VOLUNTEER, INTERN, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As a non-profit, international organization, Educational Communications has had volunteers working for social and environmental change since 1958. Each individual can help according to his or her own capabilities--the time, energy, and effort that you give depends on you. The process to get started is easy: Simply call and tell us what you are interested in doing, what your area of expertise is, and when you want to start. You can assist one hour a year or eight hours a day. Although certain skills are helpful, experience is not required; we will train, if necessary. You can just provide general assistance or take full responsibility for a project or activity. Before you begin any projects, have them approved by the Executive Director. Most projects can be handled at your own home or office. Sometimes we meet at our studios (usually in southern California) and other times have work sessions at various coordinators’ homes, especially in west Los Angeles. It is not necessary to go to our Idyllwild offices.

SPECIAL NOTES--INTERNSHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT Interns are part of special school, organizational, or governmental programs that require a set number of hours, written evaluation, and supervisorial attention. If you simply want to help a good cause and/or get experience, then volunteer. If you need school credit or other job training as an intern, we will provide the appropriate service. At present, Educational Communications does not have any full-time salaried positions. Commission work is available. Individuals are needed to get members, subscribers, and donors on a commission basis. We need fundraisers who can prepare grant proposals, either for your own project or one already in progress. As project funding becomes available, we hire from our volunteer ranks. Any efforts to raise money should first be coordinated by the Executive Director and approved by the Board of Directors.

Please complete the Liability Release and Agreement form then send to EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, at P. O. Box 351419, Los Angeles, CA 90035-9119.

ECONEWS TELEVISION SERIES

• Digitally edit television shows (will teach)
• Log raw footage (list the shots taken and transcribe the interviews).
• Prepare edit lists (esp. for our special ecotourism shows) and edit the shows.
• Develop in-studio programs (guest coordination and script writing).
• Help on shoots in the field and / or in the studio (no experience necessary).
• Write teases, intros, segues, and closes for videos to be used on shows.
• Screen finished shows and write highlights for catalog.
• Type, edit, proof, and format the catalog entries.
• Be a producer, director, writer, editor, cameraperson, audio person, or crew

Ecology Center of Southern California

• Write letters in response to action alerts that will be sent out over the organization’s letterhead; create action alerts.
• Update entries in the DIRECTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
• Sort through press releases, brochures, reports, and newsletters to see if there are items for our response (look for cartoons, mention of our projects, action alerts, videos, possible guests for radio and television shows, etc.).
• Staff literature tables at events, fairs, and conferences.
• Give speeches to elementary, secondary, college, and adult audiences.
• Attend hearings and read testimony.
• Function as coalition and network repesentative in person and on the internet

ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTIONS RADIO SERIES

• Research facts, figures, and statistics for upcoming shows.
• Edit shows on reel-to-reel 1/4” tape.
• Prepare list of past and current distribution outlets.
• Transcribe interviews and edit for magazine and newsletter reprints.
• Prepare short reports for other radio series.
  

COMPENDIUM NEWSLETTER

• Write or type reports and articles for inclusion in the newsletter.
• Edit, shorten, and format special reports submitted by others.
• Review books and CD’s for the newsletter (one to four paragraphs in length).
• Proof issues every two months.
• Sort the printed newsletters by zip code and bundle them for bulk mailing

PROJECT ECOTOURISM

• Collect and hold items for distribution to third-world countries (clothes, books, equipment, supplies, etc.).
• Take materials on your trips overseas to distribute to individuals and organizations.
• Staff offices of other groups that we support.
• Write sections of the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDEBOOK

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Get new members to join; get donations from viewers and listeners.
• Telephone members to renew their subscriptions and give extra donations.
• Handle inquires from viewers and listeners for more information; create reference list for each show.
• Write grant proposals and seek funding for projects.
• Market radio and television shows to new distributors and potential sponsors.
• Dub the radio and television programs into other languages (such as Spanish, Korean, Russian, French, German, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Hebrew).
• Address envelopes and handle other mailings.
• Run errands--deliver and pick up tapes, purchase supplies, get copies, etc.
• Search web sites; update our listings on other sites; respond to e-mails and follow-up.
• Maintain our website (add show titles; update forms and schedules).
• Maintain databases and update mailing lists--esp. membership, radio & television guests.
• Prepare or update brochures, forms, flyers and other literature on computer.
• Create special activities and projects as you see fit

CAMPUS GREENING

• Work with fellow students to promote ecological practices in schools .
• Develop internship and volunteer programs with high schools and colleges
  

Directory of Environmental Organizations

• Add, proof, and edit entries
  

Environmental Resources Library

• Sort materials for collections.
• Make dubs for the Library of Congress collection.
• Organize archival material to be donated to a major library

Southern California Environmental Guidebook

• Gather data; confirm article entries; write sections; and research information