Opportunities From: City of Bloomington Volunteer Network

Activate! Volunteers Needed Are you a volunteer, a member of an organization that utilizes volunteers, a board member, a committee, or a commission member? Would you like a chance to share your experiences, share your volunteer needs, spread the word about your organization, or motivate others in the community to get involved? If so, consider volunteering to share your stories. Activate! is a partnership between WFHB and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, which presents first-person narratives from people working for positive change. Interested participants will pre-record interviews at the WFHB Community Radio Station, which will air at a later date during the end of the WFHB 5pm Monday Evening News. Learn more below and sign up today! 

Activate! interviews Activate! interviews are a way of celebrating volunteers, volunteerism, committee and board members, and organizations that use and rely on volunteers to support their programs. The program is not live but is pre-recorded to run at a later date. Activate! runs during the last portion of the WFHB radio’s 5pm News segment on Monday evenings (@5:25pm). Chad Carrothers, will be conducting the interviews at the WFHB studios located at 108 West Fourth Street in downtown Bloomington. Interviews are currently being scheduled on Tuesdays at 3 pm, 7pm, 7:30pm | Wednesdays 4:30pm, 5pm | Thursdays 3pm, 7pm, 7:30pm. While it is preferred if you can make it to the station, interviews can be recorded over Zoom if necessary due to preference, weather, or accessibility issues (the studio is located in an older building and not very accessible to those using wheelchairs or other mobility devices). Interviews generally take less than 30min. If all goes well, you may be in and out in 15 minutes. The final piece that will air will be around 5 minutes. The doors to WFHB are generally locked, but there is normally someone at the front desk to let people in, or you can text/call Chad on his cell number (812) 337-7827 when you arrive and he will let you in the building. The interviews will be posted on the WFHB Activate! Archive after airing at https://wfhb.org/category/news-public-affairs/activate/Next steps- Respond to this opportunity by clicking on the blue "respond" button located at the top of this page, or contact Michelle Moss at getconnected@bloomington.in.gov or 812-349-3433.  You will get a reply via email from Michelle Moss who will work with you to determine the best days/times to schedule your interview.  Thank you for your interest!    

 

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The City of Bloomington’s Office of the City Clerk and the Office of the Mayor are accepting applications from community members who would like to serve on one of the City’s boards or commissions.

Below is a list of boards and commissions that have available seats as of August 12th, 2025.

Bloomington Arts Commission – Provides a means for the City of Bloomington to stimulate and promote community appreciation for and participation in the arts.

·  Seat(s) available: 2 • Appointed by: Mayor (1), Common Council (1) 

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident

 

Board of Housing Quality Appeals – Hears appeals from individuals who are the subject of, or directly impacted by, a ruling or decision of the enforcing officer or any administration official, in any matter relative to the interpretation or enforcement of any of the provisions of Title 16 of the Bloomington Municipal Code. The board is authorized to make investigations relative to the appeal and may overrule the decisions of any administrative officer, including the neighborhood development division. 

·  Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council 

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident

 

CDBG Funding Citizens Advisory Committee – Reviews and recommends Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for various community development projects.

·  Seat(s) available: 6 • Appointed by: Mayor

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident

 

Commission on Hispanic and Latiné Affairs – Works to identify and research the issues that impact the Hispanic and Latino populations in Bloomington, especially in the areas of health, education, public safety, and cultural competency. 

·  Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council (Advisory Seat. These seats do not have voting privileges) 

·  Eligibility Requirements: Can be either a City of Bloomington or Monroe County resident

 

Commission on the Status of Children and Youth – Promotes connections that empower, enhance, and nurture children and youth. The Commission will access resources and information to make recommendations to people and organizations with the authority to create and support systems that encourage the healthy development of children and youth.

·  Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council 

·  Eligibility Requirements: Can be either a City of Bloomington or Monroe County resident 

 

Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission – Advises the Bloomington City Council on community perceptions of and preferences for public safety.

·  Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident

 

Environmental Commission – Advises the City of Bloomington on how its actions and policies may preserve and enhance the quality of Bloomington’s environment, including the life-supporting processes that natural ecological systems provide to humans and other organisms. 

·  Seat(s) available: 2 • Appointed by: Mayor 

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident

 

Fire Merit Commission – Establishes and/or administers policies based on merit for the appointment, promotion, demotion, and dismissal of members of the fire department. 

·  Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Mayor

·  Eligibility Requirements:

o  Each commissioner must have been a City of Bloomington resident for three (3) consecutive years immediately preceding their term

o  A commissioner must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age

o  A commissioner may not be an active member of a police or fire department or agency

o  No more than two (2) of the commissioners may be past members of a police or fire department or agency

o  A commissioner may not receive any remuneration as a salary from a police or fire department or agency

 

Historic Preservation Commission – Ensures the historic preservation of and design-conscious development in Bloomington's historic neighborhoods and buildings.

·  Seat(s) available: 3 • Appointed by: Mayor (1), Common Council (2, Advisory Seats) (The Common Council appointment seats on this commission do not have voting privileges.)

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident 

 

Transportation Commission – The Transportation Commission is a new commission that will make recommendations on relevant transportation and parking sections of the Bloomington Municipal Code, review all transportation-related projects, and propose policies that promote safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation and parking policies and decisions.  

·  Seat(s) available: 2 • Appointed by: Mayor (1), Common Council (1)

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a City of Bloomington resident 

 

Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) – Works to improve the economic, physical, and social environment for BUEA Zone residents and businesses. The BUEA Zone is an area north, west, and south of Downtown whose residents and businesses are eligible for scholarships, arts and business grants, and tax incentives.

·  Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council

·  Eligibility Requirements: Must be a Zone Resident, and of a differing political party than the other appointed zone resident

After submitting an application, candidates must be appointed to the boards or commissions by either the Bloomington Common Council or Mayor Kerry Thomson. City residency is required for most, but not all, of the boards and commissions.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a meeting of their board or commission of interest before applying. 

 

Meeting schedules for each body can be accessed at bloomington.in.gov/public-meetings. All board and commission meetings are open to the public, allowing prospective members to gain a clear understanding of the work involved.

The City’s boards and commissions give residents the opportunity to provide input on the policies that shape their government and their city. There are currently more than 45 boards and commissions that advise the Mayor and City Council on a vast array of issues.  In addition to their advisory function, these bodies may work cooperatively with City departments to contribute to policy, approve resolutions, and fund projects, among other responsibilities.

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After applying, members must be appointed to each body by the Mayor, council, or another board or commission. 
Please note: city residency is required for membership on most of the boards and commissions. 

Bloomington Volunteer Network (BVN) is searching for outstanding volunteers for ongoing and one-time BVN support roles. Volunteers 18 years and older are welcome, hours TBD based on volunteer availability.

One-time roles include-Events- set-up, support, tear-downOutreach/Tabling- set-up, support, tear-down

Ongoing roles include-Events- set-up, support, tear-down Outreach/Tabling- set-up, support, tear-downPhotographers/Videographers/Storytellers- help capture images of volunteers in action, event/outreach tabling, and special programs, help tell the stories of local volunteers and non-profits through social media, local media, and on the BVN websiteBVN Website- management/updatesBVN Newsletters/Weekly Features- assist with social media, spotlight features, etc.Volunteer Service Awards- volunteer assistance, hours approvals, event planningResource Page- assist with the development and implementation of community resources lists for the BVN websiteand more

Please answer the following questions in the Additional Volunteer Information section when you respond:

Full legal name, first, middle, and last nameAre you interested in one-time or ongoing volunteering?If you are interested in ongoing volunteering, do you have any specific roles that interest you the most?

For questions or assistance signing up please contact Michelle Moss at getconnected@blooomington.in.gov or 812-349-3433.