Central North Carolina Chapter Activist Leader / Co-Leader
Are you passionate about making a change in local, state and federal policies? Do you enjoy being a voice for others? Consider joining our Advocacy Team! The Central North Carolina Chapter is looking to add 2 new volunteers to our Advocacy Team.
Position Summary
Advocacy brings awareness to issues and activists give the voice to the issues surrounding MS. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society brings people together who share a common commitment towards advocacy for legislation and other issues that affect people with multiple sclerosis. These people bring life experience and a general understanding of issues surrounding MS to help influence local, state and federal policy. Activists care about disadvantages that people with MS face in such issues as healthcare, transportation, employment and accessibility. They share a belief that positive change can happen through advocacy.
Activist leaders and co-leaders are valuable volunteers for the National MS Society and perform an integral role in encouraging others to advocate. Each county activist team functions as a smaller cohort of the larger Central North Carolina Chapter activist team. This team consists of all 15 counties that the Central North Carolina Chapter serves. Activist leaders and co-leaders, with the assistance and participation of other activists, manage the organizational and logistical aspects of their county advocacy efforts by dividing tasks among leaders and members.
Responsibilities/Duties
These duties are shared with a co-leader(s)
• Serve as liaison to the chapter.
• Participate in Advocacy Day.
• Participate in monthly conference calls with the staff activist liaison and other activist leaders.
• Participate in creating goals and objectives for the NC CAN (NC Chapter Advocacy Network)
state advocacy issues.
• Forward e-mails from the chapter’s staff activist liaison.
• Encourage people to respond to Action Alerts.
• Ensure that when the group meets, it is in an accessible, appropriate meeting space.
• Plan and arrange meetings with local legislators with assistance from group members.
Coordinate people to attend these meetings. Ensure that follow-up is provided as needed
(e.g., thank you notes, requested information, etc)
• Organize local efforts to support MS Awareness Week with county activist group.
• Ensure that new activists are welcomed.
• Ensure that any local advocacy efforts comply with National Multiple Sclerosis Society
policies.
Qualifications
• Ability to organize individuals, groups, and meetings
• Effective verbal/written communication skills
• Ability and comfort with utilizing e-mail as a form of communication
• Willingness to collaborate with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Training/Orientation Provided
Volunteers will be provided an orientation, annual training, and on-going support and supervision. A mutually convenient schedule of phone calls, mailings, and/or in-person meetings will be scheduled to provide you with the tools and support you need.
Time Commitment
• Participating in one hour monthly conference calls.
• Checking e-mails/sending e-mails to activist participants regarding Action Alerts
• Planning: 1–2 hours/month
• Other logistics, communicating with group members: 1–3 hours/month
• Minimum 1-year commitment
For more information contact Mark Scheerer at 336-299-4136 or mark.scheerer@nmss.org.