HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBLE TRADE COMMITTEE:  REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

The Sierra Club's Sustainable Planet Strategy Team (SPST) is seeking to
fill two (2) vacancies on the Sierra Club's Human Rights and Responsible
Trade Committee (HR&RT).  We are especially interested in candidates with a
strong interest in trade and human rights.  In particular, applicants must
clearly demonstrate their willingness to commit the time and energy
necessary to help the Committee carry out its responsibilities.

Appointments to the Committee are made by SPST, based on applications and
phone interviews with prospective candidates. Interviewers will represent
the HR&RT and the SPST.  If you are interested in applying, please read and
follow the instructions completely. We are only accepting self-nominations,
so please, pass this announcement on to others whom you believe may have an
interest in serving on the Sierra Club HR&RT Committee.


DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:  January 15, 2006

A copy of the completed application should be sent (email preferred) to
these members of the Search Committee:

Primary
Eric Thompson, SPST member
126 St Augustine Dr
Greeenville, SC 29615
864-454-0855
Liaison to HR&RT
Email: [log in to unmask]

Suzanne York, Chair
Human Rights and Responsible Trade Committee
c/o The International Forum on Globalization
1009 General Kennedy Avenue, #2
San Francisco, CA  94129
Tel: 510-517-4082
Email:  [log in to unmask]


HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBLE TRADE COMMITTEE

The Sierra Club’s Human Rights and Responsible Trade Committee (HR&RT)
provides volunteer oversight, coordination and action for the Sierra Club’s
Responsible Trade program.

This program works to change the course of trade policies and to make sure
that trade is safe and fair and allows countries to maintain and improve
environmental and health standards, not take steps backwards.  New trade
agreements are being negotiated that continue along the same failed path as
NAFTA and the WTO.  The U.S. in particular wants to expand the failed NAFTA
trade model, first to Central America through the Central American Free
Trade Agreement, on to the Andes with the Andean Free Trade Agreement, and
then to the rest of the Hemisphere through the Free Trade Area of the
Americas.

The Sierra Club is not opposed to trade, but we want trade that is clean,
green and fair. The current trade model represented by NAFTA and the WTO
doesn't make the cut and instead we need a new direction for our trade
agreements.  The HR&RT Committee works to shape messages that will enable
Sierra Club members and others make the connections between globalization,
trade, unsustainable consumption and the need to protect the rights of
environmental defenders around the world.

Service on the Human Rights and Responsible Trade Committee requires a
genuine commitment of time and energy.  To learn more about the committee’s
work, please review our website at http://www.sierraclub.org/trade or
contact Suzanne York, HR&RT Committee chair (contact information above).


Committee Member Responsibilities

•     Maintain an active role in working on one or more issues or projects
of the Committee, preferably including the group and chapter levels

•     Maintain regular contact with the chair and the Committee via monthly
conference calls and email

•     Attend annual meeting of the Committee (travel costs are reimbursed)


Members of HR&RT Committee are appointed by the SPST for two-year terms.
The Sierra Club has adopted six-year term limits for all national
volunteers.


QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT

We encourage people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, and activists of all
ages, to apply.
Ability and willingness to use electronic mail and to participate in
conference calls are required. Also, ability to travel occasionally to
meetings or conferences is helpful.

In evaluating applications, the SPST strives to build closer connections
with grassroots leadership (which means that current or recent-past Chapter
or Group leadership is a plus), to expand the Club's influence (which means
a demonstrated ability to communicate with and motivate people external to
Sierra Club is a plus), and to increase our ability to communicate more
effectively within the Club about the issues and the accomplishments of
activists at all levels.


HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBLE TRADE COMMITTEE APPLICATION FORM

1.  Name:

2.  Membership # (required):

3.  Contact information (address, phone(s), email, & best times to reach
you):

4.  Sierra Club activities and leadership positions held, with dates:

5.  Environmental work (community, state, national, and/or international
level):

6.  Statement reflecting interest in and experience with trade issues and
human rights:

7.  Three references; your Chapter Chair or other Chapter leader must be
included as one of the three:

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