Volunteer Opportunities

Committee and Working Group Charges, FY09

Committees

Committees make strategic and policy oriented recommendations to the Board of Directors.  Each Committee has at least one Board member assigned as a liaison, as well as a staff liaison.  A volunteer member-leader serves as Chair.  The Committee Leadership Team is composed of the volunteer member-leader Chair, the staff liaison and the Board Liaison or Liaisons. Each Committee is aligned to the Forum's Strategic Framework and committee recommendations must coordinate with that Framework.

Committees for 2008-2009 include:

Freedom of Practice Goal

Public Policy Committee (Meets 2-3 a year; more if needed)

The Public Policy Committee is a policy and strategy-recommending body that reports to the Board of Directors.  The focus of this committee is aligned with the "Freedom of Practice" goal.

The Committee guides development of the Forum's government relations activities, advocacy efforts and public policy positions.  Specifically, the goals of the Committee for FY09 are:

• Update the Legislative and Regulatory Agenda by January 1, 2009;
• Advise the CEO on other matters of public policy;
• Assist in grassroots advocacy efforts as appropriate;
• Monitor the environment for public policy-related trends and issues and    bring them to the attention of the CEO;
• Develop and recommend to the CEO and Board other such initiatives as may be from time to time required by circumstances.
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of terms, definitions, etc. on associationwiki.org relating to the committee's relevant area of interest.

Place of Practice Goal

Diversity & Workforce Development Committee (Meets 3-4 times a year; more if needed)

Specifically, the goals of the Committee for FY09 are:

• Provide the Editorial Working Group with at least 4 diversity-related topics for articles in FORUM magazine by October 1;
• Select 6 Scholars and 6 Mentors for the Workforce Diversity Scholarship program;
• Evaluate the Workforce Diversity Scholarship program for the 2002-2007 timeframe using the metrics previously established by the Committee and provide a written report to the Board by October 1;
• Identify 4 successful association professionals representative of diverse opulations to be interviewed on Forumcasts, by January 1;
• Create a program to match new association employees from diverse populations with mentors;
• Provide advice on other workforce development outreach efforts.
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of terms, definitions, etc. on associationwiki.org relating to the committee's relevant area of interest.

Quality of Practice Goal

Content Committee (Meets quarterly; more if needed)

The Content Committee is a policy and strategy-recommending body that reports to the Board of Directors.  The focus of this committee is aligned with the "Quality of Practice" goal.

The Committee provides strategic guidance on content creation in all forms: printed and digital.  The Committee includes one representative from related working groups:  FORUM Editorial, CAE, Annual Meeting and others. Goals for the Committee are:

• Identify content topics for the FY10 & FY11 program years and define learning objectives and outcomes for each;
• Provide insight and ideas on how content should be created, presented and accessed on the future Forum Web site and through other digital delivery systems;
• Coordinate the review of legacy content for use in the new Forum web site, with the task completed by March 31, 2009;
• Further develop and use resource list of nonprofit degree programs.
• Develop breadth of information content for various target markets within Forum membership, especially middle-experienced level professionals. 

Professional Practices Committee (Meets quarterly; more if needed)

The Professional Practices Committee is a policy and strategy-recommending body that reports to the Board of Directors.  The focus of this committee is aligned with the "Quality of Practice" goal.

The Committee guides development of the Forum's Professional Practice Statements.   Activities include: research, writing, editing, and review of new statements. Specifically, the goals of the Committee for FY09 are:

• Draft at least 5 statements by March 1, 2009, as determined by the Board of Directors;
• Hold sessions for members to comment, advise and assist in the development of the Statements;
• Develop a process to standardize terms in all Professional Practice Statements and tie this into the association wiki project;
• Update all legacy statements as identified by the 2007-2008 Committee;
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of terms, definitions, etc. on associationwiki.org relating to the committee's relevant area of interest. 

Working Groups

Working Groups provide advice in the development of specific programs, or in producing specific work products of some nature.  They advise on program content and suggest innovations, improvements and enhancements in programming.  Working Group members often carry out specific assignments, such as research, writing or assisting with program delivery.  Working Groups provide operational input and advice- they do not make policy or strategic recommendations to the Board.  Because of their relationship to operations, Working Groups are co-chaired by a volunteer member-leader and a member of the Forum staff.  The Working Group Leadership Team is composed of the Member-leader and staff Co-Chairs.

Working Groups for 2008-2009 include:

Editorial Content Working Group (Meets as needed)

Advises on the editorial direction and related policies of FORUM magazine. Tasks for FY09 include:

• Determine the editorial policies for FORUM magazine;
• Advise on the topics and editorial calendar for FORUM magazine;
• Identify authors and follow up on assignments to obtain articles;
• Uses input from and provides input to Content Committee;
• Use input from the FORUM Critique Panels;
• Assist in the review of legacy content for use in the new Forum web site;
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of terms, definitions, etc. on associationwiki.org relating to the Working Group's relevant area of interest.

Annual Meeting Working Group (Meets 2-3 times)

Provides advice on the theme for the 2009 Annual Meeting and suggests speakers and other elements to ensure an exceptional learning experience. Tasks include:

• Advise on Annual Meeting program and  speakers, with a theme and other input finalized by February 15, 2009;
• Participate at event as onsite volunteers;
• Use input from and provides input to Content Committee.
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of group's relevant area of interest.
   

Holiday Showcase Program Advisory Group (Meets twice prior to event)

Advises on the development of educational programming during Holiday Showcase and assists with on-site hosting and relaed activities. Tasks include:

• Meets twice prior to Holiday Showcase to suggest ideas for the educational program scheduled for the morning of the event;
• Participate at the event as onsite volunteers;
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of terms, definitions, etc. on associationwiki.org relating to the Working Group's relevant area of interest.

Holiday Showcase Exhibit & Sponsor Advisory Group (Meets twice prior to event)

This Working Group is composed of 12 members who exhibited at the 2007 Holiday Showcase and plan to exhibit at the 2008 Holiday Showcase as well as 4 sponsors with similar participation histories.  Tasks include:

• Meet twice prior to Holiday Showcase to review exhibit attendance rules and procedures and evaluate past attendee applications;
• Assist in determining qualifications of potential exhibit attendees;
• On day of Holiday Showcase, assist in policing the show floor to ensure that only qualified buyers have access.

CAE Working Group (Meets as needed)

• Identify and recruit CAE facilitators for the fall and spring study groups;
• Conduct two CAE Orientation sessions (one in fall and one in spring);
• Select the CAE Scholarship recipients;
• Revise the CAE mock exam to align with the CAE Content Outline by January 1, 2009;
• Serve as hosts at the "CAE Reunion:"
• Uses input from and provides input to Content committee.
• Designate a "Wiki Wizard" who will champion the creation and editing of terms, definitions, etc. on associationwiki.org relating to the Working Group's relevant area of interest.
   

Supplier Partner Working Group (Meets as needed)
Provides advice, ideas and suggestions to enhance that membership experience of Supplier-Partners.  Tasks include:

• Create best practices document by October 1, 2008;
• Provide content suggestions and assists in obtaining content for the supplier partner e-newsletter;
• Conduct new member welcome calls;
• Suggest topics for 2 Supplier-Partner education sessions;

Other Groups

CEOnly Advisory Council

The CEO Advisory Council meets twice a year to provide input and guidance on CEO programming. Specific charges include the following:

• Assist in the review of legacy content for use in the new Forum web site;
• Provide content suggestions and assists in obtaining content for the CEOnly e-newsletter;
• Suggest content topics for FORUM and educational programming.

FORUM Issue Critique Panels

There are four Issue Critique Panels (ICP). Each ICP is composed of 5-7 members who are assigned 2-3 issues of FORUM magazine to review and critique. The process utilizes a standard scoring system, and requires a minimum of 3-4 hours of work for each issue, per person. These in-depth critiques are used to improve the quality of FORUM magazine and its value to members.