WMEAC relies on caring volunteers like you to carry out our mission of leading environmental protection. We are all part of West Michigan’s environment, so we must work together to protect and positively influence our natural surroundings. WMEAC volunteers average 10,000 hours every year for various programs, professional, and maintenance needs! We need you to volunteer West Michigan to protect our environment!
Page last updated 4/13/2018.
TEACH FOR THE WATERSHED MENTORS
Become a Teach for the Watershed Mentor!
Every year, WMEAC works with 3,00+ middle school students in West Michigan, bringing hands-on, place-based watershed education to students and teachers alike. It would be impossible for us to do this without the help of our trusty Teach for the Watershed (T4W) mentors! These special volunteers are trained in watershed education, and contribute a minimum of 4-6 hours each month (but up to multiple days/week!) to helping us teach students in multiple school districts throughout our 8-county service area.
These volunteers stay on board to help us educate from March-June each year, and sometimes into the summer, as well! Our T4W mentors vary greatly, some being college students and some being retired environmental professionals or educators, and everyone in between!
The training for this program happens in two parts: the classroom training portion (Enviroscape training), and the field work training. Mentors must complete both trainings to work with us all season.*
It’s not too late to become a T4W mentor this spring! Just send us an email or call our office at (616) 451-3051 and we’ll work with you to make sure you get the training you need to succeed!
*All mentors must pass a background check to work with students
GREEN ROOF GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Green Roof Green Thumbs!
Did you know that WMEAC was the first zero-stormwater discharge site in Grand Rapids? One of the ways we manage our stormwater is with our green roof! We need help weeding the green roof garden to keep it working the way it should! Lend your green thumb to the cause and help pull weeds all while enjoying a great view!
Email us at volunteer@wmeac.org to let us know you want to share your enthusiasm for gardening!
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
The Director of Operations has various administrative tasks for the right student or retiree with interest/experience in non-profit management, financial operations, and general administration.
Email us at volunteer@wmeac.org and share some of your skills with us, and we’ll do our best to find you a good fit.
GREEN DRINKS GREETER
Description/Background: Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. The event is held on the third Thursday of the month in the evening at various venues throughout Greater-Grand Rapids and the Lakeshore. Attendees will vary from students and academia, non-profit, government, and sustainable business professionals.
Calendar Time Scope Commitment: The event takes place once a month on the third Thursday of the month from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Responsibilities of Volunteers:
- Support the WMEAC table the day of the event. Most commonly either setting up or breaking down the table.
- Help greet attendees
JOIN A COMMITTEE
WMEAC hosts a number of committees to help with our internal policies and procedures, provide guidance, and expand our network for effective community engagement.
Are you interested in a more formal commitment with WMEAC?
Let us know if you are interested in learning more about our Event Planning, Fund Development, Policy and Advocacy, IDEAL (Inclusion and Development of Environmental Allies and Leaders), and event specific committees like Grand River Clean Up, Blue Tie Ball, the Annual Meeting, and Women and the Environment.
ARCHIVAL/RESEARCH VOLUNTEER
Looking for research assistance to help assess items for submission to WMEAC archives and review of documents to help prepare for major milestone event.
Volunteer should be studying non-profit management or archival/information studies.
Email us at volunteer@wmeac.org and share some of your skills with us, and we’ll do our best to find you a good fit.
Women and Environment Symposium
Description/Background: The first Women and Environment Symposium took place in 2010 in partnership with Grand Valley State University’s Women’s Resource Center. The intent of the event is to integrate and elevate women and environmental topics and the intersections between the two. Historically, the event has held workshops, panel discussions, a keynote speaker, and presented awards. The event is held at a GVSU campus in late winter/early spring. The organization of the event committee is segmented into subcommittees including logistics, honoree, inclusion, speakers, sponsors/budget, and marketing.
Calendar Time Scope Commitment: A one-time meeting takes place in the last spring/early summer to brainstorm and decided potential keynote speakers and the event theme for the upcoming event. Full committee meetings take place from September – March.
Monthly Time Commitment: The full committee meets monthly at the WMEAC office from September through March. Committee members are also expected to join a subcommittee to support action items and event needs. Time commitments vary based on subcommittee.
Responsibilities of Volunteers:
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- Create event concepts, themes, and topics.
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- Create and finalize event logistics including agenda, food, location, and time.
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- Promote the event and honoree award opportunity.
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- Facilitate inclusion.
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- Plan and organize supporting community events with the keynote speaker to compliment community engagement.
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- Brainstorm and secure event sponsors alongside WMEAC’s Director of Development.
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- Meet monthly with the full committee during event planning months.
Contact: volunteer@wmeac.org
Blue Tie Ball
Description/Background: The Blue Tie Ball is WMEAC’s signature fundraising event. It occurs in April – as close to Earth Day as possible. In addition to a cocktail hour and sit down dinner, we provide a short program highlighting several programs as well as a really fun live ‘experience’ auction.
Calendar Time Scope Commitment: September – April
Monthly Time Commitment: Committee meeting meets 1-2x/month plus some independent work.
Responsibilities of Volunteers:
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- Determining menu, drinks, entertainment and decorations
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- Soliciting live auction items
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- Assisting with sponsor development and solicitation
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- Assisting with developing a strong host committee – a group that will use their connections to recruit attendees.
Contact: Mary Robinson at mrobinson@wmeac.org
Evening on the Lakeshore - Marigold Lodge
Description/Background: A fundraising and education/engagement lakeshore event to make our lakeshore-focused programs and initiatives more visible to the lakeshore community.
Calendar Time Scope Commitment: May – August
Monthly Time Commitment: approximately three meetings as well as some independent work
Responsibilities of Volunteers:
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- Help determine menu and program
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- Assist with developing a strong host committee that will use their connections to recruit attendees
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- Solicit Lakeshore sponsors
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- Assist in soliciting door prizes
Contact: Mary Robinson at mrobinson@wmeac.org
Annual Meeting
Description/Background: Annual Meeting with WMEAC’s membership, donors, stakeholders, and partners to celebrate and acknowledge the past fiscal year and corresponding accomplishments at an organizational level. Event includes community time and networking, an award ceremony, and Board of Director selection by members. Event will take place in late October or November.
Calendar Time Scope Commitment: June – Setting and securing venue and date, October – November – event planning
Responsibilities of Volunteers:
- Securing event venue and event food menu.
- Supporting day-of setup and breakdown needs.
Supporting day-of registration tabling needs
Contact: Mary Robinson at mrobinson@wmeac.org
Mayors’ Grand River Clean Up
More info coming soon!
Recent Post
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WMEAC’S 2018 Blue Tie Ball Raises Funds to Protect WaterApril 16, 2018 - 2:41 pm
Environmental Groups Implore Army Corps of Engineers to Deny Permits for Saugatuck Dunes ExcavationMarch 23, 2018 - 8:42 am