About Us

While several volunteers had started creating original Oakland-centric content in the 1990s, the communications efforts became formalized when the Oakland Communications Commission (OCC) was established by the Borough of Oakland in 2002 to be an "independent board with the primary function of setting policy for the dissemination of information to the citizens of Oakland." Various committees have been created over time to oversee particular functions, make decisions, and advise the Borough on various aspects of communications policy and activities in Oakland. These committees are the Television Committee, the Bulletin Board Committee, the Newsletter Committee, and the Welcome, Website, and Social Media Committee.

However, as the years passed, OCC volunteers have generated many great ideas for which available funding was insufficient. As part of Borough government, these committees and the OCC itself cannot fundraise. The municipality can apply for grants, but few such programs offer grant funding for the type of projects and improvements that the OCC and its committees wish to undertake.

In 2023, the OCC was assembling its next five-year plan. The Chairman of the Bulletin Board Committee, Mark Albala, suggested to OCC Chairman Ryan Schwertfeger the idea of creating a non-profit organization to serve as a fundraising, educational, and community arm of the Commission, similar to how the Oakland Public Library has the related New Friends of the Oakland Public Library and the Recreation Committee has the Sports Association of Oakland.

In early 2025, Friends of Oakland Communications was established to be that organization, supporting the efforts of the OCC and the Borough of Oakland in their communication projects, goals, and initiatives. The non-profit was structured so that the Board of Directors would be balanced and listen to the interests of the Borough government, the Communications Commission and its committees, residents of Oakland who were not involved with the OCC already, and any others who wish to get involved.

Friends of Oakland Communications (called "Friends of OC" or "Friends of OCC" as a shorter name) is eager to get to work, blaze the trail, and help make Oakland an even better, more transparent, more communicative, and technologically advanced municipality that will be a model for other municipalities throughout New Jersey.

Our Board of Directors

Directors of the Corporation shall be members of the Oakland Communications Commission, in addition to others who shall all be residents of Oakland, and/or reside in the state of New Jersey.

The total number of the Board of the Directors shall then be no fewer than four (4) members and no greater than eleven (11).

Directors coming from the Oakland Communications Commission (Review & Grants Committee Members) shall serve one (1) year terms and do not require Corporation approval.

One (1) Corporation Director shall be the Borough Council Liaison to the Oakland Communications Commission or another duly elected member of the Oakland Governing Body, including the Mayor. Their term shall be one (1) year in length.

Three (3) Corporation Directors shall be residents of the Borough of Oakland, New Jersey and each shall have a two (2) year term in the Corporation, coming up for reappointment in even-numbered years. These Directors shall be voted upon and approved by other Corporation Directors at the annual meeting. These Directors shall not have any position on the Communications Commission or hold an elected office within the Borough in order to bring in additional viewpoints, connections, and influences from the Oakland community at large.

Two (2) Corporation Directors shall be residents of the State of New Jersey, with first preference given to applicants living in Oakland, New Jersey, second preference to applicants living in a municipality that shares a border with Oakland, NJ - plus residents of Wyckoff, NJ - and third preference to any applicant residing in any other municipality in the State. These Directors shall have a two (2) year term in the Corporation and will come up for reappointment in odd-numbered years. These Directors shall be voted upon and approved by other Corporation Directors at the annual meeting. These Directors are allowed to hold a position on the Communications Commission or hold an elected office within the Borough.

Those who wish to join the Board of Directors that are not on the Review and Grants Subcommittee (or the Communications Commission chosen to fill those seats on the Board) or is the Borough Council Liaison shall submit their resume, references, and a cover letter to the President and Secretary of the Corporation for review by the end of the third quarter (September 30) of the previous calendar year so they may be voted on by the Board of Directors before the end of the fourth quarter (December 31) for their yearly term to take effect in the following calendar year.

You can contact the board at :