by the City of Myrtle Beach
The City of Myrtle Beach is blessed to have a wealth of volunteers who help the city meet and accomplish its goals each year. Nearly two hundred people serve in some capacity on one of the city’s boards, commissions, or committees.
Volunteer positions usually are appointed by city council, although some of the groups are ad hoc, meaning that anyone is welcome to attend and participate. The Military Appreciation Committee is an example of an ad hoc group.
Some of the boards and commissions are state-authorized, while others have been created by city council to meet a particular need or provide input on a certain subject. The Planning Commission and the Accommodations Tax Advisory Board are examples of state-authorized bodies— with their functions spelled out in state law.
Locally-created boards include the Beach Advisory Committee and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. In all, the City of Myrtle Beach has about twenty different boards, commissions, and committees of all types, all of which are staffed by volunteers who want to serve the city.
You must be a resident of the city to serve on one of the state-authorized boards. For the locally-created boards, a majority of the members must be city residents. City council can appoint a few non-residents to those bodies.
The ad hoc groups do not have residency requirements. Anyone is welcome to participate in one of those committees. You’ll find a list of Myrtle Beach’s boards, commissions and committees on the website: www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com.
If you’re interested in serving on one of these public bodies, just submit your name and résumé, along with a letter of interest, to the city clerk.
You can bring it to City Hall at 937 Broadway Street or mail it to P. O. Box 2468, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578. When vacancies occur, city council will review all the applicants for that board or commission and make appointments.
Myrtle Beach has other volunteers, too, in just about every department. Volunteers help out at Chapin Memorial Library, in our recreation programs, at the fire department and police department, and in many other capacities. They give their time and talents to help Myrtle Beach be the wonderful place that it is.
In all, the city has some six hundred volunteers who help with a little bit of everything. Each year, city council personally thanks them for their service during the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, pictured above.
The event is held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in January as a way to recognize the valuable services that our volunteers provide, as well as to express the city’s appreciation in person. Volunteers also receive a small gift from the city each year as a “thank you.”
