Symposium Assistant Organizer

Background:

High Country Citizens' Alliance (HCCA), Gunnison Countys environmental and community organization since 1977, is dedicated to protecting the human and natural communities of the Upper Gunnison River Valley and to promoting economic, social and environmental sustainability. HCCA will hold its 5th Annual Sustainable Communities Symposium September 19-21, 2003. The Symposium presents economically, socially and environmentally sustainable alternatives to about 200 members of the local and statewide community throughout a 3-day weekend with talks, workshops and home tours. The goal of the Symposium is to share sustainable business practices across a wide spectrum of sectors, showing that business can be successful while protecting the environment and the community. Workshop topics focus on sustainable practices in tourism, skiing, ranching, farming, economic and consumer alternatives, education, utilities, construction, and finance. We also present a segment for individuals to learn about opportunities in sustainable living practices. The Symposium has become a well-known innovative yearly event increasingly visited by residents of our Gunnison valley and the entire Colorado region.

Duties:

We are looking for a Symposium Assistant Organizer. The Assistant Organizer would help with the entire coordination of the event. This includes:

• Finalization of the Saturday workshop agenda
• Organization of the Sunday sustainable homes and business tours
• Solicitation of financial sponsors and in-kind sponsors. This entails recruiting past and new financial sponsors as well as finding in-kind sponsors who would offer lodging for the speakers, or who would offer food and entertainment donations
• Help with the Symposium media campaign. This entails creating and sending the brochure; writing and sending Public Service Announcements to the newspapers, e-mail alert lists and radio; posting the event on the HCCA website and other sustainability websites; getting the banner permit; and inviting Gunnison valley business owners
• Communication with speakers about logistics (such as lodging, arrival and departure, expenses, and audio/video needs)

Qualifications:

Candidates need to be in their junior or senior year of College/University or have relevant project related work experience. Excellent organizational and communication skills are a must, and a broad environmental background is recommended. Candidates should be enthusiastic to work for an environmental non-profit organization and they also should be hard-working, flexible, and have some leadership and project coordination skills. The candidate should feel comfortable approaching and communicating with various members of the community that are unknown to the intern.

Gesa Michel, the event organizer, will supervise the intern during the internship. The internship lasts three months during the summer beginning the 1st of July and ending in the end of September.

Application Instructions:

Send or e-mail a cover letter and resume by April 21, 2003 to:

Gesa Michel,
High Country Citizens Alliance,
PO Box 1066,
Crested Butte, CO 81224,

Feel free to contact Gesa Michel with questions. More information on HCCA and the Symposium can be obtained on the website address below or by calling us.