About Surfrider:
The Surfrider Foundation is the world’s largest grassroots coastal conservation organization; we thrive on a legacy of defending and protecting our ocean, coasts, and coastal communities through stewardship and environmental advocacy. The Surfrider Foundation is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse and inclusive organization for all people who protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves and beaches. Our success and impact depend on learning from our community, standing in solidarity with our allies and working toward a more just future, both for our organization and the environmental movement as a whole.
General Functions of the Executive Committee (EC):
- Organize and implement Issue Campaigns & Programs
- Organize and staff outreach events
- Organize and plan fundraising and awareness events
- Coordinate and develop volunteers
- Participate in and co-lead subcommittees, i.e. campaign, program or event committees. Communicate regularly with and be responsive to Local or Regional Staff
- Communicate regularly with and be responsive to chapter membership
- Conduct annual chapter planning early each year, including rough sketches of campaigns and budgets. Implement the annual plan over the course of the year
- Ensure that chapter funds are raised, spent, and accounted for properly
- Meet minimum requirements for chapter operation (see “How to Run an Effective Chapter”) and comply with Chapter Bylaws
Overview:
The Executive Committee (EC) is a group of volunteers responsible for running a Surfrider Foundation chapter. It’s a fun and rewarding position that requires consistent efforts through a two-year term.
As volunteers, perfection is not expected, but dedication is important. EC members typically meet separately from the general chapter meeting once a month to discuss chapter business and finances, along with engaging in regular communication via Surfrider officer email.
BIPOC and members of the LGBTQ+ communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Open Roles:
Surfrider Los Angeles is currently looking for a: Chapter Chair, Vice Chair, Beach Cleanup Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and one at-large role to serve on our Executive Board.
CHAIR
Primary Chapter Chair Role and Responsibilities with a Chapter Manager
The role of the Chair is to provide leadership, direction and vision to the chapter, ensuring that its mission, goals and objectives are being met. The Chair is responsible for overseeing the work of other volunteer officers and committees, and for building relationships with members, stakeholders, and the community. The Chair can also act as a local representative of the organization, communicating its purpose, values, and achievements to the public on local issues.
Requirements:
Must be a Surfrider Foundation Member, approximately 2 to 10 hours a week, 2-year commitment, one chapter meeting per month and or Executive Committee meeting per month.
- The Chair ensures that the mission of the organization is being fulfilled within their Chapter’s territory.
- The Chapter Manager acts as a link between the Chapter and Surfrider Foundation Headquarters, ensuring governance, established processes, and guidelines are being adhered to.
- The Chair is the primary leader and spokesperson for the Chapter
- The Chapter Manager acts as the main administrator of the Chapter, but may fill in for the Chair as a Chapter spokesperson, fielding media inquiries, when needed
- The Chair ensures that the Chapter is meeting its financial obligations including their annual budget
- The Chair ensures that Executive Committee members and volunteers maintain the standards of conduct and code of ethics when interacting with their fellow EC members, employees and the general public
- The Chair tracks chapter expenses/revenue by maintaining regular check-ins with the Chapter Treasurer.
- The Chair is a signatory on the Chapter bank account
- The Chair chairs monthly Chapter Meetings
- Develops Meeting Agenda with assistance from the Chapter Manager
- The Chair chairs monthly Executive Committee meetings
- Develops Meeting Agenda with assistance from the Chapter Manager
- Calls for votes within the Executive Committee meetings
- The Chair contributes to the Chapter’s website and social media pages, as needed
- Annual Planning: The Chair works in conjunction with the Chapter Manager to develop the agenda and framework for the meeting. The Chapter Manager facilitates the planning meeting to allow the chair to play a more active role in the development of the annual plan.
Please refer to the CHAPTER EMPLOYEE MODEL ROLES & EXPECTATIONS OF A CHAPTER CHAIR Manual for all the guidelines, best practices and requirements.
VICE CHAIR
Must be a Surfrider Foundation Member, approximately 2 to 10 hours a week, 2-year commitment, one chapter meeting per month and or Executive Committee meeting per month.
• Runs meetings in the Chair’s absence.
• Performs other duties of the Chair as needed.
• Ideally chairs a committee of the chapter, either event, program, member development, or campaign committee.
• Contributes to the chapter’s website and social media pages.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Must be a Surfrider Foundation Member, approximately 2 to 10 hours a week, 2-year commitment, one chapter meeting per month and or Executive Committee meeting per month. One of the most important jobs in the chapter because there are typically hundreds of members in every chapter.
• Coordinate with committees (campaign or events) and/or campaign and program leaders to identify volunteer needs
• Lead volunteer recruitment by communicating those needs to the membership and posting volunteer opportunities elsewhere as appropriate
• Uses the Surfrider Foundation Golden Volunteer Management System to manage and recruit volunteers to all activities including but not limited, beach clean ups, general meetings, events and campaign actions.
• Get to know volunteers, their interests and match them to opportunities
• Respond to inquiries from people seeking to volunteer
• Contribute to the chapter’s website and social media pages
• Possibly – communicate to the chapter membership via mass emails
• *Note: unless the Volunteer Coordinator wants to, the Volunteer Coordinator is not expected to lead a program (i.e. beach cleanups) or lead specialized volunteer training (i.e. for water quality monitoring). These duties fall to the respective Program Leaders.
At-Large Members – must be a Surfrider Foundation Member, approximately 2 to 10 hours a week, 2-year commitment, one chapter meeting per month and or Executive Committee meeting per month.
• Chairs an issue campaign, program, or event committee
• Contribute to the chapter’s website and social media pages
Nomination Requirements:
- Applicant has attended at least one chapter event or meeting within the last 12 months.
- Applicant must be a current Surfrider member in good standing. As of this year, all donations made over $5 to the Los Angeles chapter of the Surfrider Foundation qualify as a membership donation. Volunteer hours may be transferable as a membership donation.
- Applicant must be a Los Angeles County resident.
- Applicant must be over 18
Any chapter member in good standing may nominate yourself between October 1st and November 1st.
Submissions closed.
Questions? Eugenia Ermacora, eermacora@la.surfrider.org
Election:
Executive Committee members are elected for a two-year term by a vote of active members in early December. The top vote getters will become part of the EC for 2024 and 2025 starting in the new year.
The chapter general body elects EC members; it does not elect specific positions. After the election, the new EC members will meet with the current and outgoing EC members to discuss the duties of the various positions to determine, based on interest and time commitment, who will perform those duties in the coming year.
Additional Information:
Surfrider Foundation chapters are led and run by a small group of incredibly dedicated volunteers. Running a chapter should be fun, but it’s important to remember that every chapter is a direct extension of the nationwide network of Surfrider chapters and thus should seek in every way possible to conduct business in a professional manner. How the chapter conducts itself will determine how we are perceived in your community.
As an Executive Committee member you can expect to spend somewhere from 2 to 5 hours a week on Surfrider communications and tasks, depending on your specific role, the time of year and how active the chapter is. Our current and past EC members come from a variety of professional backgrounds and have a number of skill sets. Most importantly, we seek self-directing and self-motivated types who care deeply about the protection and enjoyment of our coasts, recognize the power of grassroots action to effect change, and enjoy learning as they go.