Join the Young Professionals as the 2019-20 Program Year Kicks Off!

Our new Young Professionals Leadership Team has organized and is looking for more Young Professionals - officially defined as people between the ages of 21 and 40 working in:

• organics recycling businesses;
• non-profit organizations;
• compost marketing, manufacturing, or allied industries such as equipment and services;
• regulation and policy at any government level;
• compostable products companies;
• research and education sector;

or anyone with an interest in advancing compost as per the USCC’s Mission and Vision:

“We believe compost manufacturing and compost utilization are central to creating healthy soils, clean air and water, a stable climate and a sustainable society.”

This year, the Young Professionals are taking on a greater role in leading the group and its projects. The following committee chairs have already volunteered to lead and are actively looking for members:

Steering Committee (Kristine Ellsworth, NY DEC, Chair)

As the USCC Young Professionals (YP) begin to support themselves within the greater USCC organization, the main goals of the 2019/2020 steering committee will be to solidify the USCC YP framework.

Tasks for this committee will include but are not limited to:

• Drafting the vision and mission of the USCC Young Professionals
• Formalizing the benefits of joining as a Young Professional
• Attending bi-monthly steering committee calls
• Hosting quarterly calls with all YPs and committees for report outs
• Working with the engagement committee to increase membership
• Overseeing the progress of the contest, volunteer, webinar and engagement committees
• Assisting the contest, volunteer, webinar and engagement committee, as needed

To volunteer, contact Kristine Ellsworth at Kristine.Ellsworth@dec.ny.gov.

Emerging Composter Committee (Isaac Bearg, NJ Composting Committee and Consultant, Chair)

This committee has put on the EC Venture Competition the last two years and will give you the opportunity to choose the format of a challenge/competition to take place at COMPOST2020 in Charleston, SC. You do not have to be going to the conference to be of service to this committee. Take a look at some of the tasks we could use your help and expertise with:   

• Sponsor outreach
• Decide on format and rules
• Put together application
• Put together scoring rubric
• Promote application to potential applicants (webinar to explain the competition, update website, email blasts, social media, reach entrepreneurs including outreach to universities, incubators, etc.)
• Review applications for fit with rules
• Hand over applications for scoring to judges (or if we determine a different method)
• Invite the final three participants and provide instructions for final competition
• Communication with judges on final rules
• Prepare post event survey for participants and judges
• Communication with event staff for onsite A/V and other needs
• Print the scorecards and presentations for judges
• Final meeting with the participants
• Round up judges to make sure they're in the right place
• Tally scores and award the winner

This committee is busiest from fall through February 2020. To help, email Isaac at isaacbearg@gmail.com.

Volunteer Project Committee (Shelby Hoglund, Grad Student, University of Arizona, Chair)

The Volunteer Committee works to:

• Seek out a project related to compost in the Charleston area
• Promote participations of YPs (and their mentors and others interested)
• Organize day-of transportation
• If able, participate in the volunteer project

To help, contact Shelby Hoglund at srhoglund@email.arizona.edu.

Webinar Committee (Felipe Pedrazzi, Chair)

This committee will be organizing a series of quarterly webinars in 2020 on topics such as vermicomposting, STA, weather/geographic impacts on composting, how to get a job in composting, etc.!

If you’re good at recruiting speakers, marketing webinars, writing descriptions or helping put on a webinar, contact Felipe at felip@fazverde.com.

Outreach Committee (Leslie Rodgers, Chair)

Outreach Committee goals include:

• Keeping YPs in the know with industry-related events and happenings
• Creating and managing monthly opportunities to connect as a group
• Increasing UP member negagement and sense of community
• Social media communications

To volunteer, conteact Leslie Rodgers, leslie.rodgers@atlasorganics.com.

Mentoring Committee

This committee reviews the mentoring applications in May/June 2020 and matches mentors/mentees, and helps with the mentor/mentee check-in in the fall. A chair is needed for this committee.

What Does Volunteering Look Like?

Most of the volunteering is done by phone call, planning in Zoom or other conferencing. Members of committees take on tasks that involve email, social media and phone outreach, which can be done from your office/home.