FRIENDS OF ALLEGHENY WILDERNESS
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZER JOB OPENING
This position is based in
northwest Pennsylvania and is scheduled to begin in November 2006.
The
Grassroots Organizer will be responsible for helping to organize the Friends of
Allegheny Wilderness (FAW) campaign to protect the remaining qualifying areas of
the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) as wilderness areas under the Wilderness Act
of 1964. The position will involve frequent travel, extensive interaction with
diverse groups of Pennsylvanians, and a high degree of sensitivity to rural
cultures and livelihoods. We are not looking for an anti-logging zealot, we are
looking for a diplomat and a tactful, measured advocate.
The Grassroots
Organizer will report to the Executive Director, and work to build public
support for additional wilderness designations in the ANF through a variety of
bipartisan, inclusive methods. The focus of this work will be in communities in
and near the ANF, but work will also be done throughout western Pennsylvania.
The Grassroots Organizer will work to ensure that appropriate leaders in
Pennsylvania such as elected officials, scientists, and business leaders are
educated about wilderness, with the goal of procuring their support for the FAW
campaign in various ways. The Grassroots Organizer will help ensure that
feedback to Pennsylvania¹s Congressional delegation is made in an effective,
timely manner.
The Grassroots Organizer¹s work will be primarily in the
following areas and will include, but will not be limited to, the following
tasks, and will be guided by the regularly updated FAW action plan:
… Generate grassroots letters in
support of wilderness targeted to the Pennsylvania Congressional
delegation.
… Work to
increase participation in the FAW campaign through active recruitment.
… Monitor media and generate
appropriate response from FAW members and other volunteers in the form of
letters to the editor, placing opinion editorials (Op-Ed¹s), and phone
calls.
… Organize and
participate in phone banks when necessary.
… Organize and help lead volunteer outings for campaign
volunteers, reporters, and Congressional delegation staff members to potential
wilderness areas.
…
Organize, schedule, and conduct meetings with politically influential
individuals/groups to provide information and procure support.
… Help recruit business supporters to
endorse FAW¹s Citizens¹ Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania¹s Allegheny
National Forest.
…
Design and implement actions/events to demonstrate broad-based support
for wilderness to various elected officials.
… Coordinate volunteer participation in all of the above
tasks.
… Volunteer
leadership development training.
Qualifications:
A Bachelors or
Masters degree in a related field is preferred. Strong grassroots organizing
experience, and a working knowledge of the Wilderness Act and the National
Wilderness Preservation System and public lands management in general is
desired. The successful applicant should have a strong environmental ethic
and interest in nature and being outdoors. The successful applicant must also
have a strong and sincere sensitivity to the realities of working with a diverse
cross-section of people whose livelihoods depend on a resource-based economy.
The successful applicant should have basic computer skills such as familiarity
with Microsoft Office software, email, internet searching, etc. Finally, the
successful applicant must have the wherewithal to work out of your own
residence, and have your own reliable transportation.
Salary is
commensurate with experience. Please submit cover letter, resume and references
via email to: Kirk Johnson, Executive Director, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness,
kjohnson@pawild.org
The deadline for applying is Friday, October 20th,
2006.
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Friends of Allegheny Wilderness
220 Center
Street
Warren, PA 16365
(814)
723-0620
alleghenyfriends@earthlink.net
http://www.pawild.org
A
Citizens' Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest:
http://www.pawild.org/exec_summary.html