Volunteers are what makes Design~Build~Live possible. Some of our volunteers have been with us for over sixteen years! Now, as we move the organization forward to bigger and better things, YOU can be a part of shaping the new DBL. (Check out Our Goals & Plans to see what we are planning.) Volunteering is a great opportunity to learn something new about natural building and sustainable living, share your talents, and have FUN. Please join us!

Specific volunteer positions will be posted here soon, but the first step in becoming a Volunteer Partner is to create a DBL account. If you have not already done so, please do so by going to “Log onto your DBL Account” in the bar to the right, then we will contact you about your interests and talents.

To give you an idea of some of the possible volunteer opportunities, some of our committees and their functions are as follows:

Books & Merchandise Committee – To be activated in future

The purpose of the Books & Merchandise Committee is to supplement the educational and fundraising functions of Design~Build~Live. Responsibilities include:

~Prepare media (books, magazines, CDs/DVDs, and other publications) and merchandise selection guideline for Board approval

~Select media/merchandise items that are consistent with approved selection guidelines

~Purchase, receive, record and manage all media and merchandise

~ Track books/media and merchandise for success and profitability

~Oversee media/merchandise sales at special events

~ Report and provide documentation for expenses and income to DBL bookkeeper

Education Committee

The Education Committee coordinates one of the most important parts of DBL’s mission: ongoing educational programs in the areas of natural building and sustainable living. This committee’s responsibility is to work with the Education Director to accomplish the following:

~ Conduct workshops and classes

~ Implement and refine curriculum

~ Assess and update near, medium and long-term education goals

~ Assess and reassess effectiveness of individual classes and workshops

~Engage qualified instructors

~Research eco-education programs elsewhere

~Coordinate with other area organizations

~Frequently assess unmet community educational needs

Fundraising Committee

The Fundraising Committee is charged with providing financial support through fundraising activities/events and grants. Tasks include:

~ Devise and implement strategies to secure financial donors (partners)

~Plan and organize special fundraising events

~ Secure inkind donations for workshops and events

~ Identify, index and maintain an inventory of institutional money sources for community and environmental non-profits (from websites, personal references,   research)

~ Recommend potential grant applications to Board and coordinate grant-writing processes to seek selected grants

Outreach Committee

Using visual and volunteer resources, the Outreach Committee’s purpose is to inform the media, general public and professionals about Design~Build~Live and its messages. Functions of this committee include:

~ Identify target audiences, organizations, businesses and media to inform of monthly presentations and DBL’s purpose and goals

~ Identify target audiences, organizations, businesses and media to inform of special events

~Coordinate the implementation of regular and special public outreach methods (news releases, program announcements, posters, internet postings, etc.)

~ Create, maintain and update databases of outreach targets

~Devise ongoing and special events to help increase awareness of DBL and its educational messages

Partners Committee

The Partners Committee is responsible for all activities relating to the recruitment and care of donors and volunteers. Duties include:

~ Welcome and follow up with each new Partner (donor or volunteer)

~ Create and maintain a Partner database

~ Recruit and help place new volunteers

~ Initiate fund raising events

~Work with individual Partners who desire to create a program or ecobusiness under the umbrella of DBL

~Plan and conduct partner appreciation events and perks

Monthly Presentations Committee

The Monthly Presentations Committee is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating DBL monthly presentations. Duties include:

~Identify possible program topics

~ Contact potential presenter candidates and secure commitment

~Work with presenters to prepare monthly presentation

~ Arrange for volunteers to set up and close down at each monthly meeting

~Evaluate presentation and audience response

~Identify and coordinate site visits, performing functions similar to those for presentations as well as handling site safety issues and liability waivers

Special Events Committee

The Special Events Committee is responsible for all activities relating to the pre-event coordination and communication surrounding special events. Duties include:

~ Communication between Partner committee and main planning committee for event as necessary to ensure volunteer needs for event are met

~Communication between main planning committee for event and Treasury committee to monitor budget

~ Initiate fund raising events with Partners committee

~Communication between main planning committee and all DBL committees for single-point of contact and quality assurance

Village Committee - Currently Full

The purpose of the Village Committee is to coordinate the planning and implementation of Design~Build~Live’s ecovillage. The Committee will help make the DBL ecovillage a reality by addressing the following:

~Clarify DBL’s vision of the Village and the land we seek

~ Draft the Village Covenants

~ Define a strategy to make the Village a reality

~ Determine ways to finance the Village and other possible partners

~ Outline how the Village and DBL Learning Center would interact

~Coordinate the Intentional Community Dialogue Group

Visual Communications Committee

The Vis Com Committee is responsible for written / printed communications related to Design~Build~Live. This committee produces, creates or oversees the production of the various forms of visual communications, such as:

~ Letterhead and business cards

~ Website design and maintenance

~ Special event posters and other graphic displays

~ Press releases

~Maintaining a photographic record of DBL events

~ Brochures

~ Permanent educational displays and materials

~Materials library (samples and explanations of natural building materials)

Website Committee

The Website Committee carries out functions related to the DBL website, including:

~Website design and maintenance

~ Monthly updates of content

~ Initiation of user surveys to assess website content

~Coordination between our Z2 organizational software and the website

~Set up and troubleshooting of interfaces required to process payments