[Advocacy][Bylaws][Evaluation][Executive][Finance]
[Development/Nominations][State
Plan][Part B task Force]
COMMITTEE CHAIR - JOB DESCRIPTION
The SILC has standing committees and task forces (time-limited committees with specific tasks). The standing committees are Advocacy, By-Laws, Evaluation, Executive, Finance, Minority Outreach, Nominations & Outreach, and State Plan. Each member of the SILC is required to serve on at least one committee. Committee meetings will occur as required, with standing committees often meeting at least once between SILC meetings.
The chairperson should deliberate with committee members and determine goals to be
accomplished by the committee during the year. S/he should keep a record of the
accomplishments of these goals. With other committee chairs, develop strategies to enhance
involvement of committee members, especially that of individuals who are new to the SILC.
Report on success of these involvement strategies and maintain records of participation.
The chairperson of a committee shall be required to do the following:
1. Schedule meetings on a regular basis in accessible locations or by conference call. Direct the SILC staff to set up the conference call if that is how the committee is meeting, and inform members of the date, time and location of the meetings.
2. Maintain a list of committee members with their addresses and phone numbers.
3. Make a record of committee meetings and have it available for SILC members at meetings.
The staff will type minutes, make copies, and -- if provided with the original in time -- will make
sure that they are available in accessible formats.
Minutes need be no longer than a page or two but should contain:
A. Name of committee, date and place of meeting
B. Names of attendees (members and guests)
C. A record of decisions made. The minutes should contain at minimum the wording of any motions, the maker and seconder of the motion, the result of any vote taken. A description of the discussion is generally not necessary in formal minutes.
D. Brief announcements.
E. Recommendations to the SILC for decisions that the body as a whole must make. These
recommendations should be in the form of motions coming out of committee report.
If it is hard to find someone to write minutes, information can be entered on a cassette tape by
turning the machine on and off just to enter the relevant information. (Taping the entire
committee meeting is not necessary or advisable.) The SILC staff can then type the minutes from
the tape.
4. Explain unfamiliar words and guard against complex language and jargon.
5. Follow up. Open the meeting by reviewing the decisions made at the last meeting. Check to
see that decisions to act have in fact resulted in action.
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Purpose:
To promote the improvement and maintenance of the quality of life and the independent living of
persons with disabilities through the education of individuals developing disability related federal
and state legislation and budgets; the enforcement of federal and state disability laws; and the
support of local, statewide and national advocacy efforts which insure the civil rights of persons
with disabilities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
* Be the conduit by which advocacy issues come before the SILC for vote of support or opposition and action;
* Review, analyze & make recommendations on proposed state and federal legislation which affects persons with disabilities;
* Prioritize, monitor and review research data of disability issues provided from SILC or other sources and make recommendations for potential state legislation which will positively affect persons with disabilities;
* Advocate for compliance with Massachusetts state accessibility laws (521 CMR), the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
* Conduct advocacy in compliance with the State Plan for Independent Living;
* Assist the independent living centers with (a) the development and coordination of advocacy efforts pursuant to work plans in 704 reports and, (b) the development of policies & procedures designed to assist consumers in their pursuits of accessibility compliance issues and/or civil rights; and
* Support local, statewide and national advocacy efforts following review by the advocacy
committee.
Members:
There will be a chairperson and a co-chairperson and a minimum of three other SILC
representatives. For a list of current members, please see current meeting minutes.
Meetings:
The Advocacy Committee will meet at least monthly and will require several hours each month of
preparation for meetings. Active advocacy, education, and networking will also be required in
some form.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE
Purpose: To monitor compliance with the organizations bylaws, assess the necessity of bylaws changes and make recommendations to the Council.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Monitor compliance with the SILC Bylaws, and advise the chair of issues of concern.
Review bylaws from time to time to assess the need for amendment.
Propose amendments to the bylaws or related procedural changes to the SILC.
Meetings: The Bylaws Committee conducts business by correspondence and occasional
conference call. In the event that the SILC proceeds with incorporation as a non-profit
corporation, the Bylaws Committee will be involved in preparing and reviewing incorporation
documents.
EVALUATION COMMITTEE
Purpose: To monitor and review reporting mechanisms of the ILC's and the state agencies in their
compliance with the standards and assurances established in the Rehabilitation Act. On the basis
of these reviews, to make recommendations to the Council to insure the responsiveness of the IL
network in Massachusetts to the needs of consumers and the independent living philosophy.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Monitor and review reporting mechanisms of ILC's and state agencies.
Complete the sections of the 704 Part I annual self evaluation that relate to the SILC.
Monitor and review the 704 Part I annual self evaluation of the state agencies.
Monitor and review the 704 Part II annual self evaluations of independent living centers.
Provide direction and technical assistance support to centers to assist them with compliance with the Standards, Indicators, and Assurances (for example, in the development of a process for assessing consumer satisfaction.)
Participate in on-site compliance reviews of centers and state agencies.
Guard against conflict of interest in Evaluation Committee activities.
With the approval of the chair, establish sub-committees as needed to fulfill the committee's duties and responsibilities.
Keep the Council regularly informed of activities.
Make recommendations to the Council on the basis of these activities.
Meetings: The Evaluation Committee will be meeting monthly in person and will require several
hours each month of document review in preparation for meetings. Members of the Evaluation
Committee may also be involved in on-site evaluations of CIL's from time to time.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Purpose:
Duties and Responsibilities:
To make appointments to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee and Council office positions
To recommend submission names of candidates for membership to the Governor for final approval and appointment.
To request resignation of members who have consistently failed to participate in the work of the
Council, and if necessary, follow due process prior to recommending to the Governor or his/her
designee to terminate the membership of such member.
Meetings: The Executive Committee meets monthly at a regular time to be determined by
conference call. By custom Executive Committee conference calls have also included committee
and task force chairs.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Purpose: To insure the SILC's financial stability by providing oversight on its budget.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Work with the director to develop an annual budget and seek approval of the budget from the full SILC.
Assist the director in development of appropriate reporting tools, and regularly review such tools.
Review monthly financial statements and analyzes.
Analyze financial impact of major decisions about SILC operation, e.g. incorporation, office location.
Formulate fiscal operating procedures and monitor compliance with the procedures.
Keep the Executive Committee and the full SILC regularly informed of the general financial status of the organization.
Provide the Council with preliminary analysis of major financial decisions required by the State Plan, for example, the allocation formula for federal and state IL funds to the independent living centers.
Report to the Executive Committee and the SILC.
Meetings: The Finance Committee will meet at least once between SILC meetings, preferably
three weeks before. Meetings may take place by conference call, with timely reports faxed by the
director shortly before the call.
DEVELOPMENT /NOMINATIONS
Purpose: To insure that the SILC is fully appointed in compliance with the Act.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Conduct outreach to prospective SILC members.
Review nomination forms and resumes of applicants for appointment.
Recommend appointees to the Executive Committee for transmittal to the Governor's Office for clearance.
Maintain the balance required in the Bylaws in terms of cross-disability; state wideness; representation of ILC's, parents, business.
Insure representation of racial and ethnic minority populations on the Council.
Monitor representation by state agencies listed in the Executive Order.
Track member attendance and Council activity.
Follow steps outlined in the Bylaws to remove inactive members.
Watch expiration dates in order to insure timely reappointment or replacement.
Introduce and welcome new members into the Council
Meetings: The Nominations Committee will meet once between SILC meetings, usually at least
three weeks prior to the meeting. The Committee meetings are always held by conference call.
The Committee will review resumes and documents outlining membership status prepared by the
director. At SILC meetings, the Nominations Committee will extend a hand of friendship to new
and prospective members and introduce them to other SILC members.
STATE PLAN COMMITTEE
Purpose: To prepare the Three Year State Plan for Independent Living in compliance with the
Rehabilitation Act as amended, to monitor implementation of the State Plan, to advise the Council
on the need for amendment and to oversee that process, if necessary.
Duties and Responsibilities:
To prepare the Three Year State Plan for Independent Living in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act, to conduct required public hearing, to solicit and incorporate public comment, to transmit the Plan to the Rehabilitation Services Administration for approval.
To oversee preparation of the Plan for dissemination in appropriate media.
To publicize availability of the Plan and supervise the dissemination process.
To monitor implementation of the Plan and report to the Executive Committee and the SILC.
To advise the Council on the need for amendment, and if necessary, to oversee the process,
including public hearings, in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act as amended.
Meetings: Following completion of the State Plan, the State Plan Committee shall meet at least
twice a year for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the State Plan. This is a vital
function, as much of the weight of the Council's policy-making authority is vested in the power to
be an equal partner with the designated state agencies in the preparation and monitoring of the
State Plan.
PART B TASK FORCE
Purpose: To assess the administration of the Part B purchase of service program to insure that it
is efficient, fair, responsive and complies with the requirements in the Act.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Evaluate administrative procedures with the goal of streamlining forms and bureaucracy.
Analysis the relationship between MRC, MCB, and the CIL's in the management of the program.
Develop procedures to decrease administrative overhead.
Assess the proper administrative placement of eligibility, financial approval and means testing.
Determine how referrals are to be handled among CIL's and agencies.
Establish a plan for utilization of possible increases in Part B funding.
Present a report to the SILC with recommendations for implementation.
Meetings: The Task Force is a time-limited, issue-oriented body.