"How can I volunteer?" is one of the questions we hear most often at GOTR Manhattan. We'd love to answer that question here and invite you to join our team! While Coaches work directly with the girls on a weekly basis over 12-week spring and fall seasons and Running Buddies encourage and support the girls through their end-of-season 5k events, we accomplish our behind-the-scenes work through our 6 volunteer committees explained below. If you are interested in joining one of our committees, please email the Committee Leader directly.

• Outreach
• Race Planning
• Program Support
• Special Events
• Communications
• Development

Requirements for Volunteers :
• Commitment to the mission of GOTR. 
• Reliable, honest and positive outlook on life. 
• Interest in the issues facing young women today. 
• Desire to get involved in a nonprofit organization and help create public awareness.

Coach Training will be held February 17^th at Asphalt Green from 11-1. (Enter at the Murphy Center on 90^th between York and East End.) We will be in the 3^rd Floor Studio.

All new coaches for the Spring 2008 season must attend a coach training session. In addition, all head coaches must have, or be in the process of getting CPR/First Aid certified.

Find American Red Cross CPR/First Aid information: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/

Please See the COACHES' CORNER tab for more info!

OUTREACH
Committee Leader: Meighan Rogers

This committee is charged with program growth and expansion. It will identify and approach new venues for GOTRM programs, and develop materials and strategies for participant recruitment. It will also work closely with the Executive Director to secure a home base for GOTRM.

Goals and Requirements:

• Enable girls to participate without accompanying local school participation
• Identify and secure space for program delivery
• Establish additional weekend programs 
• Expand program to additional schools within Manhattan
• Make contacts in the community; answer inquiries

Time Committment:
Some outreach will occur individually, with approximately monthly meetings

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RACE PLANNING
Committee Leader: Holly Carmichael

Volunteers Needed:

• Assistant Race Director (someone interested longer term, eventually will take over the entire race)
• Manages all aspects of the race with the help of the Director (coordinates and communicates with all race subcommittees)
• Running Buddy Manager
• Solicits/Recruits running buddies for each participant in the race (approximately 250)
• Pairs running buddies with participants
• Creates race day coach packets (with running bibs, safety pins, and list of running buddies)
• Primary Communicator (via email/phone) with all running buddies
• Race Marshal Coordinator
• In charge of prioritizing areas of race where marshals are needed most
• Recruit and maintain contact with marshals
• On race day, groups and places race marshals accordingly
• Water Stop Coordinator
• Secure water for race (donation/purchase)
• Solicits and communicates water stop volunteers
• Race day gather water, set up station and place volunteers accordingly
• Food/Beverage Coordinator
• Secures Bagels, Coffee, Bananas, Hot Chocolate for race participants (and volunteers)
• This position will have a group of volunteers to report into you. You will communicate/delegate duties to your team
• Race day-pick up and transport food/beverage to race, set up, distribute and clean up.
• Sponsorship Director
• Must have networking skills!
• Solicit corporations (small, large, locally, nationally) to support our race!
• Obtain monetary and in kind donations (for goody bags) for race day
• Entertainment Director
• Seek out/secure vendors (local/national) to entertain our participants/volunteers on race day
• Examples of this may include a radio station (local, satellite), local band, balloon artist, photo booth, etc.
• Goody Bag Manager
• Must have networking skills!
• Work with Sponsorship Director to obtain in kind donation for 250+ Goody Bags
• Assemble goody bags (either before race or the morning of)
• Start/Finish Line Director
• Recruit an MC for the event (this person will communicate all race day messages)
• Obtain completion certificates for race (design and print 250 color copies)
• Solicit and manage a group of volunteers to distribute goody bags and completion certificates at the end of the race
• Solicit/seek vendors to make the race start/finish line very big and exciting to all participants (i.e. balloon arch)

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PROGRAM SUPPORT
Committee Leader: Kirsten Bostrom

This very appreciated committee puts together all materials used for lesson plans. We create “coaches boxes” that have all the materials in it that the coaches will need for each lesson. We need help buying, copying, cutting, pasting and more to get these boxes ready. In addition, you will attend the coaches’ pre-season planning meeting to help explain the materials to the coaches.

Goals:
• To put together the coaches boxes – materials for the coaches to use during lessons.
• To help coordinate distribution and explanation of boxes to coaches.

Time Commitment:
• Curriculum meetings (two meetings per season – 2 to 3 hours per meeting)
• Extra time for individual assignments

Requirements:
• Creative and detail oriented!
• Organized and willing to help shop, copy, cut, paste and collate.
• Desire to learn about the GOTR lesson plans.

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SPECIAL EVENTS
Committee Leader: Nancy Schultz

This team is charged with planning, staffing and executing a variety of activities throughout the year, such as informational open houses, fundraisers and volunteer spirit events. This group will also identify community opportunities for GOTR participation as a local, direct-service nonprofit. This team may also be asked for advice and assistance in coordinating the Girls on the Run Tulip Trot on June 10th.

Goals:
• To raise at least $25,000 in 2007.
• To plan, staff and deliver three events in 2007.
• To plan, staff and deliver two informational open houses.
• To identify opportunities in Manhattan for GOTR to participate in the community and serve as nonprofit beneficiary.

Time Commitment:
• Committee meetings (monthly or every other month)
• Special events
• Extra time for individual assignments

Requirements:
•  Interested in planning events; creative, social and organized
•  Conceiving event themes and ideas, arranging Evites, driving attendance, soliciting items for silent auctions, on-site staffing and more!

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COMMUNICATIONS
Committee Leader: OPEN POSITION

The committee will help produce several printed and electronic pieces throughout the year, including an email newsletter update, brochures and other collateral material and website content. Committee members are responsible for generating ideas and communicating with other GOTR Manhattan committees to help get the word out. In addition, members will proofread all written materials, secure competitive quotes for printing, generate in-kind donations where needed and create target lists for distribution. This is a new committee that needs help and energy to get the GOTR message out!

Goals:
• To increase awareness of GOTR Manhattan.
• To create and distribute quarterly enewsletter/update.
• To develop brochures and other marketing collateral.
• To help customize materials for specific GOTR sites as needed.
• To create a media strategy and execute it.
• To secure competitive and in-kind printing and design services.
 
Time Commitment:
• Four to five planning meetings (1 – 2 hours each)
• Four enewsletters per year
• Time for independent projects.

Requirements:
• Excellent writing skills.
• Design and/or technical skills.
• Public relations experience or connections to local media a PLUS.
• Ability to deliver projects on time.
• Creative and passionate about GOTR mission!

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We rely heavily on donations to support our programming. As a member of this committee you will help identify potential donors/foundations/grant-makers, initiate and maintain relationships with individuals and foundations and write grant proposals for funding. If you like to write and are up for a rewarding challenge, this group is for you. You will gain valuable nonprofit experience while helping Girls on the Run Manhattan.

Goals:
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Treasurer to develop the organization’s fundraising goals and strategies.
• Plan and implement fundraising strategies targeting private foundations and individual donors to support organizational budget.
• Create a fundraising calendar.
• Research, write and submit grant proposals to appropriate sources of funding.
• Manage donor records and gift recognition.
• Develop and implement the annual direct mail campaign.
• Manage current and prospect donor database management.
• Develop major donor strategies  
• Work with Directors on completing and submitting reports to funders.

Time Commitment:
• Quarterly meetings (1 – 2 hours each)
• Individual time spent achieving goals set above.

Requirements:
• Knowledge of, or desire to learn about, grant writing process.
• Strong desire to gain broad overview of nonprofit world.
• Genuine commitment to GOTR mission
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to research sources of funds and communicate the value of GOTR Manhattan.
• Willingness to contact potential donors/grant-makers via phone to explain mission, clarify grant application requirements and/or verify appropriateness of application.
• Detail oriented and able to follow grant directions to the letter.

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