Join the OGS Board of Directors - Open Call

Thank you for your interest in serving as a member of an OGS Committee or the Board of Directors for the Organic Growers School (OGS). We seek socially conscious, impact-driven people to join our Volunteer Committees and Board of Directors. We encourage everyone passionate about sustainable, organic food and farming to apply, especially those historically underrepresented in food system leadership roles. However you identify and whatever background you bring with you, if you find alignment and excitement in what OGS is doing in the world, come join us and help us build an organization and movement where we're all proud to belong.

OGS's mission is to inspire, educate, and support people to farm, garden, and live organically through hands-on training, workshops, conferences, and partnerships. OGS is the premier provider of practical and affordable organic education in the Southern Appalachians, building a vibrant food & farming community by boosting the success of our region's organic home growers and farmers.

We value:

Organic growing and believe that it benefits the grower, the community, the consumer, and the earth.
Ensuring quality, integrity, and equity in our organization and programming.
Providing accessible, affordable, practical, and regionally appropriate education on regenerative and organic farming, gardening, eating, and living.
Building community and strengthening connections among people, healthy food, and land.
See OGS's Commitment to Social Justice on our About page.
The OGS Committees and Board of Directors play a critical role in the Organic Growers School. Members are involved in program and policy oversight, financial management, strategic direction, and fundraising.

Serving on a Committee or the Board of Directors is a rewarding experience and an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Completing this form will help you better understand this leadership position and time/resource commitments. Please read the entire application and the required responsibilities before you complete it. Completing this form will help you better understand the skills and time/resource commitments of these leadership positions.

The OGS Board's Governance and Planning Committee uses applications to identify and evaluate potential Board and committee candidates. This application will be kept confidential and on file at OGS. Current Board and committee members elect new members by a majority vote. If we cannot invite you to join the Board or a committee at this time, we will keep you in mind for future years!

OGS Committees include:

Governance & Planning Committee
Finance Committee
Advancement Committee
Social Justice Committee
Farmer Steering Committee

Committee Members are expected to:

Attend and participate in quarterly committee meetings and other ad hoc scheduled committee meetings as able. Up to 5 hrs/month as a volunteer.
Bring your individual experience and perspective to the discussions and work of the committee.
Stay updated with committee communications and come to meetings prepared to talk about the issues.
Be an ambassador for OGS and organic/sustainable growing in the community.
Support the OGS staff engaged in the committee.

Board Members are expected to:

Commit approximately 8-10 hrs per month on average as a volunteer.
Attend at least 60% (5 out of 8) of regular Board meetings each year (first two months of each quarter). All board meetings have an option for virtual/phone participation.
Participate in 1-2 committees, which meet at least quarterly, or sometimes more frequently.
Attend and participate as a volunteer at the Annual Spring Conference event and at least one other OGS function annually, allowing for extenuating circumstances.
Stay updated with board communications and come to meetings prepared to talk about the issues.
Be an ambassador for OGS and organic/sustainable growing in the community.
Support and contribute to annual fundraising efforts.
Support the staff.

Board Member Terms: The term for Board Members is three years. Candidates will be selected and attend their first meeting as guests in the fall and officially begin their duties in the spring. After a term, a Board member may choose to serve for another term subject to a majority vote of the Board.

First name*

Last name*

Street address

City*

State/Region*

Phone number

Email*

Occupation/Affiliation

If comfortable, please identify your racial, ethnic, and/or cultural background:

(choose all that apply)

I’m applying to join the:

(choose all that apply)

Have you been involved with the work of OGS in any way in the past? How did you find out about this opportunity?

Please describe your relevant area(s) of expertise, contribution, skills, talents, personal interest, and/or employment that you would be able to contribute to OGS, the Board of Directors and/or your preferred Committee.

Tell us why you would like to serve on the Organic Growers School’s Board of Directors or a Committees.

What is your experience with organic/sustainable food, farming, and gardening? And the Southern Appalachian region?

Have you served (or are currently serving) on other nonprofit boards? If so, which one(s) and what was or is your role? Or, describe your current active involvement in other community organizations.

Are you willing and able to give time, energy, and resources to support the mission of the OGS? (see the introduction above for more specific details)

Yes

Maybe

Other

Would you be able to attend at least 60% of Committee Meetings (3 of 4+/yr) and/or Board Meetings (5 of 8/yr) board meetings twice a quarter throughout the year?

Yes

Maybe

Other

Would a time commitment of 8-10 hrs/month for Board Members and/or 5 hrs/month of committee work be possible, given your other time commitments?

Yes

Maybe

Other

What would you like to gain from serving on the OGS Board of Directors or a Committee? What can we do to ensure that your participation is meaningful, fulfilling, and rewarding?

Is there anything else you think would be of interest, or would you like to share?

Please provide the contact information for 2-3 references we can reach out to, and how you are connected with them.

Reference 1*

Name, Affiliation, Number/Email

Reference 2*

Name, Affiliation, Number/Email

Reference 3

Name, Affiliation, Number/Email