By DAVID A. BROWN

Many folks claim to be passionate about their work, but passion is more about what you do than what you say. The real litmus test: Would you do what you do even if you weren’t paid to do it?

For those who care deeply about marine conservation, CCA Florida offers an opportunity to undertake a demanding job with far-reaching implications, endless challenges and immeasurable rewards. The position is called Regional Director, and of the five available slots, two openings currently exist. Some may read this and immediately start polishing their resume. Others may feel no such inclination. However, an inside look at the roll of an RD should prove interesting to all.

Tasked with overseeing the gamut of chapter development, banquet fundraising and special events, RDs direct and facilitate the implementation of CCA policies and procedures. There’s a lot of clerical language on the job description and all of that’s no doubt of great importance, but here’s the deal: A CCA Regional Director has to live and breathe conservation.

Fanatics need not apply. A generic activist looking for “a good cause” won’t last in this role. Rather, CCA needs folks who monitor tides and weather even when they can’t go fishing; folks who get a kick out of training new volunteers and then learning about their families; folks who understand the need for strict adherence to state and national policies; folks who’d rather watch a child reel in one undersized trout than catch their own limit of keepers.

“It’s more of a lifestyle than a job,” said CCA Florida CEO Rob Hendricks. “It’s about fishing, family and friends.”

Travel and long hours are assumed, but there are plenty of high points. “You may put in a 17-hour day, and the next morning, you may be up early fishing with sponsors and supporters,” Hendricks said. “How many jobs enable you to spend time fishing and have it legitimately count as work?”

Naturally, it’s not all fun and games. If that were the case, Hendricks would have a line of eager applicants outside his door every day. In reality, a Regional Director faces an ever-shifting workload requiring a high level of proficiency in a broad menu of skill sets.

“The RD has to go from a professional marketing person, to an interior decorator who sets up a banquet, to a graphic artist who designs (various media), to a showman running the banquet, and then a truck driver carrying everything back to the office after an event,” Hendricks explained.

Considering that CCA depends heavily on volunteer efforts, RDs must remain flexible and learn to manage various levels of involvement. Each set of willing hands is an asset, but respecting everyone’s ability level is the key to maximizing their potential. Providing balance and guidance, RDs motivate volunteers to take ownership in CCA Florida and embrace various tasks such as banquet orchestration and fundraising.

“It’s important to keep a balance between life & conservation,” Hendricks said. “With so many great volunteers giving their time and effort to achieve our goals, RD’s must be willing to work within the volunteers’ schedules.  That means a lot of late nights and weekends.”

Hendricks advises prospective RD candidates to ask themselves two questions: 1) Do you absolutely believe in our mission? 2) Can you truly make the kind of commitment that is necessary to meet the demands of the position?

Orlando Regional Director Dan Askin served as a volunteer for 10 years before taking a staff position in 2006. For him, the move meant closer interaction with like-minded individuals.

“I like the opportunity of working with people who are involved in the environmental issues that interest me,” he said. “There’s a wide variety of people that I work with and they’re all concerned about the same things that I’m concerned about. We might have different opinions on how to get where we’re going, but we all have the same goal in mind.”

Hendricks agrees, adding: “The bond between the Regional Directors and the chapters they support is unlike any other position I know.  Imagine having hundreds of friends in dozens of communities that open their homes, lives, and personal finances to you.”

A Regional Director’s schedule is rarely predictable, but Askin said those who thrive in a dynamic environment will excel at this post. “Every day is different. You’re always wearing a different hat. There’s always a new challenge every day.”

Ultimately, the RD’s commitment and sacrifice yields a sense of satisfaction that’s best defined by posterity. “I’m doing something that I think is right, and not just for the money,” Askin said. “My kids can see that what I’m doing will affect their future. In this job, the reward is that we’re preserving resources for future generations to enjoy.”

Sidebar:

FWC OFFERS NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JOBS

For a different perspective on conservation-related careers, jobseekers might turn to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. From biology, to facility management to enforcement, the job titles are many, but so are the challenges.

“The number of people utilizing the resource causes a lot of issues, from water quality right down to the actual fishing aspect,” said FWC spokesman Gary Morse. “We’re dealing with the management of nature and the management of people. It does take a unique set of talents to deal with biological and public issues and it takes a great deal of patience.”

FWC Fisheries Biologist Paul Thomas said that because much of his agency’s work is done behind the scenes, people often assume that everyone wears the same hat. In reality, FWC jobs include research (collecting data through biological studies), management (applying the knowledge derived from such findings) and law enforcement (keeping everyone in compliance with regulations).

“There’s a misconception that all a natural resources job entails is riding around the great outdoors in a truck or a boat,” he said. “Yes, we do get to be outdoors in trucks and boats and work with some (fascinating equipment) but that's only one facet of our duties, albeit one of the more visible ones to the public eye. It’s certainly one of the big reason's people are attracted to this type of career. However what's not so visible is the amount and diversity of academic preparation needed to be competitive to even get a position in the field.”

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries and wildlife management. He said that today’s entry-level biologist positions require either a master’s degree in the environmental sciences or a bachelor's and at least one year's relevant field experience. Also helpful is a wide range of abilities.

“The work demands that you have some proficiency in so many areas, from public speaking to hardcore scientific data analysis to basic knowledge of all things mechanical,” Thomas said. “It's one of the things I love about my career, there's a lot of variety and no day is the same.”

As Morse notes, the work that FWC employees perform often bears lifelong impact on citizens who enjoy Florida’s natural resources. “From a personal standpoint, the greatest reward is when people tell you that they learned something from you and it affected their life in a positive way. You know that a flame was lit for the passion of conservation and fishing.”

Full-time FWC positions in a jobseeker’s specific interest area may not come along often, so Morse suggests seeking entry-level opportunities and growing into one’s desired area. Part-time positions are generally more available and this route provides workers an opportunity to test the waters and determine if the FWC career path is right for them.

Also, volunteer programs range from fish hatchery service to field maintenance, to reserve enforcement programs in which volunteers ride along with full-time officers for training and assistance (state-issued law enforcement certificate required). For information on career and volunteer opportunities with the FWC, contact Joanne Adams at (863) 648-3200 or visit www.myfwc.com.