those who are willing to follow the proposal as it passes through highway agencies, legislative bodies, and regulatory agencies. Members may serve as liaisons to other organizations and other working teams within the LeConte Group.

Anyone can make a difference in protecting our air quality, our natural areas, and our local businesses. This team welcomes people with a passion for making a difference; any skills or willingness to learn are valued. It's challenging work, but serving on this campaign team will give you valuable experience in community organizing, including everything from regulatory processes to mobilizing the public. Serving on this team takes a time commitment of 2-6 hours per month.

Considering the challenge? Contact Andrew at blahblah@riseup.net.

Executive Committee Member

The Executive Committee is the governing body of the Group. Members should understand and promote the mission of the Sierra Club, be able to attend Executive Committee meetings at least six times per year, take an active leadership role in one of the Group's primary areas of work, actively assist in fundraising and membership development, help ensure financial stability of the Group, and allocate the Group's resources to do our work most effectively. The Executive Committee is the core team of the Group, and while the time commitment is not extraordinary (about 5 hours a month specifically for the Committee), the expectation of involvement in other Group activities may lead to a total commitment of 3 hours a week to Sierra Club work.

Willing to serve? Contact Andrew at blahblah@riseup.net.

Conservation Chair

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

• To provide leadership, direction, and guidance on conservation issues for the group;
• To motivate and direct issue leaders; and
• To appropriately delegate activities related to conservation to other organizers in the group.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership, Direction, and Guidance on Conservation Issues.

• Provide Group leaders with a long-range vision of what the Club’s conservation strategy and priorities should be over the next two to five years.
• Identify conservation issues needing attention and worthy of Group consideration.
• Assist Group leaders to develop conservation priorities.
• Design plans and strategies for current conservation campaigns.
• Report regularly on conservation activities to the Group Chair, Executive Committee, and other committees.

Motivation, Direction, and Coordination of the Group Conservation Volunteers.

• Oversee the Group's conservation activities to ensure that all needed tasks are accomplished.
• Direct and assist the issue leaders and other volunteers to set goals and carry out objectives. - Coordinate main functions and campaigns of the Group.

Delegation of Conservation-related Activities.

• Identify, recruit and challenge volunteer leaders.
• Identify individual members’ abilities and interests and assign tasks appropriately.
• Train and assign volunteers to carry out conservation activities. - Follow up assignments to be sure they are carried out.
• Thank volunteers and provide other rewards (social activities, public recognition) to ensure repeat performances.
• Prevent duplication of work by linking key individuals with one another.
• Challenge and encourage members to use their talents and skills to the maximum.

Treasurer

Duties of the Treasurer:

• Oversee the financial records of the Group and its entities to ensure adherence to all Sierra Club policies as outlined in the bylaws. This includes policies related to contracts, investments, borrowing, and insurance. Obtain business licenses, sales or resale tax permits, and postal permits as needed. Ensure that tax issues and other regulatory compliance are properly handled, including independent contractors and legal matters. Ensure that staff adheres to the program recording policy adopted by the Board. Communicate with the national Department of Finance on any issues which are questionable or a cause of concern.
• Report the Group's financial status to the Executive Committee at least quarterly. Reconcile bank statements monthly. Monitor financial performance against the budget and immediately report significant deviations from the budget or anticipated deficits to the Executive Committee.
• Complete and submit, in a timely manner, the consolidated Group annual financial statement to the national Sierra Club office (and the Executive Committee). This annual financial statement consolidates the financial information, fixed assets and inventory of all relevant entities. Record income and expense according to the categories deemed appropriate for the entity within the scope of national office requirements.
• Manage bank accounts properly. All accounts must be set up as "Sierra Club (entity)" where ‘entity’ is your chapter or group name and use Sierra Club tax identification number 94-1153307. Separate accounts should be kept as the ExCom directs, or as prescribed by Club policies or pertinent laws. Signature cards must be kept up-to-date with only those ExCom members authorized to act on the account(s). Maintain a list of all entity account locations. Deposit receipts promptly, perform a monthly bank reconciliation, and transfer excess funds from checking to savings, if financially beneficial.
• Maintain proper segregation of Foundation donations, Sierra Club Political Committee (SCPC) monies, and regular (Club) funds by ensuring that that Foundation and SCPC monies are not deposited into the general entity account. Forward tax-deductible donations directly to the Sierra Club Foundation for deposit to your account. Promptly report to the Planned Giving-Estates Department all contacts from attorneys, executors, trustees, etc. regarding deferred gifts. Groups are prohibited from accepting estate gifts (checks, securities, real property, etc.) or signing any associated legal documents on behalf of Sierra Club or the Sierra Club Foundation.
• Recognize which contracts must be reviewed and approved by the Finance Department in San Francisco prior to signing. These include, but are not limited to, contracts over $20,000, longer than one year, fundraising or services contracts, independent contractor agreements. Chapters are encouraged to consult with the national office for advice on all contracts even if they do not require approval by the national office.
• Immediately inform the Club’s General Counsel of any threatened litigation involving the Club or any issues related to trademark or copyright law.
• Pay sales tax and personal property tax as required by the state.
• Review invoices and other payment requests for accuracy, obtain approval for payment, and pay invoices promptly. Ensure that Foundation and restricted funds are spent in accordance with donor restrictions and that those expenditures are documented. Checks may be signed by the Treasurer or Chairperson.
• Prepare an annual budget and continuously monitor financial activity to the approved budget. The Treasurer may work with the Executive Committee in developing the budget, or give the outgoing Executive Committee a report of receipts and expenditures for concluding fiscal year and anticipated receipts for the upcoming fiscal year. With this information a tentative budget of expected major expenditures may be drawn up, to be modified and adopted by the incoming ExCom at its first meeting. Budgets should be designed to build and maintain a minimum cash reserve equivalent to at least six months of operating expenses. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
• Manage cash flow so as not to be delinquent in paying financial obligations. Avoid committing to indebtedness greater than the unencumbered cash balances. If money is owed to the national office, communicate and carry out a payment schedule.
• Before leaving the office of treasurer, pay all current bills and present the new treasurer with a balanced account ledger and reconciled bank statements, and the complete and current records. Before leaving office, train your successor.

For audit purposes, maintain these financial records for at least seven years:

• General accounting records, including an account ledger or computer file printout in all financial transactions of the Group are recorded with the correct balance of all accounts.
• Accounts payable records, including invoices, check stubs and receipts, which should provide a complete and accurate record of all expenditures including the nature of payment or purchase, the account to be charged, indication that it was posted, and notation of its cancellation and return by the bank.
• Banking records, including canceled checks, deposit slips, reconciled bank statements.
• Budgets, financial reports, financial correspondence, contracts and Executive Committee actions.
• A record of contributions, recorded by donors' names, and restrictions, if any.
• A record of all grants received, and grants to other entities from the chapter’s Foundation account(s), their purpose and restrictions.

Outings Chair

The Group Outings Chair provides leadership, direction, and oversight to the group outing program. The Group Outings Chair works to make outdoor activities an integrated and vital element of group efforts.

Responsibilities

• Maintains current Sierra Club membership.
• Is familiar with the Outings Leader Training - Basic (OLT 101) and all Club policies and procedures (national as well as local) that pertain the group's outings program.
• Ensures group outings are run in accordance with Club policies and guidelines.
• Manages and minimizes the risk of group outings.
• Maintains training and first aid certification requirements for outings leaders and ensures that all active leaders have met these requirements.
• Maintains communication with the Chapter Outings Chair.
• Maintains the outings approval process.
• Coordinates scheduling, planning, and publication requirements of group outings as required by local chapter and national policies.
• Works with leaders to integrate conservation issues into the outings program whenever possible.
• Maintains records as required by the chapter and/or national staff.
• Establishes at least a nominal budget for postage, phone calls, etc.