Committee Work Plan Cover Sheet - The Coastal Society

Cover Sheet for Committee Work Plan
Committee: Chapters____________________________________
Activity Goal Who
Responsible
Goal #1 Increase Chapter and
TCS Membership
OBJECTIVE: Develop a
comprehensive plan to
promote membership in both a
local chapter and in TCS
Sustainable Membership Chapters
Committee,
TCS BOD
Budget
$500 (for
possible travel)
Other Committee
Assistance
Membership
Timeline
September
2011 -
December 2012
fall semester
ACTION ITEMS:
• Direct and ongoing
communication with
the chapter leadership
to promote chapter and
TCS membership
[High Priority]
• Work with
Membership
Committee and BOD
on ways to
promote/clarify chapter
and TCS membership
benefits, and to recruit
new members and
retain existing
members [High
Priority]
• Work with the TCS
BOD to arrange an
annual visit by a TCS
representative to speak
to each chapter

GOAL #2: Increase and Refine
Chapter Communication
OBJECTIVE: Enhance
existing communication to
establish a more transparent
and mutually beneficial
relationship between chapters
and the committee, other TCS
committees, and the TCS
BOD; and among chapters for
the discussion of issues,
promotion of chapter activities
and dissemination of
information
Support of Existing and
Developing Chapters
Chapters
Committee, and
TCS BOD
$500 (for
possible support
of unifying event
by all chapters)
Communications
September
2011 –
December 2012
for chapter
unifying event
ACTION ITEMS:
• Schedule a bi-monthly
conference call of all
chapter representatives
and the Chapters
Committee [High
Priority]
• Outline the benefits of
a chapter to TCS, the
benefits of being a TCS
chapter, and the value
of the relationship
between them.
Develop the
expectations and
obligations for a TCS
chapter. Discuss the
benefits and
expectations with
leadership of the
chapters to increase

understanding and to
demonstrate two-way
communication [High
Priority]
• Create a dedicated
chapters section of the
TCS web site as a place
to archive examples of
successful activities,
governing documents,
and a calendar of
events [High Priority]
• Discuss with the TCS
BOD how the national
office can better
communicate with the
chapters, support
chapter activities and
get students more
involved in TCS
• Unify the chapters by
holding one event
which is done by all of
the chapters on the
same day, such as
National Estuaries Day
(September 2012) or
International Coastal
Cleanup Day

GOAL #3: Increase Student
Attendance and Participation at
TCS Conference in
Conjunction with the
Conference Organizing
Committee
OBJECTIVE: Enhance student
engagement in TCS
conferences
ACTION ITEMS:
• Work directly with
other committees and
the TCS BOD to
promote the TCS
conference to the
chapters [High
Priority]
• Encourage students to
write papers, and give
presentations; and
demonstrate the
benefits of attending
the biennial conference
[High Priority]
• Consult with chapters
about student
engagement in the
conference early in
conference planning,
and explore incentives
for students who are
not presenting to attend
the conference [High
Priority]
• Assist TCS conference
Engagement of Students Chapters
Committee,
TCS
Conference
Organizers and
TCS BOD
$0 Education September
2011 – July
2012 TCS 23
conference

organizers to develop
roundtable
conversations, arrange
for speakers and
provide training at
conferences that focus
on career opportunities
[High Priority]
GOAL #4: Assist with Chapter
Leadership Transition
OBJECTIVE: As continuity of
TCS participation from the
outgoing students to the
incoming students is critical
for both chapter health and
membership it is important to
keep track of and assist in the
turnover, and to follow
students when they become
professionals so as not to lose
them as members.
Support of Existing and
Developing Chapters
Chapters
Committee
$0 None September
2011 – April
2012 spring
semester
ACTION ITEMS:
• Contact each chapter
prior to the end of the
spring semester to
suggest a smooth
transition process
[High Priority]
• Hold an orientation
meeting/phone call of
the outgoing and
incoming chapter
officers to make sure

that they are prepared
to take over the
management of the
chapter, and pass on
important documents
and sources of
information to the new
officers [High
Priority]
• Ask chapter presidents,
including past chapter
presidents, where the
difficulties have
occurred and where the
opportunities are for
strengthening and
streamlining transition
[High Priority]
GOAL #5: Encourage Stronger
Faculty Advising
OBJECTIVE: Promote close
and effective faculty/student/
chapter relationships and
advising of students
Support of Existing and
Developing Chapters
Chapters
Committee
$0 None September
2011 – April
2012 and
ongoing
ACTION ITEMS:
• Discuss with chapter
leadership what they
want and need from
their faculty advisors
[High Priority]
• Consult with faculty
advisors on a regular
basis and visit when

possible about their
role; call and/or e-mail
faculty advisors to
express thanks and
encouragement for
their efforts; and
encourage them to talk
about the chapter in
class, attend chapter
meetings, help find
matching funding, and
recruit members [High
Priority]
GOAL #6: Aid Career
Development
OBJECTIVE: Assist student
members with their transition
from school to career
positions
Engagement of Students Chapters
Committee,
TCS
Conference
Organizers,
TCS BOD
$0 Education,
Communications
September
2011 – July
2012 and
ongoing
ACTION ITEMS:
• Create a regularly
updated source of
career information on
the TCS website
• Consult with chapter
presidents, Education
Committee, faculty
advisors and TCS BOD
on how best to have
BOD and other
members, and chapter
alumni serve as
mentors and career
advisors

• Assist TCS conference
organizers to develop
roundtable
conversations, arrange
for speakers and
provide training at
conferences that focus
on career opportunities
GOAL #7: Develop New
Chapters
OBJECTIVE: Work on
creating new and long-term
viable chapters with sound
leadership, active members
and a dedicated faculty advisor
Support of Existing and
Developing Chapters
Chapters
Committee,
TCS
Conference
Organizers and
TCS BOD
$500 (for
possible travel)
Development
September
2011 and
ongoing
ACTION ITEMS:
• Actively solicit new
chapters in the Miami,
FL area because it is
the location of the 2012
conference. Reach out
to schools, faculty
members and
professionals,
especially those on the
TCS 23 Organizing
Committee. Send
them TCS info on
chapter formation,
bylaws, history, and
lists of TCS members
at school and in area;
and invite a prospective
chapter representative

to participate in
Chapters Committee
call [High Priority]
• Visit potential new
chapters to meet with
student and faculty
representatives
GOAL #8: Increase Chapter
Fundraising
OBJECTIVE: Assist chapters
in creating and implementing
fundraising opportunities and
activities for long-term
solvency
Support of Existing and
Developing Chapters
Chapters
Committee, and
TCS BOD
$0 Development,
Communications
September
2011 and
ongoing
ACTION ITEMS:
• Assist the chapters in
creating an archive of
tips and examples of
fundraising activities
on the chapters section
of the TCS web site
GOAL #9: Promote Written
Student Submissions to TCS
Publications
OBJECTIVE: Work with the
Engagement of Students Chapters
Committee and
TCS Bulletin
Editor
$0 Communications September
2011 and
ongoing
(quarterly for
Bulletin)

TCS Bulletin editor and the
Communications Committee to
encourage students to write
articles for the Bulletin and/or
the TCS website
ACTION ITEM:
• Encourage students
through regular
communication with
the chapters to submit
writings to TCS on
topics that they are
interested in, studying
in class or that they
worked on during an
internship