Be a Volunteer
Thank you for caring about our community! Please choose a team below that best suits your interests and skills, and the team leader will get back to you about volunteer opportunities. Also join our email list so we can be sure to stay connected.
Marketing & Public Relations
This team, in coordination with other teams, develops marketing strategies and campaigns for RGM to promote the group’s position and vision. It creates content and designs marketing materials that are in line with our goals, and educates the community through a variety of platforms including social media and print media. The team also manages content on website and across platforms that is consistent and factual, and responds as necessary to the opposition.
Project Management
This team manages the overall RGM organization, mission, and builds alliances with like-minded organizations. It archives critical documents, sets agendas, manages monthly “All Volunteers” meetings, and works with team leaders to provide updates biweekly. Project Management distributes information as necessary and resolves ad hoc issues.
Environmental
This team reviews available information on Costco Project and gathers documents/data on environmental issues (air quality, health risk, greenhouse gas emissions/climate change, noise, traffic, etc.) for similar-sized big-box stores. The team also reviews the City’s staff reports and environmental-review documents for consistency with the California Environmental Quality Act and land use laws, as well as exchanges and coordinates information with the Legal and Research teams.
Community Design
This team evaluates the demographic, infrastructural and economic factors that support the concept a “Town Center” goal at the Northgate Mall which is outlined in the San Rafael General Plan (and originally promised by the current developer). We envision an approach that creates a vibrant and inclusive destination for the immediate neighborhoods and surrounding North Bay communities. A mixed-use development will establish a social, economic and environmentally responsible future that celebrates and sustains the diverse and dynamic community that we can all call home.
Legal & Government
This team advises on future legal steps/actions to be taken at any stage of the Costco permitting process; monitors input from other work teams with respect to legal issues; and develops legal points for discussion/distribution. The team prepares Public Records Requests and reviews information provided by the City of San Rafael in response; coordinates with the membership about outreach to City Council members and Marin County Board of Supervisors, as well as other City and County officials. In the event litigation becomes necessary, the team identifies litigation counsel and in conjunction with Environmental team identifies technical experts.
Research
This team researches varied topics including anticipated tax revenues from Costco Wholesale stores, fact-checking the Merlone Geier/Costco Wholesale’s proposal, identifying inconsistencies or misleading statements, as well examining how the proposal fits with San Rafael’s General Plan 2020. The team liaises closely with the legal and environmental teams to study issues such as possible effects on groundwater from leaks from the gas station and possible requirements for EIRs and CEQA reviews.
Power in Numbers
This team is our “boots on the ground”—and we need an army of “PINs”! Responsibilities include distributing flyers, setting up tables, getting petitions signed, coordinating letter-writing and phone campaigns to city officials, inputting data into our database, and helping to coordinate logistics for large meeting.
FundRaising
This team is responsible for procuring funds from individuals, businesses and foundations that support RGM’s mission. This team will draft and submit grant applications, create annual fundraising plan and coordinate with Marketing & PR team to create direct mail/social media fundraising campaigns. This team will also will work with Power in Numbers team to stage events and annual benefit.
Alliances
This team builds relationships with community groups (HOAs, PTAs, Senior Living communities, etc.), local business owners, local and national advocacy organizations to ensure they have factual and current information. We want to collaborate with like-minded advocacy groups to support each other and gain a stronger influence with the City, mall owner and the community to develop a community driven, sustainable, and profitable solution to make Northgate Mall a vibrant destination.