Greater Opportunities To Serve Are Now Available Through A More Inclusive Committee Structure

For the past six months, the NIGP Board of Directors has studied its current national committee structure in comparison with best practices for not-for-profit associations in an effort to enhance volunteer opportunities to the membership. 

The study concluded that the current committee structure could be
improved by:

•  Providing opportunities for members with leadership skills to participate in the
   Institute’s governance even if their public agency cannot or will not fund travel;

•  Providing opportunities for members to engage in a specific task or project
   for a shorter duration of time;

•  Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the NIGP Board, its professional
   staff, and the various national committees in the strategic planning process;

•  Providing a harmonized effort for budgeting and policy development

As a result, the NIGP Board is implementing a new committee structure that
will become effective July 1, 2009.  The new structure and composition will
engage more members into leadership and governance because (a) there will be
added opportunities to create short-term task forces and project teams on an
as-needed basis; and (b) some groups will not be required to travel to
onsite meetings.

An overarching principle within the new committee structure is to ensure that
volunteerism within the Institute is meaningful and relevant. A recent study
produced by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) revealed
that volunteers will continue to commit to their association if the work is
values-driven, meaningful, and provides professional benefit.  The study also
concluded that members, especially those from younger generations, would prefer
to be asked to serve. While NIGP members can continue to self-nominate via an
application process, we are now encouraging persons who are currently in
leadership positions on a national and chapter affiliate level to recruit new leaders
into the governance of NIGP through a Friend-Raising Campaign. Through this
campaign, members who are recruited by their peers to volunteer their leadership
and service to the profession will complete a short bio of their past experiences
as well as an inventory of their skills and interests. This inventory will be used by
the appointing official or group to match interests with volunteer opportunities in
committees, councils, and task forces.

Members can help in two ways:

A.  Anyone can contribute to the Friend-Raising Campaign by sending the name, agency and email address of colleagues and associates who should be recruited to serve within the NIGP committee structure.  (If an email address is unavailable, please submit an office telephone number.) Ideally, these persons have already demonstrated leadership qualities within the local NIGP chapter affiliate, their public agency, and/or their local community.  There are no limits on the number of individuals who can be recruited.  This information can be submitted to executive@nigp.org

B. Anyone can self-nominate if he/she is interested in serving within the new committee structure.  Simply download the Volunteering Your Service form and fax it to 703-736-2818 or email it to executive@nigp.org.

The Institute is confident that the new committee structure, as defined below, will provide greater opportunities for volunteerism and leadership development. Our goal is to greatly increase the number of members who are engaged in the governance of NIGP and to enhance the value of volunteerism.

1.  Standing committees:  Executive, Finance and Budget, Governance
    (formerly, Nominating), and Policy and Position (formerly, Advocacy)
   
     •  Focus: Fiduciary
     •  Charter: To be an extension of the NIGP Board of Directors in the fulfillment
        of its fiduciary responsibilities
     •  Scope: To provide continuous, routine oversight on specific functions
        within the Institute as defined by Board policy; and to recommend additions,
        modifications, deletions to programs and services based on analysis,
        collaboration with staff, and consensus among the committee members
        and in alignment with the Institute’s mission and the Board’s strategic plan
     •  Reports to the NIGP Board of Directors and is appointed by the NIGP
        President
     •  Service requires a three-year commitment and two onsite meetings annually;
        one at the annual NIGP Forum and one additional onsite meeting during
        the year

2.  Program committees:  Chapter Relations, Forum and Products Exposition,
     Member Services, Professional Development, and Research

     •  Focus: Support and Advice
     •  Charter: To support and advise staff in the development and implementation
        of programs and services produced by the Institute
     •  Scope: To support staff in the achievement of the Board’s adopted strategic
        plan by contributing to the development of new, short-range (3-5 years)
        program initiatives and to provide insight and feedback on existing programs
        for purposes of ongoing program improvement and business planning.
     •  Reports to the NIGP senior staff person responsible for the program and is
        appointed by the NIGP Chief Executive with concurrence by the President
     •  Service requires a two-year commitment and one onsite meeting at the
        annual NIGP Forum. An additional onsite meeting may be required
        (for example, the Chapter Relations Committee will meet during the fall
        and the Forum Committee will meet during the spring)

3.  Advisory Councils:  Council for Strategic Vision, Diversity, National Business
    (NIGP’s corporate sponsors), Presidents (NIGP’s Past Presidents)

     •  Focus: Advisory
     •  Charter:  To advise and support the Board of Directors on current trends and
        future directions impacting the profession and to recommend new programs
        that will address those trends
     •  Scope: Provides market-focused perspective to the Board
     •  Reports to the NIGP Board of Directors and is appointed by the NIGP
        President (with some exceptions)
     •  Service requires a two year commitment with no requirements for onsite
        meetings

4. Task Forces and Project Teams:

     •  Focus: Project-driven
     •  Charter: To accomplish a narrowly-focused and time-bound objective directed
        by the Board
     •  Scope: Responds to a specific Board directive by assessing the issue
        or initiative and proposing a solution or a range of options to the Board for
        a final decision
     •  Reports to the NIGP Board of Directors and is appointed by the
        NIGP President
     •  Service requires limited time commitments and each task force will be
        dissolved once the objective is achieved. There are no requirements for
        onsite meetings.

For a complete copy of the policies and practices related to the new NIGP committee structure, please visit Committee Policies and Practices.

Questions can directed to Rick Grimm, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP’s Chief Executive, at 800-367-6447 x235 or at rgrimm@nigp.org.