Chair-Elect (becomes Chair after 1 year)
Outings and Adventures Coordinator
Members-at -Large
Program Description: AEOE is a volunteer-run non-profit association for environmental/outdoor educators in California. We provide resources, professional development, inspiration, and networking for educators. Read more about AEOE here: aeoe.org/about/ . The mission of AEOE is to "...support and inspire educators in their quest for the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to help all learners understand, appreciate and care for their environment. As an integral part of achieving our mission, we encourage direct experience outdoors."
Job Description: We are looking for some Southern California AEOE Members who care enough about environmental and outdoor education to volunteer some of their precious spare time to help support other educators. The southern council of AEOE is responsible for organizing annual Fall Camp-out Conferences, Statewide Spring Conferences in alternating years (the next one we host is in 2008), helping to produce the southern section AEOE Newsletter, and planning Outings for our members. We meet as a council a few times a year (sometimes by teleconference), and email quite a lot to stay in communication and work to achieve our mission and better serve our members. Read the Chair-Elect, Chair and Outings and Adventures Coordinator position descriptions to get an idea of the what each position may entail. Also take a look at the board members page since you will be participating in board/council meetings as part of the positions. The Chair position is often shared by two Co-Chairs, so if you know someone you would like to work with to make it a little less work for you both, by all means we'd love to have you both!
The Outings and Adventures Coordinator, is a nice "entry level" position on the council and involves organizing 2-3 outings a year for our members, getting the information to the newsletter in time, and attending the outing yourself. If you are enthusiastic for organizing fun adventures or learning seminar weekends that would benefit our members, volunteer!
Job Type: Volunteer - part-time, year-round (many folks leave for the summer, so if you do, too, that is okay - just try to stay in touch!)
Qualifications: Enthusiasm and interest in promoting EE/OE and supporting educators through our conferences, newsletters and outings! If you have been an AEOE member for a while, and attended some of our conferences, that is a real plus! You need to have regular access to email, and be responsive with regular communication with the board and councils, and be able to attend meetings a few times a year (at least two are at conferences). You also need to have enough extra time and energy to help make AEOE work. Some times of the year are more work than others - such as the spring leading up to a conference we are hosting, but other times of year you won't necessarily be doing much but answering a few emails to share your opinion and ideas about the direction of AEOE, future conference ideas, etc. Summers are generally very slow, so if you go away for the summer, that can work out.
We have, however, tried to hold an annual State Board meeting and retreat in August. The Chair-Elect will become Chair in Fall 2008, and as such will be included on the Executive Board and be an important decision-maker about the future of AEOE, so it is important that you be able to attend meetings. In addition, often the chair of the section that hosts the statewide conference, in addition to being conference coordinator, assumes the role of state president of AEOE. This is not required, but since you will be the "go-to" person for the conference already, and that is our major order of business, it has worked out well in the past. This is quite the resume-building volunteer position!! Leadership, planning, and organization for a statewide environmental and outdoor education organization is incredibly valuable experience.
Salary: Volunteer positions
Deadline: As soon as you can let us know you are interested! (Open until filled)
Available: Chair-elect will assume their title as of the Fall Conference, and be available to take over as Chair in one year at the 2007 Fall Conference. Outings Coordinator may begin organizing outings at any time - we'd love to have something in time to go in the winter newsletter (by Thanksgiving).
Procedure: Email the council c/o the webmaster at
with a letter of interest, and any questions (if applicable). Your letter of interest will be forwarded to the council for review. Or, contact any council member to let us know you are interested!
Contact Information: AEOE Southern Council, care of AEOE Webmaster
Email:
Website: aeoe.org