During the early years of a group's existence, the most important aspect of human resources is to have clearly defined job descriptions, in writing, which can be used as a reference guide as new volunteers (and, ultimately, paid staff) take on certain responsibilities.

The link on the right is a good example of one organization's structure, and the graph offers a clear picture of who reports to whom in the hierarchy of the group. This kind of structure is adaptable by groups with an all-volunteer structure and groups with a handful of paid employees. Be sure to review the legal criteria between independent contractors and paid staff. There's a fine line between the two, and if you cross it, you could end up in legal trouble.