USCC announces new Member Connect outreach program

The U.S. Composting Council (USCC), headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, has launched its Member Connect program, a new initiative designed to strengthen relationships between the USCC and its members across the United States.

Under the program, each USCC staff member will serve as a regional representative dedicated to one of 10 regions in the U.S., acting as a direct link to USCC.

The ten regions, which correspond to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s official regions, are:

• Region 1: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
• Region 2: NJ, NY, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Region 3: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV
• Region 4: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
• Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
• Region 6: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
• Region 7: IA, KS, MO and NE
• Region 8: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT and WY
• Region 9: AZ, CA, HI, NV
• Region 10: AK, ID, OR, WA

While the program is organized around these regions, the USCC says its international members also are a significant part of this network, being connected to the USCC’s membership coordinator, who can share resources and help them build connections in their area and with U.S. members. 

“This program deepens our relationship with our members and responds to our top core values set by our board of directors, which calls for ‘delivering member value,’” Linda Norris-Waldt, executive director of the USCC, says.

Each regional representative will be provided with funding to execute initiatives across their regions, including coordinating virtual and in-person regional meet-ups; creating outreach campaigns to build the member network; collaborating with USCC state chapters and local partners; supporting regional advocacy, legislation and policy developments impacting the compost industry; and more.

Preliminary results from the USCC’s ongoing biennial Member Needs Survey have shown that USCC members seek deeper connection with staff and one another, according to the USCC. Member Connect aims to actively target this need.

The USCC’s Membership Coordinator Ksenia Dobbs is heading up launch and deployment of the project. 

“Each region of the country faces unique challenges in expanding composting and compost use,” Dobbs says. “By establishing these regional connections, the Member Connect program ensures that every USCC member has a dedicated contact within the organization who understands the challenges and opportunities of their region.”