Country Secretaries

The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.

Please note that the CouchSurfing organizational structure is still in flux. The position described below is only a preposed position, and may not end up being a part of the final org structure. When the org structure is finalized, this article may be altered or deleted.

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Country Secretaries are the workhorses in the Organization and their (lot of organizing) work includes:

• Help answer the questions from the Contact Us page. Please carefully follow the notes that are on the Ethics Code. In the Contact Us page section, you will also redistribute all questions you cannot answer fully to whoever would be best to answer that particular question. CS Country Coordinators should always be able to help or give you the right information.

• You should help fostering local meetings and gatherings, sometimes it is enough to ask people if they want to make a meeting. Help them where they need help.

• Help CS Ambassadors in your country and also other CS Ambassadors where possible. You will be their source of inspiration and information. You are the first one they will turn to when they face difficulties and have questions. Make sure you give them correct information, and if you have any doubts or questions, please have the wisdom to ask your CS Country Coordinators. The success of this site relies on the good communication between all members.

• Understand the Ambassadors Ethics Code to know the general procedures and to learn about positive ways to communicate with other CouchSurfers!

• On a volunteer basis, you can create/help with/participate in the local Emergency List available for traveling members in your region. We want to make the site as safe as possible and we really need your help in creating the support for members. Thanks!

• Help out and supervise the Translations made by CS Ambassadors. If you have time, you can most certainly translate parts of the site yourself!

• Help out and supervise the acquisition of local exotic couches in coordination with CS Ambassadors from your country.

• Make sure that all the Greetings in your language are accurate and in accordance with the site’s mission. Feel free to contact whoever needs coaching in writing a better greeting letter.

• Get some media attention in your part of the globe, or even while you’re CouchSurfing somewhere! Visit the Get Media page… and if you get an interview about CS, tell us how it went! Once again, if you need help, ask your local community!

• Help out by sending the Verification letters in your country! Make sure you have an information meeting on the “how to’s” with your CS Country Coordinators. You will also be able to verify members that have no credit cards if you meet up with them face to face and get a photocopy of their passport + another valid picture identification and current address in cooperation with your CS Country Coordinators. You will collect their verification money (check or money order, please) and send it to your CS Country Coordinators. Only after that you can mail them the verification letter to verify their address. (You might also send out verification letters for countries that do not have their own CS Country Coordinators and CS Country Secretaries)

• Send out Promotion Cards to your local CS Ambassadors when they need more of them. (You might also send out Promotion Cards for countries that do not have their own CS Country Coordinators and CS Country Secretaries)

• Keep an eye on great, participating CS Ambassadors you know. We never know when we will be in need of more CS Country Secretaries! Help to encourage the participation of all CS Ambassadors!

• Participate in your nearest CouchSurfing Collective if you have the chance. This is a great way to participate in the core of your network. We need members like you!

There can and will be a team of CS Country Secretaries in each country while the number of CS Country Coordinators has to be as small as possible but at least one per country.