Grassroots Network Chair
This position is made up of the following members of the Presidents Council: Special Assistant to the President for Governmental Affairs, VP for Development and Alumni Relations. In their absence, the Alumni Association Executive Director can serve in this position as the representative for these individuals. The Network Chair will provide guidance and direction, and oversee the Penn State Grassroots Network.

Grassroots Steering Committee
This committee will serve as an advisory board to the Penn State Grassroots Network. They will develop the vision and strategy for the Penn State Grassroots Network. Meetings will be held twice a year, ideally in the Fall and Spring. Members of the Grassroots Steering Committee will consist of the following individuals or their assigned representative:

Grassroots Regional Captains
A Regional Captain is a vital component of the Grassroots Network, serving as the link between the Grassroots Network volunteers and Penn State. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Direct Penn State's advocacy efforts for the region by overseeing the region's communications efforts with its legislators
• Assist regional Grassroots Volunteers in the development of relationships with local legislators.
• Coordinate efforts of District Leaders and Alumni Chapter Legislative Chairs to plan, organize, and implement activities in the area.
• Maintain a current directory of Grassroots volunteers and notify the Director of the Grassroots Network of any changes in membership.
• Develop the Grasstops Network by identifying key individuals in the region that are influential with local legislators.
• Train new volunteers and ensure experienced volunteers are up-to-date on current University and legislative issues.
• Track legislative changes in your region.
• Distribute materials to volunteers as needed.

Grassroots Regions
Grassroots regions have been established to coincide with current Outreach regions:

Penn State Grassroots Network Regional Structure

Northwest: Erie, Warren, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Forest, Venango, Clarion       

Southwest: Beaver, Washington, Greene, Butler, Allegheny, Fayette, Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong

North Central: McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Jefferson, Clearfield, Centre, Clinton

South Central: Cambria, Somerset, Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Fulton, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry

Susquehanna: Tioga, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia

Capital: Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, York, Lancaster, Lebanon

Northeast: Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Pike, Monroe, Luzerne, Carbon

Southeast: Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Schuylkill, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks

Grassroots District Leaders
A District Leader provides the link between the specific legislative district volunteers and the Regional Captain. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Direct Penn State's advocacy efforts for the legislative district, the one in which he/she lives.
• Maintain current directory of Grassroots and Grasstops volunteers and notify the Regional Captain and the Director of the Grassroots Network of any changes in membership.
• Works with Regional Captains and appropriate Alumni Chapter Legislative Chairs to ensure local advocacy efforts are consistent with annual strategic plan set by Grassroots Steering Committee.
• Tracks communications efforts of Grassroots and Grasstops volunteers in his/her district.
• Reports efforts of legislative district Grassroots and Grasstops volunteers to Regional Captain.

Alumni Chapter Legislative Chairs
A Legislative Chair is an active member of a Penn State Alumni Association Chapter and is responsible for communicating the Penn State Grassroots advocacy issues to his/her respective chapter. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Works with Regional Captains and District Leaders to keep up to date with legislative issues affecting Penn State.

Develops advocacy interest in respective alumni chapter in an effort to build membership in the Grassroots Network.

Serves on the local alumni chapter's executive board/board of directors.

Penn State Grassroots Network Volunteers
Grassroots Network Volunteers assist the University by engaging elected officials on issues affecting Penn State. It is the personal stories from our University's "products" that provide the most powerful story.

In addition to serving as a Grassroots Volunteers, volunteers will be offered the opportunity to serve as Regional Captains, District Leaders, or Alumni Chapter Legislative Chair.

Alumni who live outside of Pennsylvania may participate in the Grassroots Network as independent volunteers. They are coordinated by the Grassroots Network Director.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Participate in communication efforts with state and federal elected officials.
• Attend local political activities such as Town Hall meetings.
• Attend Grassroots Training and Strategic planning meetings.
• Attend Penn State Alumni Chapter meetings to update them on the Grassroots Network.
• Assist with Grassroots membership drives.
• Serve as local point of contacts for Penn State governmental advocacy issues.
• Participate in Penn State sponsored advocacy events.
• Report results of contacts with elected officials to District Leaders.

Student Grassroots Volunteer
Penn State Student Grassroots Volunteers communicate with their state and federal officials in the same way the Grassroots Volunteers do with the exception that their emphasis will be on the affects of legislative actions on student issues. Student Grassroots Volunteers will attend local political activities such as Town Hall meetings, Grassroots training and strategic planning meetings, and assist with Grassroots membership drives.

Grasstops Volunteer
Penn State Grasstops are volunteers who have developed professional or personal relationships with a particular state legislator or legislators and are willing to use this relationship to contact legislators and or local media on behalf of the Grassroots Network's legislative agenda. Responsibilities are similar to the Grassroots Volunteers with the exception of the level of personal involvement with the legislators.

Time Commitment
This program is completely voluntary. Grassroots Network Volunteers will participate in a variety of advocacy activities. The average commitment of five to fifteen hours a year will vary depending on the level a volunteer chooses to participate. The majority of the volunteer hours will be spent drafting letters or e-mails and communicating with legislators.

Volunteer Training
The Penn State Grassroots web site will provide the initial training for Grassroots Volunteers. Volunteers should contact the Director of the Grassroots Network or a Regional Captain once they are ready to participate. Advocacy training will be held each Spring coincidental with the Blue White football game. At this meeting the Grassroots Steering Committee will set strategies, review communication practices, update volunteers on the current legislative issues facing Penn State, review the previous year's events and provide a game plan for the upcoming year.