Have some time to spare, but not sure what types of things you could do with Sierra Club? Well, welcome to the Volunteer Connection!

This is an overall list of the types of volunteer jobs that the John Muir Chapter, and all of its Groups, offer. Not all groups may have the following positions open, please check with your group chair for current needs.

The following are descriptions of what is generally done in various volunteer positions. Don’t let it scare you! Not all positions require that you be on the executive board. We’ll take what you wish to give. To inquire about a specific job, contact your local Group or call the John Muir chapter office at 608-256-0565.

Chairperson: The Chairperson (Chair) is elected each year by the Executive Committee. The Chair sets the agenda for monthly Executive committee meetings, and represents the group or designates representatives or spokespersons for the group at public meetings and on conservation matters.

Vice Chairperson: The Vice Chairperson is elected each year by the Executive Committee. He/she supports the Chair, and leads the meetings in place of the Chair when needed. He/she is considered to be “in training” to become the next Chair.

Treasurer: The Treasurer records and deposits incoming money from the Sierra Club, the state John Muir Chapter, and fundraising efforts, and donations. The treasurer also pays the bills, balances the books, and gives the group a monthly report of how our bank account stands, and a quarterly report on the budget. Anyone who can add and subtract and likes to keep things organized would be a good candidate.

Secretary: The Secretary takes the minutes of each meeting and sends them via email before the following meeting. The secretary also maintains a binder with a copy of the minutes of each meeting for the archives and helps with communications when appropriate.

Membership Chair: The Membership Chair is the most important person in the Group of Chapter. (S)he works with a committee to make welcoming phone calls to new members; to organize an annual new member meeting, at which more experienced members share their passion for the Club and present opportunities for new member involvement; coordinates between all on-going activities in the Group or Chapter to maintain a list of simple needs that new members can fill in meaningful ways and coordinates the special interests of the new members with ongoing activities. The Membership Chair also provides information to and works with a Volunteer Coordinator and Publicity Chair to help with their particular jobs.

Welcoming Committee: These volunteers work with the Membership Chair to call new members to welcome them and find out about their activity interests in the group.

Volunteer Coordinator: The Volunteer Coordinator keeps a list of group volunteers and their particular interests. As the Volunteer Coordinator you will contact members who have indicated an interest in volunteering and arrange volunteers for activities of the group. It’s a great job because the people you are calling want to hear from you and are happy to help out and you can make the calls from your home.

Single Event Volunteers: These volunteers are on the Volunteer Coordinator’s list to be called for single event opportunities such as setting up, taking down, tabling, fundraising, educational and other group activities. We can never have enough of these volunteers. It’s a nice way to do a little bit for the group.

Publicity Chair: The Publicity Chair makes media contacts, writes news releases for the media to promote our monthly meetings. He/she and prepares brochures for the various group activities, fundraising events and or environmental events that are promoted by the group.

Fundraising Chair: The Fundraising Chair coordinates efforts to supplement money the group gets from the Sierra Club Foundation and John Muir Chapter. Money which the group makes at fundraisers is generally spent on training of members, environmental advocacy and the newsletter. The size and amount of information we can put into our newsletter is directly related to our own fundraising efforts.

Conservation Chair: The Conservation Chair coordinates a committee which reviews environmental issues, prioritizes which issues the group should take action on, writes and recommends local environmental position statements to the Excom for adoption. The committee may have sub-Chairs: Forests, Parks & Habitat; Air & Energy; Water; Sustainable Growth & Transportation, Population and other areas.

Conservation Observers and Activists: These members observe public meetings, keep up on website information and coordinate with the Conservation Committee to help the group advocate on our various environmental positions. They are encouraged to attend monthly Conservation Committee meetings. Only designated Group members testify in the name of the Group, however members are encouraged to testify as individuals on environmental issues.

Political Chair: The Political Chair maintains a committee that is generally most involved in the fall and the spring when elections of environmental significance occur. The committee prepares and sends questionnaires to candidates to glean information that can help the Excom to decide on which, if any candidates they are going to endorse. The Political Chair receives and sends information by email to the State John Muir Chapter for their approval, based on Excom endorsements during statewide and national elections.

Political Committee members: These volunteers work with the Political chair on Political events that have environmental significance to the group.

Program Chair: The Program Chair recruits speakers, hosts and greeters for monthly programs, keeps the group posted regarding these events, and writes a description of the programs for the newsletter. She/he also encourages members to create activities such as museum tours, movie nights, music gatherings, green dinners and activities that generate a feeling of camaraderie amongst members.

Program Volunteers: Program committee volunteers serve as hosts for monthly programs, help set up media equipment, and serve as hosts for activities listed above. These are easy and important jobs that can be done without extra meetings.

Education Chair: The Education Chair coordinates activities that serve to educate, public, group members and students on environmental issues. The Education Chair works with the Publicity Chair and Volunteer Coordinator to promote environmental education. The Education Chair may also be involved with tabling events.

Newsletter Chair: The Newsletter Chair publishes the newsletter. He/She ensures the work has been edited and gets it to the printer by the deadline. The newsletter chair ensures the finished product is sent electronically to the Webmaster along with a note to the email coordinator so that email participants are notified promptly.

Newsletter Committee: Members guide the direction of the newsletter. Positions include: advertising sales, writing, editing, and recruiting writers.

Webmaster: The Webmaster maintains the website, posts the newsletter on the website and website archive, maintains links to related environmental organizations and information, and updates events that arise between newsletter deadlines so that the website is fresh and encourages members to refer to it frequently for information.

Outings Chair: The Outings Chair and Committee mentor members to become outings leaders, coordinate outings information, and coordinates first aid training for members who are interested in leading outings. The outings chair also keeps abreast of trails and service opportunities for outings so that they can be implemented. The outings chair helps outings leaders to get articles into the group Newsletter/Website and the Muir View in a timely way.

Outings Committee and Leaders: Outings committee members and leaders mentor future outings leaders, coordinate first aid sessions and help recruit outings leaders. Outings committee members also seek out service outings opportunities. This is one of our most popular activities and the more we have the more our members participate.

Executive Committee Members: Are elected for their term by the membership. Excom members are expected to attend all meetings and are expected to chair a committee or to serve as representatives on the Wisconsin John Muir Chapter Executive Committee. Meetings are busy and lively and give you a chance to see what grass roots volunteerism is really like.