2012-2013 Coordinating Committee Elections

Information about the Election Process

Introduction

Each spring United Students for Fair Trade will hold elections to confirm new leaders to make decisions about the organization's direction and be responsible for operations with the input of all affiliates. The graduating Coordinating Committee shall confirm an ad-hoc Elections Committee to administer and promote the election and verify its results. Responsibilities include coordinating logistics, publishing impartial information to educate affiliates on issues or candidates, ensuring all candidates in the election are presented and compliant with guidelines, and should not be outspoken proponents for an issue at stake.

Nominating

USFT relies on motivated individuals to nominate themselves for the Coordinating Committee. Applicants self-nominate online and provide information to the broad affiliate base. We ask that no more than 2 students from each school run for the Coordinating Committee.

Term

Terms are 16 months. The members elected will serve formally until June of the following year, and will be responsible for recruiting candidates and transitioning in new leadership through the spring and summer.

Coordinating Committee Positions

Below are descriptions of the positions and their responsibilities.

Election Process

Individuals who would like to be a part of the National Coordinating Committee nominate themselves. Each outgoing Coordinating Committee member is assigned applications (at random) to review, and they then report back to the Coordinating Committee as a whole with their findings and a recommendation to move forward in the election process. Each nominee is then contacted and interviewed via phone with 2 Coordinating Committee members moderating the interview, or one Coordinating Committee member and one Advisory Board member. Notes are then shared with the entire CC about each individual interview, and then the CC votes on which nominees they feel would be the best match for USFT. The entire process takes about 6-8 weeks.

All Coordinating Committee Members

All members of USFT’s Coordinating Committee will be expected to:

Embody the Purpose, Vision, and Values of USFT
Represent USFT on a National and Regional level
Work actively to meet goals outlined in USFT’s Strategic Action Plan
Participate in bimonthly Conference Calls
Attend the USFT National Convergence
Build relationships and maintain constant communication with other CC members, the National Coordinator and the Advisory Board
RCs should provide support to their region's affiliates through helping publicize FT events, connecting folks to other students or individuals who are working on similar issues, providing materials/resources for group development and leadership and so forth.
Participate in organizational fundraising.
Manage listservs and respond to emails and phone calls promptly and professionally
Attend conferences to represent USFT where appropriate
Rock the Fair Trade Movement!

Position name and descriptions

**All positions are unpaid**

Co-National Coordinator (this would be the position that would transition into a full-National Coordinator Position within the next 6-12 months)

The first half of this term, the co-National Coordinator will be working directly with the current National Coordinator to transition to a full National Coordinator position (hopefully by January 1, 2013). Unlike other coordinator positions, this position will run from June 2012-December 2013, or once they have fully transitioned their position to a new National Coordinator.

Have previous experience working with grassroots campaigns or other national campaigns
Be USFT's official liason to the fiscal sponsor
Work with the fiscal sponsor of USFT to manager our budget and ensure all income and expenditures are accounted for; ensure all expenses are paid
Be an official representative of USFT to outside organizations, by embodying USFT's goals, values and policies in all actions
Schedule and attend all conference calls of the elected Coordinating Committee (CC)
Act as a guide and resource for CC members-- assist in keeping each individual moving forward on self-defined golas in a constructive and empowering manner, with reminders, check-ins, follow-ups, etc. as appropriate
Report to the CC regularly on the budget and any financial, legal, or organizational issues
Assist the CC in coordinating the election and training of new CC members
Assist with planning of the National Convergence in any capacity necessary whether it be taking on the role as Convergence Coordinator, or just assisting the Convergence Coordinator (this position is a current CC member)
Work with the CC in order to achieve as horizontal of a power structure as possible, with the recognition that sometimes decisions need to be made unilaterally.
Ensure USFT's organizational sustainability through fundraising: either directly writing grants and contacting funders, or find, coordinate, and follow up with others to do so. This will be achieved with the Fundraising Coordinator(s)
Maintain transparency and communication within the CC, grassroots, and allies via the website, and other sources
Maintain a relationship with the Advisory Board
Ensure any of USFT's physical assests (papers, equipment, etc.) are cared for
Coordinate other logistical and administrative tasks as necessary
Qualifications:
= Bi-lingual (Spanish) is preferred
= good verbal, writing, computer, and interpersonal communication skills
= background in the fair trade movement, as well as other global justice struggles
= Experience in Direct Action
= Ability to work well, and easily, with college and high school students
= Experience in grassroots organizing, preferably in a campus setting and also on a national level
= Good strategic thinking skills; attention to detail
= Ability to be creative, work well as a part of a team
= Willingness to facilitate, not lead
= Ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations
= Commitment to organizing as a method for empowering students and producers and changing the global economy
= Experience, ability, and desire to work with racially and culturally diverse communities
= Demonstrated commitment to anti-oppression
= Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently as well as collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
= Available to work nights and weekends
Women, people of color, and LGBTQ strongly encouraged to apply

Regional Organizers (6 elected)

Regions:
1. Northeast (MA, ME, NH, VT, CT, NY, RI)
2. MidAtlantic (NJ, PA, DC, MD, DE, WV, VA)- Joanna and Emily
3. Southeast (AR, LA, MS, GA, FL, AL, NC, SC, PR)
4. Southwest (CO, AZ, NV, NM, UT, TX, OK)
5. Heartland (IL, WI, SD, ND, IA, MN, NE)
6. Midwest (OH, KY, IN, TN, MO, KS, MI)- Josh
7. Northwest (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, AK)
8. West Coast (HI, CA, Guam)

Duties of the Regional Coordinators:

Maintain regular communication with Advisory Board members
Build relationships with affiliates, contact each affiliate group individually monthly (minimum)
Support affiliate campaigns, connect affiliates to each other, to resources, etc.
Collect semester feedback forms from every affiliate
Research new developing campaigns on campuses and draw new schools into USFT’s affiliate network
Offer leadership development opportunities to affiliates and support their organizations
Organize monthly regional conference calls
Facilitate on-going regional projects, campaigns and development of new ideas/projects/campaigns
Support affiliates in finding resources for campaigns
Expand affiliate base
Interact with allies and producers
Facilitate dialogue between different affiliate groups, affiliates and producers, affiliates and allies, etc
Actively organize and campaign in your region and support student activism!
Provide support to everyone on the CC and participate in USFT’s national committees

Affiliate Campaign Coordinator (at least 2 elected):

Spearhead the USFT National Affiliate Campaign Committee (for 2012-2013 this will be Alta Gracia), as well as provide alternatives to students that do not think they can/want to promote AG (interrupcion*, Raise the bar hershey, etc etc...or just work with them to make a campaign for their campus! (getting fair coffee,tea, etc in dining halls etc)
Work closely with the regional reps. and affiliates to coordinate national actions and develop national plans for USFT
Build on incoming national campaign committee plans, and think in an innovative manner towards the future
Manage media work for national campaigns
Conduct research and compile resources for campaigns on campuses
Work with regional reps in making these resources available to affiliates
Work with the National Coordinator to leverage resources for campaigns
Communicate consistently with campus affiliates, Food Service Providers, allies, and producers

Fundraising Coordinator (at least 2 elected)

Work with our Fiscal Sponsor (at this point looks like it’s going to be FWP) to make sure that we have enough money to function
Coordinate fundraising efforts for National Convergence (beginning in the fall), as well as any possible delegation we may be going on (hopefully over winter break of next year!)
Grant Writing

Webmaster(at least 1 Elected):

Update usft.org
Content management
General listserv maintenance
Organizational tech support to Coordinating Committee and affiliates
Publication of E-newsletter
Develop online action alerts
Support affiliates in tech-based activism
Provide vision and help USFT to realize our tech potential
Should have some previous website maintenance experience.

Industry Liaison (1 Elected):

Communicate USFT campaign and program information to industry allies
Serve as initial point of contact for businesses
Manage press and media relations
Spanish language skills preferred
Manage relationship with certifying bodies
Develop relationship with new industry allies
Hold allies accountable to Fair Trade movement mission, vision, and values
Attend industry events
Report on USFT’s activities and solicit feedback
Facilitate dialogue between affiliates and businesses
Work with Movement Liaison to publish a quarterly USFT newsletter

Movement Liaison (1 Elected):

Communicate USFT campaign and program information to movement-focused allies
Serve as initial point of contact for NGOs
Manage press and media relations
Facilitate the Advisory Board
Develop relationship with new NGO allies
Hold allies accountable to Fair Trade movement mission, vision, and values
Report on USFT’s activities and solicit feedback
Facilitate Interfaith Working Group
Maintain constant communication with student activist groups
Creating a database of Fair Trade opportunities
Work closely with Student Trade Justice Campaign
Facilitate dialogue between affiliates and NGOs
Facilitate dialogue between affiliates and other student activist groups
Work with Industry Liaison to publish a quarterly USFT newsletter

Domestic Fair Trade Coordinator (1 Elected):

Work with students and allies to develop Domestic Fair Trade programming
Facilitate a USFT Domestic Fair Trade Strategy Team through conference calls and a session at the Convergence
Support and connect students engaging in Domestic Fair Trade on campuses
Uphold USFT's role as an endorsing member of the Alliance for Fair Food / Real Food Challenge and organize in support of the work of the Student/Farmworker Alliance and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Maintain connections between USFT and the Domestic Fair Trade Association and attend meetings
Research potential ally organizations and build relationships
Keep abreast of workers' rights campaigns in the United States and identify potential for coalition building
Research ways to expand Domestic Fair Trade programming
Develop education materials and provide access to existing resources
Develop a long-term vision and strategy for Domestic Fair Trade campaigning