President’s Greeting
Update from the Board of Directors
Dear NAMRC Members and Colleagues:
I hope each of you are doing well. As I mentioned in the first quarter update, in lieu of a traditional welcome from the president, I plan to share “Updates from the Board of Directors” each quarter. Well, the second quarter began April 1st!
If you have any questions about these updates, please contact me or another member of the board. We will happily speak with you about the conversations and activities within the national board.
The updates in this message: Reminder about the Strategic goals for 2019-2021, Update from the Disability Employment Summit, Nominations for NAMRC Board Members, and the 26th Annual Training Conference.
Strategic Goals for 2019-2021
The national board of directors of NAMRC will use these strategic goals to guide the decisions and activities of the Association for the next two years:
1) To position itself as a first-choice organization for individuals who are dedicated to multicultural rehabilitation issues
2) To influence federal and state policy related to research, education, and practice of rehabilitation services, to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds.
The standing committees, Finance and Economic Development (Felicia Hunter, Chair), Membership and Coalition Building (Hattie McCarter, Chair), Professional Development (Katavia Sloan, Chair), and Marketing and Publicity (Christiaan Kier) are meeting this quarter to develop specific plans to related to the strategic goals. The chairs of these committees have been encouraged to invite a NAMRC member to participate in these critical conversations.
If you would like to participate in the strategic planning meeting with a standing committee, please contact the committee chair. Contact information is available on the NAMRC website at http://namrc.org/about-us/
Engagement and Continuing Education Opportunities
Disability Employment Summit
NAMRC hosted a Pre-Conference entitled, “Ethical Perspectives: African American with disabilities and Positive Rehabilitation Outcomes” at The National Rehabilitation Association’s Disability Employment Summit in Alexandria, Virginia on March 31, 2019. Approximately, over 40 conference attendees attended the pre-conference that started at 9 am on Sunday morning. The session connected the CRCC Code of Ethics (A.2, C.1, D.2.a, D.2.b, and G.3) with culturally responsive rehabilitation services by highlighting current research findings about the psychosocial and sociocultural needs of African Americans with disabilities. Attendees earned 1.5 Ethics credit as they engaged in critical conversations about the application of research-based clinical and organizational tools to improve rehabilitation outcomes for African Americans with disabilities. Thank you so much to those who attended the pre-conference session. If you are interested in offering this session as a webinar, please contact Michell Temple at michelltemple@gmail.com.
Also, during the summit, Corey L. Moore, Rh.D., Director at the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities at Langston University (LU-RRTC) (90RTS0001) received the Sylvia Walker National Multicultural Award from the National Rehabilitation Association (click here). Congratulations to Dr. Moore and the entire department at Langston University.
2019 NAMRC Call for Nominations for
Board Members & Officer Positions
Members interested in serving NAMRC are invited to seek election as an Officer, to the Board of Directors, or to volunteer for service on a committee. Elections will be held late July to elect seven general board members, Student Representative and Treasurer on the Board of Directors. NAMRC members may self-nominate or nominate other members of the Association. Unless otherwise noted, service on the board will be for a two year term running from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.
NAMRC Board Member and Officer Eligibility:
All Directors must have been a member of the Association and NRA for at least one year prior to the date of election, or since the last NAMRC’s Annual Business Meeting. Please visit NAMRC Bylaws 2015 for full description of eligibility.
Term of Office:
All Directors shall be elected for a term of two years with privileges of reelection and shall remain in office until their successors are elected. The Nominating Committee will recommend the next highest vote getter (appointee) to fill vacancies occurring between elections. The appointee shall serve until the next general election, or until the term expires, whichever occurs first.
The duties of the officers are as follows:
Board of Directors (Four Positions – Two-year term to begin January 1, 2020) The Board shall have the power to conduct the affairs of the Association, subject to limits of the Bylaws of the Association and decisions of the general membership delegation. Its authority shall include, but not be limited to the following: a) conduct necessary business between meetings of the Association; b) meet at least four (4) times during the fiscal year; c) report to the Association membership on all business; d) establish policies and procedures relative to the Association, including, proposed resolutions and other policy statements to the membership; e) in concert with the president, act to fill Board vacancies which occur between elections; f) meet at the call of the President; and g) shall serve on a standing, special, conference or workshop committee.
Treasurer (Two-year term to begin January 1, 2020). The Treasurer shall a) oversee the custody of all funds of the Association and oversee the usage of the Association’s credit cards; b) handle all Association deposits; c) pay invoices on the order of the Board or when requests for payment are signed by the chairperson of a conference, workshop, or program activity; d) prepare financial reports for all Association meetings; e) prepare all reports and vouchers for audit before the NAMRC’s Annual Meeting; f) serve on the Executive Committee; g) chair the Finance and Economic Development Committee; h) chair the Conference Committee’s registration function; i) assist the President in preparing NAMRC’s financial component of NRA’s Annual Report; j) work with Secretary and President to set up conference calls; k) serve on the NAMRC’s Annual Conference Committee to assist in all financial matters and obligations; l) prepare an annual Association budget for the fiscal year for operation; m) prepare the Association’s annual budget to be submitted to NRA, after approval from the Board; and n) advise the Board on the feasibility of funding activities, line items, and requests.
Student Representative (Two-year term to begin January 1, 2020). The Student Representative shall a) maintain liaison with the student members and work on student membership issues relevant to the student concerns; b) serve as a member of the Executive Committee; c) serve on the Membership and Coalition Development Committee with a focus on recruitment of new members and maintenance of current student members; e) work on tasks assigned by the President; f) serve on the Conference Committee with Student Outreach to assure programs and activities exist responsive to student interest and needs; and g) provide written reports to the Board members prior to Board meetings.
Please visit NAMRC Bylaws 2015 for full descriptions of each board position.
To nominate or self-nominate current NAMRC members, please forward nominations to Would this be Katavia Sloan at katavia.sloan@gmail.com. Nominations must include your NRA number, a picture (jpg), a brief bio, CV or resume, and your platform for your 2-year term (January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021). If you have any questions, please contact Katavia Sloan at katavia.sloan@gmail.com .
All nominations are due by June 28, 2019
