The role includes coordinating new volunteers to take an active role in the Surfrider SLO Chapter. A Volunteer Coordinator thrives with a blend of organizational skills, interpersonal strengths, and a passion for bringing people together to create positive change.

Interests good for this role: Passion for community engagement. A genuine enthusiasm for fostering community engagement and making a positive impact in SLO County.

Skills good for this role: 

• Communication Skills: Clear and concise communication is essential for interacting with volunteers and executive committee members.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with a diverse group of people, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Positive Attitude & Enthusiasm: A positive and enthusiastic personality that motivates volunteers and inspires participation in community efforts.

Examples of tasks: 

• Connect potential volunteers with volunteer opportunities.
• Work with program leads and Executive Committee members to develop plans for volunteer activities, ensuring clear timelines, roles, and responsibilities.
• Help to develop a ‘menu’ of volunteer opportunities for people to choose from.
• Use the Golden Volunteer Management Platform to create, upload and manage all chapter volunteer opportunities.
• Keep volunteers informed about activity details, changes, and any additional information they need.

Volunteer type: Ongoing

Time commitment: Roughly 2 to 6 hours per week remotely plus a monthly check-in to collaborate with the team. You are also welcome and encouraged to participate in volunteer activities when possible. Perfection is not expected, we are mainly looking for someone to give a consistent effort to help improve Surfrider SLO over time. It’s more of a marathon than a sprint and a one-year minimum commitment is expected.

How to get involved: Email Niel: chair@slo.surfrider.org

Climate/Energy Storytelling Team 

As a member of the Climate/Energy Storytelling Team, you'll tell the story of local climate solutions and the clean energy transition. Use photo, video, writing, or social media skills to capture moments, elevate voices, and inspire action across our community.

Interests good for this role: Storytelling, renewable energy, climate change.

Skills good for this role: writing, graphic design, social media, or photography skills.

Examples of tasks: 

• Write blog posts/newsletter articles about local climate issues/solutions
• Create shareable graphics
• Manage social media content related to the program
• Photograph events and climate impacts.

Volunteer type: Ongoing

Time commitment: Roughly 3 to 6 hours per month remotely plus a monthly check-in to collaborate with the team.

How to get involved: Email Jake: jmcnevin@slo.surfrider.org

Energy Choice Impact Researcher 

As an Energy Choice Impact Researcher, you'll help quantify impacts of energy consumption and production.

Interests that are good for this role: climate change, energy production, grid operations, ecology

Examples of tasks: 

• Find the direct and quantifiable relationship between atmospheric carbon concentration and ocean acidification
• Enumerate direct and quantifiable relationships between ocean acidification and ocean ecology or health
• Enumerate direct and quantifiable relationships between various types of gaseous pollution and ecology or health
• Enumerate direct and quantifiable relationships between global temperature change and ecology or health
• Establish the direct and quantifiable relationship between global temperature fluctuation or whiplash and extreme weather events or regional airidity

Volunteer type: Ongoing

Time commitment: Roughly 3 to 6 hours per month remotely plus a monthly check-in to collaborate with the team.

How to get involved: Email Jake: jmcnevin@slo.surfrider.org

Digital Outreach and Media Lead

As the Digital Outreach and Media Lead, you’ll assist with planning, creating, scheduling, and posting content to multiple social media platforms on a weekly basis, and communication with users of social media about Surfrider and the SLO Chapter.

Interests good for this role: Social media, community outreach, online engagement

Skills good for this role: Social media platform management, communication skills, writing, and photography,

Volunteer type: Weekly

Time commitment: 1-4 hours per week

How to get involved: Email Laura: lpedersen@slo.surfrider.org

Ocean Friendly Restaurants Team 

As part of the Ocean Friendly Restaurants Team, you'll help to reduce plastic pollution and encourage sustainable practices by working with restaurants throughout SLO County to sign up as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant.

Interests good for this role: Plastics reduction, restaurants, talking with people.

Skills good for this role: Communication skills in person and online.

Volunteer type: Weekly / ongoing

Time commitment: 1-3 hours per week

How to get involved: Email Celia: ofr@slo.surfrider.org

If you are interested in any of the leadership opportunities below, please email chair@slo.surfrider.org 

• Volunteer Coordinator
• Social Media Coordinator
• Event Coordinator
• Web Master
• Save the Avila Coast
• SLO Creek Estuary Restoration
• Ocean Protection
• Climate and Clean Energy
• RISE Above Plastics
• Ocean Friendly Restaurants

We need volunteer leaders with science, environmental management, legal, or policy backgrounds to help with research, analysis, and comments on various development proposals and policy initiatives.  Anyone with good research and writing skills can help.

We also need leaders with experience in motivating citizen volunteers to present effective well-prepared facts and arguments aimed at having a significant impact on undecided government staff and elected officials.  Experience in implementing effective advocacy techniques is helpful.  See our website for more information about these campaigns.