How to Start a Grassroots Environmental Organization

You're serious about saving the environment and you're ready to do something about it. There are many issues you want to tackle, from designating a wildlife refuge in your community to initiating a tree-planting program. With so many good ideas, you're going to need more helping hands. Consider starting a grassroots environmental organization and getting members of your community involved.

Instructions

1. Contact your local newspaper and ask them to do a story on your intended grassroots organization. Give them a lot of information: what your goals are, how many people you hope to recruit and how interested parties can contact you.

2. Set up an initial information meeting to explain your goals and your vision. Preprint handouts for the attendees so they can follow along. Before your meeting is over, ask volunteers to help form a governing board. In addition, have a few sign-up sheets around the room where people, who are interested in helping, but not serving on an organizational committee, can leave their name and address.

3. Meet with your newly-formed board and determine the position each member will serve. You need a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and extra board members to form a voting quorum. Discuss short- and long-term goals. Encourage everyone to share their environmental ideas.

4. Delegate the workload. Until now, you've done all the legwork, now it's time to allow your board and volunteers to start putting the programs together.

5. Call in the professionals. Ask the board members to recommend environmentally-friendly attorneys that can assist with drawing up articles of incorporation and advising the group in a legal capacity free of charge. Inquire whether any members are acquainted with politicians or other high-profile persons who will speak to your organization.

6. Start the ball rolling. For every project, designate a committee, appoint an organizer and instruct them to meet on their own to set up their plan and report to the board. More success occurs by allowing separate committees to head up specific projects.

7. Consider an awards ceremony, held annually, recognizing all the hard work and congratulating the entire group on their successes.