NCIL Board of Directors Nomination Process

Memorandum: Running for the NCIL Board

To: NCIL Members
From: NCIL Governing Board
Re: Running for NCIL’s Governing Board
Date: April 11, 2022

Elections for the NCIL Governing Board are coming up in July. We strongly encourage new people to consider running for officer positions, Diversity Committee chair, at-large, or regional representative positions. We especially encourage emerging young leaders and individuals who experience multiple forms of social bias to run.

NCIL Governing Board Requirements

There are at least four (4) NCIL board meetings per year: one in the winter, two around the time of the NCIL Conference and another in the fall. These meetings have been held virtually during the pandemic. The Board plans to re-start in-person board meetings in the fall with the understanding that some individuals may need to participate virtually at times. Every few years, we may extend the length of board meeting or hold an additional meeting to allow for strategic planning, additional board training, or a similar agenda item. All board members are expected to participate in every board meeting. The winter and fall board meetings are 2 full days (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), and the board member or their organization must cover all travel costs incurred including airfare and hotel sleeping rooms. NCIL staff are committed to locating hotels with the best possible sleeping room rates, and providing the dates of the meetings well in advance so that board members can purchase lower priced airfare.

Prior to the pandemic, most board meetings were held in Washington D.C.; however, the fall meetings were usually held in other cities to alleviate some of the high travel costs for board members that do not live near D.C. The exact costs associated with being on the NCIL board will depend on whether meetings will be held in person and if the board member participates in person and the specific travel costs involved.

  • Every NCIL board member is expected to do the following:
  • Actively participate on at least one NCIL committee or subcommittee.
  • Promote NCIL’s mission and guiding principles
  • Actively recruit new members for NCIL.
  • Be an individual member of NCIL.
  • Be staff, board, or other designated representative of a current CIL/SILC member.

When urgent issues arise, we may hold a special virtual board meeting. A telephone option is always available for individuals who cannot access the internet / webinars. The minimum time commitment required of board members is 3-4 hours per month, but depends on how involved the individual is with NCIL.

We are providing information about the level of involvement necessary to make sure no one is surprised by the commitment once they are elected. Please feel free to contact Darrell Jones, NCIL Interim Executive Director, or anyone currently on the NCIL Board with any questions or requests for further information.

NCIL Governing Board Open Position Descriptions

Vice President

Reports to: President

Function: The function of the Vice President is to monitor the legislative and advocacy activities of NCIL, provide direction to and oversee the work of appointed advocacy subcommittees and task forces and act as liaison between the advocacy subcommittees and the Executive Committee. The Vice President shall serve in the capacity of the President at the President’s direction or during the absence of the President. The NCIL Vice President is eligible to serve two (2) full terms of two (2) years each.

Responsibilities:

  1. Chairs the NCIL Legislative and Advocacy Committee.
  2. Oversees the activities of the NCIL advocacy subcommittees.
  3. Identifies and recommends to the NCIL President, individuals to chair the various subcommittees.
  4. Assists subcommittee chairs in identifying and recruiting individuals with talents and interests as subcommittee members.
  5. Oversees the development of subcommittee goals and objectives, and the progress towards achieving the goals.
  6. Provides technical assistance to subcommittee chairs as needed.
  7. Communicates regularly with advocacy subcommittee chairs and the NCIL Director of Advocacy and Public Policy or NCIL Advocacy staff.
  8. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  9. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  10. Actively participates in all NCIL fund raising and resource development activities.
  11. Provides monthly written reports to the Executive Committee and quarterly written reports to the Governing Board and membership.
  12. Convenes Legislative and Advocacy Committee conference calls as needed.
  13. Attends and participates in all Executive Committee conference calls and Governing Board meetings.
  14. Identifies individuals who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  15. Provides input to NCIL President on Executive Director’s performance evaluation.
  16. Performs other duties as assigned by the NCIL President or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL / SILC Member,
  • actively participated as a member of the NCIL board for at least two (2) years or as Chair of a NCIL Committee, Subcommittee, Task Force, or Caucus for four (4) years,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL / SILC must maintain their CIL / SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Secretary

Reports to: President

Function: The function of the NCIL Secretary is to chair the Human Resource Committee and oversee activities related to NCIL’s human resource issues. The NCIL Secretary is eligible to serve two (2) full terms of two (2) years each.

Responsibilities:

  1. Chairs the Human Resource Committee.
  2. Coordinates membership recruitment, leadership development activities and identifies and recruits individuals to serve on the NCIL Governing Board.
  3. Convenes the Human Resource Committee as needed to review any grievances made against the organization, board or staff.
  4. Convenes the HR committee on a regular basis for review of the organization’s bylaws, personnel policies, standard operating procedures, executive director and board position descriptions, and other policies and procedures affecting the organizations operations, and Presents for approval, the committee’s recommended changes to the board.
  5. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  6. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  7. Actively participates in all NCIL fund raising and resource development activities.
  8. Attends and participates in all Executive Committee conference calls (meetings) and Governing Board meetings.
  9. Provides input to NCIL President on Executive Director’s performance evaluation.
    Performs other duties as assigned by the NCIL President or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL / SILC Member,
  • highly recommend active participation as a member of the NCIL board and / or as a member of the NCIL Human Resources Committee for at least two years.
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL / SILC must maintain their CIL / SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Diversity Committee Chair

Reports to: President

Function: The function of the NCIL Diversity Committee Chair is to advise and assist NCIL on ways in which to increase participation of individuals with disabilities from culturally diverse populations throughout the organization and its activities. The Diversity Committee Chair participates on the executive committee.

Responsibilities:

  1. Chairs the Diversity Committee.
  2. Identifies and recruits individuals with disabilities from culturally diverse backgrounds to participate in NCIL committees and subcommittees.
  3. Identifies individuals with culturally diverse backgrounds who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  4. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  5. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  6. Actively participates in all NCIL fund raising and resource development activities.
  7. Coordinates the Diversity Caucuses and other activities at the annual NCIL conference.
  8. Provides input to NCIL President on Executive Director’s performance evaluation.
  9. Attends and participates in all Executive Committee conference calls (meetings) and Governing Board meetings. *
  10. Performs other duties as requested by the President and / or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL / SILC Member,
  • must represent an underrepresented or diverse population,
  • highly recommend active participation on the Diversity Committee or a Caucus under the Diversity Committee for at least two (2) years,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL / SILC must maintain their CIL / SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Regional Representative

Reports to: Regional Representative Chair

Function: The primary function of the Regional Representative is to ensure communication between the NCIL members within their region, and the NCIL Governing Board, Executive Committee and NCIL office.

Responsibilities:

  1. Communicates regularly with NCIL members within the region regarding NCIL Board and NCIL Legislative and Advocacy Activities.
  2. Provides the NCIL Governing Board and NCIL office with input from the regional members regarding NCIL activities, policies or procedures.
  3. Assists in disseminating NCIL Legislative and Advocacy Alerts to the regional members and other advocates as requested.
  4. Actively recruits and maintains all levels of NCIL membership within THEIR region.
  5. Participates on regularly scheduled Regional Representative conference calls.
  6. Attends and participates in all NCIL Governing Board meetings.
  7. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  8. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  9. Actively participates in NCIL fund raising and resource development activities.
  10. Provides regional members with information related to the Governing Board and Executive Committee meetings.
  11. Coordinates advocacy activities with members in one’s own region related to NCIL’s “Day on the Hill” prior to, and during the NCIL Conference.
  12. Facilitates regional meetings during NCIL Conference.
  13. Provides technical assistance to members in the region regarding meeting with legislators, NCIL advocacy activities, and general advocacy techniques.
  14. Identifies individuals who may fill future Regional Representative or Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  15. Other duties as requested by the Regional Representative Chair or the Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL/SILC member,
  • must live in the region the individual representing,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL/SILC must maintain their CIL/SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Member At-Large

Reports to: President

Function: The function of a Member At-Large is to assist recruiting new NCIL members and in building a coordinated grassroots coalition to assist in advancing NCIL’s advocacy activities.

Responsibilities:

  1. Actively participate on at least one (1) NCIL committee, subcommittee or task force.
  2. Recruits NCIL members by disseminating NCIL membership information in local, state and regional meetings, trainings and conferences.
  3. Works with the NCIL Vice President to identify current or pending advocacy issues on which NCIL will need to develop a position and provide input to the administration and/or congress as requested.
  4. Works with the Regional Representatives in identifying NCIL members who are experts in those national disability laws and/or policies for which NCIL does not have a committee or position.
  5. As requested, assist in identifying NCIL members who can provide testimony for NCIL at local federal hearings
  6. In conjunction with the Regional Representatives act as local grassroots coordinators to assist in expanding NCIL ability to respond to advocacy alerts and calls to action.
  7. Works with the Regional Representatives, Legislative and Advocacy Subcommittees and NCIL office to identify individuals to act as local coordinators in areas/states where there is no NCIL representation.
  8. Attends and participate in all NCIL Governing Board meetings. *
  9. Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  10. Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  11. Assist in fund raising and resource development activities.
  12. Informs others about the organization and identify and recruit new NCIL members.
  13. Identifies individuals who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  14. Performs other duties as assigned by the President or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be a staff, board or designated representative of a current CIL/SILC Member,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the sponsoring CIL/SILC must maintain their CIL/SILC membership, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

Youth At-Large

Reports to: President

Function: The function of a Member At-Large is to assist recruiting new NCIL members and educate NCIL members on advocacy issues and priorities of youth with disabilities. A NCIL Youth At-Large is eligible to serve one (1) full term of two (2) years each.

Responsibilities:

  • Actively participate on at least one (1) NCIL committee, subcommittee or task force.
  • Identifies and recruits youth with disabilities to participate in NCIL committees and subcommittees.
  • Participates on regularly scheduled Youth Caucus and Youth Steering Committee conference calls.
  • Coordinates the Youth Caucus activities at the annual NCIL conference in conjunction with the Youth Steering Committee.
  • Attends and participate in all NCIL Governing Board meetings.
  • Understands and complies with the rules governing the organization.
  • Assists the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s financial statements, organizational budget and audit report.
  • Assist in fund raising and resource development activities.
  • Informs others about the organization and identify and recruit new NCIL members.
  • Identifies individuals who may fill future Board positions and make leadership development and mentoring activities available to them.
  • Performs other duties as assigned by the President or Governing Board.

Requirements:

  • must be 26-or-younger at the time of the Youth At-Large election to be eligible for the position,
  • must maintain an Individual Membership within NCIL and the NCIL Youth Caucus, and
  • must have the ability and willingness to meet all assigned responsibilities.

This position is elected exclusively by NCIL Youth members.