Members of the SDLA community are eligible to serve on committees to help organize key elements of our organization’s activities.

Positions on the SDLA’s various committees will be limited. Committee participation will require current standing as a Member of the SDLA, and will depend on the needs of the committees, and members’ various skills and available time to commit.

Committees slated to be opened for participation by SDLA Members include:

• Alumni and Programming Committee
• Communications Committee
• Institute Committee
• Membership and Development Committee
• Mentorship Committee

Sign up below to receive information about serving on a committee.

Alumni and Programming Committee
The Alumni and Programming Committee is tasked with maintaining strong professional and social connections within the SDLA community, and with organizing events and programs to increase and enhance our membership. A&P arranges social events, such as mixers, happy hours, potlucks, barbecues, and post-election parties. We also put together professional development seminars to train our members in lobbying, public speaking, advocacy, and how to serve on city commissions, among others. Finally we work with the Institute chairs to coordinate the annual Progressive Partners Happy Hour and the Board and Alumni Mixer. We welcome any members who would like to assist us in these efforts, and who have new ideas for expanding SDLA's reach and strengthen the bonds within the SDLA family.

Communications Committee
The Communications Committee of the board is responsible for the timely and clear communication of news and information about the SDLA via our website and blog, email communications, various social media channels, and press releases. The primary focus and purpose of our activities and content is on the recruitment and selection of Fellows for the annual Institute; reporting on the Institute; promoting events; acknowledging the accomplishments of Fellows, Alumni, board members, and general members including by making nominations for appropriate awards; sharing applicable articles written by members; and supporting membership drives and the annual Fellows Fundraiser.

Major activities:

• Institute Recruitment (Early September through mid-November): event listing management, e blasts, contact list management.
• Fellows Fundraiser (early April through mid-May): event listing management, e-blasts, contact list management, donation and attendance monitoring

Major responsibilities:

• Website content and maintenance, plus pulling fundraising and contact lists or reports
• Social media communications (Twitter and Facebook)
• Email communications
• Blog content and posting
• Event listing creation/management (on website and Facebook)
• PR/Marketing
• Award nominations

Institute Committee
The Institute Committee plans and runs SDLA's flagship Institute for training and empowering progressive young professionals with the skills, opportunities, and relationships to make positive change in San Diego. The Institute focuses on a core cur­ricu­lum of per­sonal lead­er­ship development, communications, fundraising, policy and polit­i­cal strat­egy, tra­di­tional and new media, and pub­lic speak­ing. The SDLA Insti­tute spans 10 full days on week­ends between Jan­u­ary and June, usu­ally on Saturdays.

Responsibilities: Institute Committee members each lead the planning and implementation of one or more Institute days (Sessions). This involves: working with the previously-developed Institute curriculum and Session goals; analyzing and incorporating feedback and lessons learned from prior years; booking guest lecturers/trainers who are topic experts; being the point-person for speakers prior to and the day-of your day; and ensuring your entire Session(s) runs successfully and on-time. You will work in collaboration and with the guidance of the Committee Members and Chairs, and the day of your Session will be attended by at least one of the Committee Chairs. You also will have support from Board members in attendance.

Time Commitment: Planning an Institute Session requires planning and outreach for booking speakers. Committee members commit to planning and reserving speakers several months prior to their Session. Sessions early in the Institute will require the most work November through March; later sessions will require the most work January through May. The Committee typically meets 3-4 times throughout the Fall and twice during the Institute months, and keeps in regular communication. The Committee typically does not meet in the July. In addition committing to pre-planning your Session, you will be expected to be present for the entire Session you have planned. You are not expected to attend other Institute Sessions, though you are invited to do so.

Knowledge/Background Needed: Familiarity with the curriculum of the Institute is strongly preferred. Background in the general topics of the Session you will plan is required. Familiarity with San Diego is required.

Membership and Development Committee
The Membership and Development Committee (MD) is entrusted with cultivating approaches to expand the growing San Diego Leadership Alliance membership network which includes, but is not limited to, Institute alumni, SDLA supporters, allies and progressive partners. The MD Committee works closely with the Alumni and Programming committee to insure that SDLA members receive opportunities to leverage their membership with rewarding networking opportunities and professional development.

The MD Committee works to guarantee SDLA's future financial viability by identifying and implementing strategies to secure financial support through foundations and grants. We continue to seek out members with prior or current experiences in nonprofit management, fundraising and development or other board experience. If you are hold an interest in membership and development or want to use your past experiences to help SDLA during this growth period, please reach out to the MD committee. We welcome new ideas and enthusiastic progressives in this exciting chapter of SDLA.