The Sierra Club's Conservation Governance Committee (CGC) is seeking to fill up to three vacancies on the Sustainable Planet Strategy Team (SPST).
Please review the material below regarding the work of the SPST. If you would like to nominate yourself for membership on the SPST, please send the completed application below to Donald Parks at [log in to unmask] or to 3127 181st Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
If you want to nominate someone else, please (a) forward this message to that person with your suggestion that they apply and (b) send Don their name, email address, and a brief description. Please feel free to post this call for applications to Club discussion lists, being careful not to duplicate postings.
If you have questions about the work of the SPST, you may contact SPST Interim Chair, Clark Buchner, by email ([log in to unmask]) or by phone at: 901-526-4458 (H) between 5 pm and 9 pm (EDT).
The Search Team consists of Don Parks WA (425-883-0646), Jerry Sutherland OR (503-2331552), Dave Scott OH (614-263-4902),Clark Buchner TN (901-526-4458 (H) between 5 pm and 9 pm (EDT)), and Peter Fritz IN (812-630-9580, evenings 7-9 pm CDT)
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is June 25, 2007.
OVERVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE SPST
The SPST currently appoints and oversees the work of two of the Club's Priority Program Committees, Global Population & Environment and Responsible Trade. (Priority Programs have staff.) The SPST also oversees the work of the Global Warming and Energy Committee, which works closely with staff, as well as the Agriculture, Genetic Engineering, and Sustainable Consumption committees.
The work of the SPST is largely financial management, general coordination, and people management rather than issue advocacy and organizing. The SPST also has a role in policy development.
Current members of the SPST are Clark Buchner (TN) Interim Chair, Paul Craig (CA), Jim Diamond (CA), Chris Kennedy (WA), Tom Wolper (PA), Peter Fritz (IN), and Don Parks CGC Liaison (WA).
MEMBERSHIP ON THE SPST
Members of the SPST are appointed by the Conservation Governance Committee for two year terms. One may serve three consecutive two-year terms.
Sierra Club of Canada (SCC) members are not eligible to apply to this announcement. Please contact [log in to unmask] for information on the criteria required for SCC members to be appointed as liaisons or members to CGC and its subentities.
THE WORK OF STRATEGY TEAMS
The SPST is one of five strategy teams reporting to the CGC. The other committees are the Wild Planet ST, Environmental Quality ST, Regional Conservation ST, and the Political Committee.
Strategy Team Charge:
1. Coordinate core conservation work between CGC and the SPST Committees, determining the best ways to address both priority and non-priority issues that are the responsibility of the team;
2. Set issue work priorities and, if necessary, shift resources among the issues to reflect changing needs;
3. Create (and sunset when necessary) and fund committees, oversee committee workplan development, projects, working groups, and task forces to achieve the Club's conservation goals;
4. Educate, organize and support activist members and ensure that the focus of the team's subentities is on delivering program support to activists throughout the Club;
5. Oversee the work and budgets of the entities under the team;
6. Help keep subentities fully staffed with volunteers.
Strategy Teams have 5-9 members. Volunteer leaders on each strategy team are expected to have broad knowledge and familiarity with many, if not all, of the issues for which that strategy team is responsible, campaign experience, good political judgment, and some demonstrated management and people skills.
Members of strategy teams are not to advocate for one "pet" issue, nor represent one narrow issue focus, but be able to evaluate and establish priorities among all the competing demands in that core issue area fairly.
ABOUT THE SPST MEMBERSHIP DUTIES
Members of the SPST are expected to:
* Participate in a conference call of about 1 1/2 hours roughly once a month.
* Attend occasional weekend SPST meetings, roughly every 2 years.
* Take on some administrative responsibilities including but not limited to: taking minutes, setting up conference calls, sending out notices, and monitoring budgets.
* Act as liaison to one or more of the committees reporting to the SPST.
* Take on special projects, such as:
(a) Soliciting applications and evaluating candidates for committees.
(b) Prepare a discussion paper on a new issue
(c) Resolve conflicts within or among committees.
*SPST members must be able and willing to use electronic mail and to participate in conference calls (generally in the late afternoon pacific time)
SPST IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THESE QUALITIES
The SPST welcomes diversity of all kinds. The SPST could benefit from more committee members who are:
--From parts of the country not currently represented.
--With current or recent-past Chapter and/or Group leadership experience
-- Interested in being liaison to particular one(s) of our committees.
-- Interested in increasing our ability to communicate more effectively within the Club about the issues and the accomplishments of activists at all levels.
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SPST APPLICATION
PLEASE DELETE ALL TEXT ABOVE THE ************.
Send completed form to Donald Parks at [log in to unmask] or to
3127 181st Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
THE SUBJECT OF YOUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE "SPST NOM: (your last name here)"
Completed responses are due by June 25, 2007.
1) Name, address, phone(s), e-mail, and best times to reach you:
2) Membership number and length of membership
3) Sierra Club activities and leadership positions held, with dates
4) Other relevant experience and qualifications
5) An explanation as to why do you want to serve on the SPST?
6) SPST conference calls have generally been Tuesdays or Wednesdays, beginning at 5 pm pacific time. Does your schedule permit participation in these calls?
7) Names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses of at least three references, including best times to reach them. Please include your chapter chair as one of the references.