Volunteer Opportunities with the Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club of Greater New York

 (updated October 29, 2004)

The Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club of Greater New York is an all volunteer non-profit organization that functions on the participation and commitment of the membership. We would greatly appreciate your assistance at a number of leadership and administrative tasks described below. We would be happy to train you! Volunteering is good way to learn new career skills, make new friends while contributing to the success of our organization. If you would like to find out more about volunteering please come to our next General Membership Meeting. The date of the next General Membership Meeting is either listed in the Events Schedule on this web site or contact the Club President, Brian Jay Horowitz, pres_nymosaic@yahoo.com Thanks for your support!

 

PRESIDENT

• A Board Member.
• Delegates, directs and guides Board members and appointed volunteers, in the carrying out of their tasks.
• Develops agenda for Board meetings in concert with Board members. Meetings are normally held four times a year, or once each quarter.
• Initiates, develops and modifies club policy in coordination with the Board Members, and the membership.
• Generates new ideas in coordination with the Board, appointed volunteers and membership.
• Recruits Board Members and volunteers to fill vacancies to fill appointed positions.
• Ensures that there will be a outings schedule mailed to members four times per year in coordination with the Activities Director, Newsletter Editor and Membership Director.
• Writes articles for the newsletter, including the President's Message as necessary.
• Responds to member's suggestions and complaints.
• Discusses club's insurance policy with Board members. Executes insurance policy.
• Coordinates with Publicity Director promotional campaign to attract new members.
• Coordinates with Hospitality Chair; Annual Picnic and Special Events.
• Directs, organizes and coordinates special events.
• Files Annual Report with State of New Jersey.
• Along with the Treasurer has the authority to sign checks.
• Attends Board of Directors meetings.
• Serves as represent to MOCA or appoints designee.

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• Coordinates and conducts forums on hiking safety, leadership training, map & compass and first aid in coordination with the Programs Chair and the President.
• Attends Open House with President to present short talk on "Preparing for a Day Hike."
• Writes short articles and submits to Newsletter Editor as time and space permits.

PROGRAMS CHAIR

• Develops quarterly programs for the club usually with an environmental, recreational, Judaism or social focus. These programs could include guest speakers, films, slides or discussions of interest to our members.
• Coordinates with Michael Brochstein (Ansche Chesed) and the President meeting time and place of the program.

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE LIAISON

• Attend bi-annual meetings of New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and report back to President.
• Conduct environmental advocacy efforts on behalf of Mosaic. This may include writing articles, organizing letter writing, e mail campaigns and phone calls to elected officials concerning environmental issues that are of concern to our membership.

CHIEF TRAIL MAINTAINER

• Organize bi-annual trail maintenance trips to Mosaic's assigned trail, the Allis Trail. File trail maintenance report with Trail Conference.

PICNIC COMMITTEE CHAIR

• Organizes Annual Picnic.
• Selects location for Annual Picnic in coordination with the President.
• Recruits and directs Committee Chairs.
• Develops Picnic Plan and Budget in concert with the President, Web Master, Publicity Director and Treasurer.
• Organizes and conducts Picnic Committee meetings.
• Attends Board meetings.

• Represents Mosaic-GNY at monthly MOCA Board teleconference meetings.
• Forwards issues of concern from our club after discussing with the President.
• Reports back in writing on Board meeting on issues that could affect the local chapter.
• Assigned to MOCA Committee and and performs work assignments as delegated by the Board.
• Reports back to the President.
• Attends Board Meetings.

VICE PRESIDENT

• Shall assume the role of the President in his or her absence.
• Takes over from the President in the event of the resignation, removal, disability or death of the President.
• Works on Special Projects as assigned by the President.

PUBLICITY  DIRECTOR

• A Board Member.
• Identifies print media for publicizing Mosaic events. Existing publications that publicize Mosaic events and may include The Jewish Week,The Blue Print, The Bergen Record, Newsday, The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference Trail Walker.
• Coordinates with print media space requirements and deadlines for publicizing Mosaic events to include Open Houses, the Annual Picnic and other special events on an as needed basis.
• Develops and distributes flyers and informational brochures about Mosaic to retail, community facilities JCC's, sporting goods stores, health clubs, libraries and other appropriate outlets to gain exposure for Mosaic.
• Attends Single events, Singles Open Houses to distribute literature and answer questions about Mosaic in order to promote Mosaic.
• Substitutes leader's phone no. with Club's Voice Mail No. before e mailing to media.
• Attends Singles events, to distribute literature and answer questions in order to promote Mosaic; e.g; Bnai Jeshurun, Makor, Aish Hatorah, West Side JCC, etc.
• Coordinates with President before submitting material to press.
• Writes press releases and distributes to appropriate media.
• Advertises Mosaic Events through Yahoo Groups.
• Recruits, trains and manages the Voice Mail team and Publicity assistants.
• Attends Board meetings.

VOICE MAIL ANSWERER(S)

• Check the voice mail for messages; these calls are primarily from prospective members requesting a free schedule, information about an event or a prospective member with questions about Mosaic.
• E mails the names and addresses of people requesting information about the club to the Membership Director.
• Calls people who request a call back.

VOICE MAIL RECORDER(S)

• Records a voice mail message of the upcoming weeks events and asks the caller to leave their name and address for a free schedule and their telephone number if they would like a call back.  Voice mail recordings should be performed on Sunday or Monday for the next week's events. Dependability is a must and an enthusiastic, articulate voice are big pluses!

PUBLICITY ASSISTANT(S) (VACANCIES)

• Assists the Publicity Director in the distribution of materials and other related promotional tasks.

YAHOO GROUPS MASTER   

•         Maintain the following Yahoo Groups lists:
•         Events and Announcements
•         Members Discussion
•         Approve or deny posting of member messages.
•         Add or remove members from list provided by the Membership Director.

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

• An Board Member.
• Solicits outings for the upcoming schedule by notifying leaders and potential leaders through e mail and phone calls. Coordinates with Assistant Activities Director, Newsletter Editor and Web Master.
• Follows up with leaders and potential leaders. Coordinates with Newsletter Editor and Web Master.
• Negotiates date changes with leaders to minimize event schedule conflicts and notifies Web Master of changes.
• Types up trip description write ups from leaders with no e mail
• Sends out draft outings schedule to leaders before submitting to Newsletter Editor.
• Coordinates events and ideas with neighboring Mosaic clubs; Philadelphia, Albany, Massachusetts, Maryland and Ontario.
• Updates and send Leader's Guide to new leaders in coordination with the President..
• Obtains outings for schedule on a timely basis.
• Attends Board Meetings.

ASSISTANT ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR (1)

• Solicits outings for upcoming schedule by phone calls to leaders and potential leaders without e mail.
• Negotiates date changes with leaders to minimize event schedule conflicts and notifies Web Master of changes.
• Obtains outings for schedule on a timely basis.
• Types up outings from leaders who have no e mail
• Proofs schedule sent from Activities Director. Check for leader's correct phone no, rating, and mileage.

ASSISTANT ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR (2)

• Sends abbreviated schedules and forms to new leaders and leaders with no e mail.
• Solicits and reviews sign in sheets for compliance

EVENT LEADER OR CO-EVENT LEADER

• Organize and conduct an outing such as a hiking, biking, canoeing, skiing, walking, etc.
• Select and plan an event. Obtain information on costs, schedules. Plan length and route of trip.
• Provide information by phone or e mail to prospective participants about the event to include level of difficulty, type of clothing, equipment, directions to meeting place, etc.
• Screen participant's abilities for more difficult events.
• Determine if weather is going based on weather/driving conditions. Calls back registrants for any changes in timing or meeting place or if event must be cancelled.
• Obtain signatures from all participants and collect non-member fees. Submit non-member fees and trip sign in sheet tof Membership Director.
• Conduct the event.
• Appoint a co-leader to act as a sweep/collect money/sign people in on applicable events.
• Monitor the groups and individual participant's progress and take appropriate measures as necessary.
• Submit Trip Report to Yahoo Groups Trip Reports.

• A Board Member
• Visit the PO Box at least twice a month to get membership renewal checks, new member applications, hike fees and checks.
• Deposits checks in bank on a timely basis
• Maintains membership database of names,, addresses, phone no. e mail addresses and membership expiration date in Excel and e mails updates to mailing coordinator and Club Treasurer.
• Prepares membership reports upon request.
• E mails the Treasurer all deposits
• Sends prospective member letter, abbreviated schedule,  and application to prospective member.
• Maintains leaders and volunteers list, and shares this information with the President.
• Attends Board meetings.

OUTREACH COORDINATOR(S)  

• Calls back prospective members who attended previous events to try to recruit them to become a member of Mosaic.
• Calls back members who have not responded to the two dunning letter renewal letters

TREASURER

• A Board Member
• Maintains a record of all expenses and revenues of the club.
• Prepares financial reports upon request.
• Creates an annual budget for the Club in coordination with the President.
• Maintains a spreadsheet that tracks deposits and withdrawals and our current balance.
• Informs the President of bank statement balance and annual membership on a monthly basis.
• Along with the President has the authority to sign checks.
• Reimburses expenses for Club Officers and Volunteers and e mails record to Treasurer and Board.
• Manages Pay Pal account
• Pays club's insurance premium.
• Pay's club's Voice Mail bill.
• Pays club's Annual Report filing fee with the State of New Jersey.
• Pays website host bill.
• Pays annual membership dues to MOCA which is determined on the current number of members.
• Pays annual dues to NY/NJ Trail Conference
• Attends Board Meetings

SECRETARY

• A Board Member
• Notifies Board members of Board meetings and the membership of General Membership meetings upon the request of the President.
• Attends Board meetings.
• Take the minutes at Board meetings and submits to the Presidents within ten days following the meeting.
• Takes roll call and votes at Board meeting, then announces and records the results.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

• A Board Member
• Receives schedule from Activities Director and formats schedule with proper fonts, margins. Develops the schedule by cutting and pasting outings from web site and typing write ups from leaders who have no access to e mail.
• Sends to webmaster leaders with e mail addresses and deletes their phone no. Leaders with phone no. will only have their event posted on the web upon request.
• Presents newsletter in a creative and attractive format. Uses clip art and photos as appropriate and as space permits.
• Solicits articles, photos from members.
• Coordinates with President, Web Master, Activities Director, Mailing Coordinator, and members.
• Produces four newsletters per year on a timely basis.
• Develops contacts with organizations or members who are interested in advertising in the club newsletter.
• Writes an article or solicits appropriate articles on outdoor recreation, environmental concern, Judaism and issues of interest to singles.

MAILING COORDINATOR

• Coordinates with Newsletter Editor the schedule for reproducing the newsletter.
• Receives membership updates in an Excel file sent by e mail from the Membership Director.
• Maintains  and updates e mail address book in Microsoft Outlook Express.
• E mails members the newsletter quarterly with updates provided as needed.
• Sends "two dunning letters" if necessary to expiring members.
• Sends Welcome New Member Letter to new members.
• Mails newsletter to members who e mail bounced.
• Reproduces 200 copies of the newsletter,  of which 150 copies are folded and stapled at discount printer.
• Coordinates mailing of newsletter. Applies labels and proper postage and mails out on a timely basis. Mailing normally should be completed within three (3) days after receiving the newsletter from the editor.

WEB MASTER

• A Board Member
• Maintains and updates the club's web site on a timely basis.
• Updates Schedule at least quarterly from events sent by Activities Director.
• Performs interim updates as needed.
• Maintains archive of past events.
• Receives new events from leader's and posts them to the web.
• Posts leader's trip reports and photos to the web.
• Post's the President's Message and other articles sent by the Newsletter Editor and members to the web.
• Posts Picnic Registration form to the web.
• Posts updates to membership application, sign in sheet, trip report and other forms as necessary.
• Develops attractive and functional website presentation format in coordination with the President and Assistant webmasters.
• Maintains counter of visits to web site.
• Creates and maintains links to other web sites to attract new members.

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE (2)

•  Attend Board Meetings with full voting rights.

• Perform duties as assigned by the President and other Board Members.