We have a few deals from our sponsors that we want to share with you soon, so you don’t miss out.

We also want to invite you to some upcoming outings – not GMARA events, just things that our members are doing in their free time. As you know, event awesomeness increases in direct proportion to the number of GMARA members attending.

	EMS Club Days are May 3rd & 4th this year. Show your membership card to get 25% off EMS brand gear and 20% off all other in-store purchases.
	A couple former racers from Middlebury have formed a new company, employing veterans to make high-end bags from military surplus fabrics. The results are awesome, and the goal of making products in America is one that GMARA wholeheartedly supports. Check out their kickstarter campaign, and look for one of these bags to be a prize at the Bitter Pill!
	If you need new adventure-ready shades, Julbo has given us 20% off on purchases at julbousa.com using code julbobitterpill1888 – valid until July 1 2013. (If you’re racing, Julbo’s in the prize pool again this year too!)
	This Sunday morning (4/28) join us to Cycle The City of Burlington with Vermont’s Local Motion, one of our favorite non-profits. It’s the perfect way to ease into adventure – biking, reading a map, chatting with good people… just like most GMARA events, right?
	Our friends at Petra Cliffs just finished a huge expansion, adding a massive top-out boulder. They’re celebrating with a bouldering competition on Friday May 3rd that looks like a great party!
	Our host location for the Bitter Pill doesn’t just wait around for adventure to happen, they’re busy all summer with events, camps, races, and fun reasons to get outside. Kick off the season and get your bike muscles tuned up with the Flower Power mountain bike race, May 11th.

In the future, we’ll try sharing small events like these through our Facebook group – we don’t want to mail the entire northeast if we’re just going climbing or grabbing a beer. If you’re interested, join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2387676669/.

GMARA, the Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association, seeks a volunteer Social Media Manager to build and maintain our online identity, including relationships with like-minded organizations, local and national sponsors and potential sponsors, and interested individuals. This position is ideal for an intelligent candidate with enthusiasm but little experience.

About the Position

As GMARA is a small non-profit entirely run by volunteers, the Social Media Manager will be expected to take the initiative in establishing and growing the organization’s online presence. Specifically, the position involves the following tasks and duties:

• Regularly update the GMARA website and social media profiles with news, events, sponsor information, and photos.
• Promote GMARA sponsors and sponsors’ events on GMARA’s online properties.
• Identify and establish online relationships with related organizations, current and potential local and national sponsor companies, and former and potential GMARA event participants.
• Promote GMARA events and initiatives on appropriate third-party websites.

The following skills are necessary:

• Solid grasp of online marketing strategies and event promotion on a nonexistent budget.
• Thorough understanding of the capabilities and limitations of Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest, Quora, and other popular social media websites.
• Strong command of the English language, including solid grammar, spelling, punctuation, and editing.
• Ability to use Google Analytics to perform content optimization, research incoming links, etc. to more effectively promote GMARA.
• Must be a self-starter, eager to take the initiative and help a small organization grow.

Additionally, skill or interest in the following is desirable:

• Outdoor activities including hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, navigation and orienteering, and wilderness survival.
• A good sense of the organizations, businesses, and facilities related to outdoor activities in Vermont, New England, New York, and Quebec.
• Web and graphic design.
• Advertising design and copywriting.

Compensation

Since GMARA is non-profit, this is a volunteer position without financial compensation. We treat our volunteers well: you’ll receive GMARA swag including race T-shirts; at GMARA events you’ll be entitled to make use of donated or rented facilities or gear; you’ll be fed alongside our racers; and you’ll be invited to take part in any GMARA-run event at a discounted rate.

Further, as a GMARA member you’ll be eligible for member benefits at local sponsor businesses such as Eastern Mountain Sports, as well as national brand sponsors such as Julbo USA and TrailRunner Magazine.

About GMARA

GMARA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization devoted to encouraging appreciation of Vermont’s natural resources and the enjoyment of healthy outdoor activities. Volunteer-run since its founding in 2003, GMARA typically runs at least two adventure races annually in Vermont: the winter Frigid Infliction (the largest winter adventure race in the United States), and the summer Bitter Pill, both of which are regional qualifiers for the United States Adventure Racing Association’s National Championship.

Learn more about GMARA and adventure racing at http://gmara.org.

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter and résumé to volunteers@gmara.org before December 31, 2012. All applications will receive a response.

Those of you who are frequent visitors will notice a marked improvement in the structure and layout of the entire GMARA website. Shawn Freebern and David Coutu have put in numerous hours to update pretty much everything. In addition to what you can see, there are several key changes behind the scenes to make facilitating the site more straightforward as well.

Please let us know your thoughts or any issues; we would love feedback on the updates. Thanks again to Shawn and David for all their efforts!

GMARA will be partnering with Northern Lights Rock and Ice to provide a special nighttime high ropes challenge for GMARA members on August 20th 2011 at 7:45 p.m.

GMARA is covering the bulk of the costs; you only pay $20. Email chris@gmara.org if interested.