What part will you play in the NASW-VT Orchestra?

Here is a list of over 30 ways YOU can begin today to play a more active part in the life of NASW-Vermont. But don’t feel limited by this list. If you would like to do something that is NOT on this list—feel free to suggest it.

Office-Based Jobs – Any time

1. Help us save file space! Come in for an hour or two to work of sorting and reducing files according to records retention rules and with staff guidance.

2. Sort through files of resource materials on various subjects; cull and reorganize as appropriate.

3. Clean out and reorganize the supply cabinet.

Advocacy

4. Help set the Chapter Legislative priorities (Legislative Committee) by reviewing current issues and developing rationale for NASW-VT interest and position.

5. Track a policy issue of your choosing (Health care access? Reducing poverty among children? Keeping energy costs low?) and notify staff when members should contact their legislators. (Chapter Legislative Committee)

6. Contact your legislators about key issues on interest to NASW-VT.

7. Host a local meeting (8 to 10) of social workers and other community leaders and hear how you can help to achieve full enrollments for Catamount Health. Speaker and materials provided—you simply get the audience and provide a space.

8. Attend local forums and identify yourself as a professional social worker and NASW-VT member when you speak up.

9. Help to evaluate candidates for elective office and make recommendations for financial contributions to the campaigns of those with best “fit” to NASW-VT values and goals. (Chapter PACE Committee)

Advocacy through Coalitions and Alliances

Represent NASW-VT on the Council of Mental Health Providers. Meets monthly to discuss issues of common concern, such as mental health parity, insurance issues, and future of state hospital. 1st Thursday, 9:00 a.m. in restaurant of Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier.

10. Represent NASW-VT on the Choice Coalition – irregular but about quarterly meetings of loosely connected group of organizations that all share the goal of protecting reproductive freedom rights and promoting healthy sexuality.

11. Follow the work of Voices for Vermont’s Children (formerly Vermont Children’s Forum) and act as liaison to Chapter Legislative Committee on issues affecting children (current top priority is cutting child poverty in half by 2010).

12. Review proposed plans or proposals or participate as Chapter representative in efforts to improve policies and services, e.g., Chief Justice Report on Mental Health and Corrections; Co-Occurring Disorders Task Force (DMH-DOH); Act 129 Task Force (mental health parity oversight with BISCHA).

Membership Development

13. Call up to 10 members monthly to inquire about their needs and interests, ask about what would encourage them to become more involved. . Relay information to Chapter Executive and Board for follow-up.

14. Call new and renewed members to welcome them (or thank them for continuing their membership). Learn their needs and interests; ask about what would encourage them to become more involved.

15. Participate in visits to undergraduate and graduate social work education programs in Vermont at either Castleton State College or University of Vermont.

Chapter Newsletter

16. Offer to be interviewed for the Member Spotlight in each issue.

17. Write an article about a subject of interest to the membership (maybe something you are studying or learning about; new methods, new theories and their application to practice; new programs and resources for clients).

18. Talk with your agency HR director about placing job listings with NASW—in newsletter or on website. This is very targeted and inexpensive advertising. They can reach over 500 highly qualified social work professionals for as little as $10 on the web or $25 in the newsletter.

19. Notify the office of coming events we should publicize.

20. Write a regular column on a subject you love…Social work ethics? The history of social work in Vermont? The Mind-Body Connection?

Form an Interest Group

21. Would you like to find other social workers who care about your big issue and are willing to share their thoughts and resources? Give staff a blurb to post on the website or in the next newsletter. Recent examples mentioned by individuals include:

· services to elderly Vermonters
· title protection and other forms of professional identification for social workers
· loan forgiveness for social work students/graduates
· clinical supervision and peer supervision

22. Retired? Thinking of retiring? Want to keep your hand in but don’t know what the options might be? Would you like to get together electronically or in person with others in the same situation with similar questions (and maybe some answers)? Let staff know and we will post it on the website or put it in the next newsletter.

Education and Professional Development

23. Help select the subjects and locations for future NASW-VT workshops (E&PD Committee).

24. Compile and summarize evaluations from our workshops.

25. Identify potential speakers on topics of interest to you and others.

26. Identify and help secure conference sponsors and exhibitors.

27. Ask your agency to be a sponsor for NASW-VT workshops!

28. Assist with the logistics of workshops—checking people in at registration, distributing CEU certificates, handing out materials, serve as the AV liaison person with the venue, serve as the schedule liaison person with the venue, staff the book sale table.

29. Take digital photos at Chapter events for later use in Chapter newsletter.

30. Review and revise Chapter CEU-approval policies (E&PD Committee).

Political Action for Candidate Election

31. Monitor decisions by state legislators and other decision-makers.

32. Make recommendations for NASW-VT PACE political contributions.

Other Committees

33. The Ethics Committee assists with professional development and continuing education related to professional ethics.

34. The Diversity Committee provides a focus for continuing education and helps the chapter to develop its affirmative action plan.

Serve in Chapter Elective Office

35. Each year the Chapter seeks candidates for the Board. Board members serve two-year terms and meet quarterly. Would you consider submitting your name?

36. The Chapter Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification is an elected committee of members who are not on the Board. Their job is to identify future leaders and Board members by reaching out to members to explore their interests.

CALL today or send an email!

President Martha Molpus, LICSW

mmolpus@SOVER.NET

mmolpus@rrmc.org

Executive Director Rilla Murray
Office toll-free: 888-260-7398

rmurray@naswvt.org