Job Opportunities

Part-time Position Available
Accreditation Manager
NOFA Organic Land Care Program
CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association)

The Organic Land Care (OLC) Program, an initiative of the Connecticut and Massachusetts chapters of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) is looking for a highly motivated person to manage our growing multi-state accreditation program for organic land care professionals. Ours is the first program in the U.S. to define organic landscaping standards and accredit professionals in organic land care. (A listing of accredited professionals is available at www.organiclandcare.net/AOLCP/statelist.php and additional information on the Organic Land Care Program can be found at www.organiclandcare.net) Our accredited professionals have demonstrated a commitment to Organic Land Care by taking our intensive 5-day course, passing our Accreditation exam, earning four continuing education credits per year and pledging to provide organic land care according to NOFA standards. There are currently over 400 Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals working in 17 states. We promote our accredited professionals through our website, annual Guide, and community outreach. We also offer update courses and networking opportunities for our accredited professionals.

Description of work:

Managing the accreditation program: registering and maintaining contact with the accredited professionals, notifying them about opportunities for continuing education credits, working to ensure annual renewal of their accreditation
Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date database of accredited professionals and the services they provide. We will use this database to create the annual NOFA Guide to Organic Land Care

Facilitating networking, exchange, and support among the accredited professionals
Publicizing the accredited professionals to the wider public in need of their services

Recruiting accredited professionals to participate more fully in all aspects of the Organic Land Care Program (including teaching in the Organic Land Care courses)

Coordinating the annual update course

Participating fully in the monthly meetings and the work of the Organic Land Care Committee, which oversees the Organic Land Care Program.

Attend the last day of the each of the NOFA Organic Land Care courses held in CT, MA and RI to facilitate the gathering and distribution of information for accreditation and for the Guide to Organic Land Care.

Additional qualifications: experience with HTML, Dreamweaver, and Constant Contact preferred but not required.

The scope of the job within the Organic Land Care Program as a whole has the potential to grow significantly, contingent on additional funding.

This is a part-time position for an estimated 600 hours of work with pay commensurate with experience. The work would start in July 2008, with most of the hours between January and May, 2009. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Ashley Kremser, akremser@ctnofa.org, or CT NOFA, Box 164 Stevenson, CT 06491.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Hang Flyers in your Community
Print out flyers for our upcoming events and post at your local library, coffee shop, doctor's or veterinary office, food store, etc. Be sure to ask permission to post before hanging flyers. Contact the office for upcoming events.

NOFA Organic Land Care Program Event Help
Upcoming events are listed on the Organic Land Care website.

Volunteer outreach coordinator
Research events where CT NOFA materials can be displayed.
Contact them for permission to display outreach materials.
Develop outreach materials.
Go to events or help schedule other volunteers to go to event.
Contact Deb Legge for more information at deb@ctnofa.org

Reporter
Goes to CT NOFA events with camera and takes pictures.
Gets people’s names that are in pictures and permission to use pictures.
Writes stories for Gleanings/ press releases/ website.
Contact Deb Legge for more information at deb@ctnofa.org

Distribution Coordinator
Annual guide distribution - April through July - coordinates other volunteers statewide.
Periodic checking in of distribution points to see if they need more materials
Contact Deb Legge for more information at deb@ctnofa.org

News Watch
Reads the newspapers, watches TV and listens to the radio for mention of CT NOFA or its members.
Clips articles and records shows and archives them.
Formatting to digital files would be ideal for website and permanent saving. This can be done by the same or different volunteer.
Contact Deb Legge for more information at deb@ctnofa.org

Join a committee:
Taste! Organic Connecticut - contact Jim Roby at jroby7088@sbcglobal.net
Fundraising - contact Janet Heller at janet.heller@snet.net
Organic Land Care - contact Kim Stoner at kimberly.stoner@po.state.ct.us
Cultivating an Organic Connecticut Conference - contact Leanne Davis at leanne@ctnofa.org