MODULE 2: OVERVIEW OF BIG

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MODULE 2 OVERVIEW OF BIG

• BIG History and Purpose
• Organization and Structure of BIG
• Delegates Assembly
• Governing Documents
• Roles of National Officers
• Officers Roles Activity/Attachment 2
• National Programs Overview

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History and Purpose

• BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

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BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT a rich history

• EQUITY
• EXCELLENCE
• OPPORTUNITY

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BEFORE BIG

• Loose/Fragmented/Informal Meetings
• Wed Luncheon Group - Labor
• Tues Business Group - State
• Reactive vs Pro-Active
• Game Plan on Specific Issues
• Traditional Civil Rights Organizations
• No Organization or Group with focus on Government
  Employees

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BIG History

• Who DHEW Black federal employees
• When Established in 1975 and in 1976
  incorporated as a non-profit organization
• Where Parklawn (Chapter) Building, Rockville,
  MD
• Why Address a wide assortment of racially
  motivated problems

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BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

• Articles of Incorporation
• Washington, DC
• February 26, 1976
• First President Elected
• June 1, 1977
• Ramona McCarthy

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BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

• Founders Goals
• Establish BIG Chapters In Each Executive Branch
  Of Federal Government In Washington Metro
• Within Federal Agencies Nationwide
• Elected First National President
• January 1978
• Lonis Ballard

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BIG Goals and Objectives

• Be an advocate of equal opportunity
• Eliminate practices of racism and racial
  discrimination
• Promote professionalism among Blacks in
  government
• Develop and promote programs to enhance ethnic
  pride and educational opportunities

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Goals and Objectives (cont)

• Establish a mechanism for the gathering and
  dissemination of information
• Provide a nonpartisan platform on major issues of
  local, regional, and national significance
  affecting Blacks in government

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BIG STRUCTURE

• Board of Directors
• Executive Committee
• Regional Council
• Eleven Regions
• Chapter
• STAFF
• Delegates Assembly

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BIG STRUCTURE

• Board of Directors

ART III, SEC 2A / ART VI, SEC 1 Determine Policy
Undertake All Appropriate Actions Requiring
National Attention ART VI, SEC 1A Report Of
Regional Council To Board - Advisor
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BIG STRUCTURE

• Chairpersons of Board of Directors

Anthony Williams Rance Clemons Oscar Eason Julius
Crouch Jimmy Givens Anthony Rhodes Roberta
McNeil Johnny Smith Ralph Browne, Jr Ellen Dyson
Farrell Chiles
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REGION I - 1980
George Lima Frank Buntin
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REGION II - 1980
Ellis Cosey Robert Rogers
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REGION III - 1980
Betty Lunn Sandy Stewart
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REGION IV - 1980
Robert Blackman Johnny Smith
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REGION V - 1980
Warren Chapman Ellis Godwin Howard Ervin
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REGION VI - 1980
John Johnson Rance Clemmons
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REGION VII - 1980
Julius Crouch William Massey
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REGION VIII - 1989
John Leddbetter
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REGION IX - 1980
Brenda Harper Wanda Jackson
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REGION X - 1982
Alaska
Oscar Eason, Jr Willis Tate
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REGION XI - 1980
District Of Columbia
Ramona McCarthy Anthony Williams
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BIG - PRESIDENTS

• Ramona McCarthy
• Lonis Ballard
• Mildred Goodman
• Thomas Jenkins
• James Rogers
• Rubye Fields
• Marion Bowden
• Dorothy Greening
• Oscar Eason, Jr
• Gerald Reed
• Gregg Reeves Darlene Young

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BIG ROLE

• Training
• Professional Growth and Development
• Counseling and Representation
• Community Service
• Advocacy
• Networking
• Job Opportunities

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Questions or Comments ? Thank YOU for Thinking
BIG
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• BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

• Organizational Structure

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BIG Organizational Structure
BIG is a membership driven organization
Chapters/Members Regional Councils
Executive Committee
Board of Directors
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BIG STRUCTURE

• Board of Directors
• Executive Committee
• Regional Council
• Eleven Regions
• Chapter
• STAFF
• Delegates Assembly

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BIG STRUCTURE

• Board of Directors

Art III, Sec 2a / Art VI, Sec 1 Determine Policy,
Undertake All Appropriate Actions Requiring
National Attention Art VI, Sec 1a Report Of
Regional Council To Board - Advisor
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BIG STRUCTURE

• Current Board of Directors

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BIG STRUCTURE

• Executive Committee

• ART III, SEC 2B
• IMPLEMENT POLICY
• CONDUCT ROUTINE BUSINESS
• EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

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BIG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
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BIG STRUCTURE

• Regional Council - Eleven Regions

• Art III, Sec 3b
• -- Local Advisor To Board Of Directors
• -- Identify And Develop Common Strategy and
  Mechanism
• Article III, Sec 4
• -- Conduct Programs
• Eleven Regions
• -- (10) Federal Regions
• -- (1) DC Metro Area

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BIG STRUCTURE
ELEVEN REGIONS
District Of Columbia
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BIG STRUCTURE

• Chapter

• ARTICLE III, SEC 4
• -- CONDUCT PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES
• -- BELONG TO REGIONAL COUNCIL
• -- SUBMIT WRITTEN REPORTS TO NATIONAL
• OFFICE AS PRESCRIBED BY BOARD
• ARTICLE V, SEC 4)
• -- MAINTAIN TEN REGULAR MEMBERS

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Membership
BIG STRUCTURE

• Individual Membership Categories
• Regular
• Associate
• Life
• Chapter Formation/Reporting Requirements

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BIG STRUCTURE
DELEGATES ASSEMBLY

• Article VII, Section 2
• -- Held Annually
• -- Regular Dues Paying Chapter Members
• -- Confirm Board Actions
• -- Elect National Nominating Committee
• -- Elect National Election Committee
• -- Elect National Officers
• -- Vote On All Business Of Assembly

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BIG STRUCTURE

• Office Staff
• Office
• 3005 Georgia Avenue NW
• Officer Manager
• Jim Wilson

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Questions
?
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Overview of NationalDelegates Assembly

• BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

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Delegates Assembly Forum
The National Delegates Assembly is one of the
most critical forums of Blacks In Government.
Local chapter delegates, who represent their
respective chapter members, become the operating
arm of this organization when in session.
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National Delegates Assembly Team

• Credentials. Registers and certifies all
  delegates for the Assembly.
• Nominating. Prepares a slate of nominees for the
  appropriate offices to be filled.
• Elections. Conducts the National elections and
  assists with the Regional Caucus elections.
• Resolutions. Screens and recommends action on
  all resolutions.
• Standing Rules. Presents rules of conduct that
• govern the Assembly.

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National Delegates Assembly Team (NDAT)
Organizational Chart
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Delegate Functions

• Involvement in Nominating and Election Process
• Approval of Annual Audit and Treasurers Reports
• Approval of Amendments to National Constitution
• Approval of Resolutions
• Ratification of previous actions by the National
  Board of Directors and National Executive
  Committee which includes suspension or revocation
  of chapter charters

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ENTITYNational Delegate

• Unequal representation based on chapter
• total membership (number of members)
• Make up the Delegate Assembly
• All National Officers, elected and appointed,
• do not have to be a delegate

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ENTITY Regional Council Representative

• Equal representation three per chapters
• regardless of the chapter total membership
• (number of members)
• Make up the Regional Council
• All Regional Officers, elected and appointed,
  (except Regional Directors) must be a Regional
  Council Representative

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QUESTIONS
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Governing Documents

• BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

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Governing Documents

• What is a governing document?
• Why governing documents?
• When do you need a governing document?

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Governing Documents

• What are the governing documents?
• District of Columbia Regulatory Codes
• Articles of Incorporation
• National Constitution
• Policy Manual
• Regional Council Bylaws
• Chapter Bylaws
• Why governing document?
• Provides regulatory guidance and compliance

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Governing Documents

• Articles of Incorporation
• Establishes BIG as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt,
  not-for-profit corporation under the Internal
  Revenue Service Act and the laws of the District
  of Columbia

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Governing Documents

• National Constitution
• Article I Name
• Article II Goals and Objectives
• Article III Organizational Structure and
  Composition
• Article IV Membership
• Article V Chapter Formation and
• Reporting
• Article VI Duties of the Officers and
  National Standing
• Committees
• Article VII Meetings
• Article VIII Nominations and Elections

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Governing Documents

• National Constitution
• Article IX Dues and Assessments
• Article X Expulsion, Termination or
• Removal
• Article XI Rules of Procedures
• Article XII Incorporation
• Article XIII Limitations of Liability
• Article XIV Adoption of Constitution
• Article XV Amendments to Constitution
• Article XVI Ratification

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Governing Documents

• Policy Manual
• Establishes policy for the organization
• Updated and maintained by the Board of Directors

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Governing Documents

• Regional Council and Chapter Bylaws
• Cannot conflict with the National Constitution
• Chapter Bylaws
• Approved by the chapter membership
• Region Bylaws
• Approved by the Regional Council
• Rules of Procedure
• Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised

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Summary
Governing Documents

• District of Columbia Regulatory Codes
• Articles of Incorporation
• National Constitution
• Board of Directors Policy Manual
• Regional Council Bylaws
• Chapter Bylaws
• These document provide necessary information to
  the membership and information is power

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Questions
?
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Roles and Responsibilities of National Officers

• BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

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Officers

• President
• Executive Vice President
• Vice Presidential Ascension
• Other Vice Presidents
• Secretary
• Corresponding Secretary

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Officers

• Treasurer/CFO
• Assistant Treasurer
• Appointed Officers
• Parliamentarian
• Historian/Librarian
• Chaplain
• Sergeant-At-Arms

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Duties Of Officers

• An officers first priority is to SERVE THE
  MEMBERSHIP!
• Passion Passion is the love of turning being
  into action. It fuels the engine of creation. It
  changes concepts to experience. Passion is the
  fire that drives us to express who we really are.
  Never deny passion, for that is to deny Who You
  Are and Who You Truly Want to Be! Conversations
  with God, Book I (Neal Donald Walsh)

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President

• In most organizations, serves as the Chief
  Executive Officer
• Presides over meetings
• Ex-officio member of all committees (except for
  Nominations or Elections)
• Presides over all votes
• Protects the assembly from frivolousness

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President (cont)

• Decides on questions of order
• Countersigns checks and other legal or other
  financial documents
• Appoints committee chairs and other officers
  where constitutionally mandated
• Provides positive motivation and morale for
  membership and officers

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Executive Vice President

• In the absence of the President, or in the event
  of disability, the Executive Vice President
  assumes the function of the President
• In BIG the Exec Vice President serves as the
  Regional Liaison
• Other duties as assigned by the President

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Vice Presidential Ascension

• In the case of resignation, removal or death of
  the President, the Vice President AUTOMATICALLY
  becomes president for the unexpired term, unless
  the By-laws expressly call for a new election.
  The other Vice Presidents automatically move up
  as well, with a vacancy at the lowest ranking
  Vice President

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Other Vice Presidents

• In rank order, shall perform all the duties and
  functions of the President, in the absence or
  incapacitation of the President and Exec Vice
  President
• At the BIG National level, each Vice President
  (1st/2nd/3rd) are assigned a focal point for
  Federal/State/Local Government
• Other duties as assigned

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Secretary

• Recording Officer of the assembly
• Is custodian of records and minutes of meetings
  and proceedings
• Signs all certified copies of Acts of the society
• Maintains the organizational seal and affixes to
  all contracts and other instruments

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Secretary (cont)

• BIG NATIONAL Countersigns with the President
  all requisitions for disbursement of funds
• Is next in line as presiding officer in the
  absence of the President and other Vice Presidents

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Corresponding Secretary

• Responsible for maintaining all organizational
  correspondence
• Informs members, via notice of each meeting or
  call meeting
• Performs the duties of the Secretary in his or
  her absence or incapacitation

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Treasurer/CFO

• Serves as the CFO of the Society
• Produces and issues financial reports for the
  organization
• Collects dues
• Countersigns along with the President or Vice
  President all funds disbursements

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Assistant Treasurer

• Maintains a record of all financial members
• BIG NATIONAL Verifies chapter strength at the
  National Delegates Assembly
• BIG NATIONAL Verifies the Tax ID status of all
  chapters within BIG
• Assumes the duties of the Treasurer if absent or
  incapacitated

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Appointed Officers

• Appointed officers serve at the pleasure of the
  President and his/her administration and are
  subject to replacement or recall without
  constitutional due process of elected officers

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Parliamentarian

• Serves as the principle advisor to the chair
  regarding conduct of the assembly
• Gives parliamentary opinions on request
• Other than secret ballot, should not vote on any
  matters before the assembly

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Historian/Librarian

• Maintains a narrative account of the
  organizations activities
• Maintains the organizations official historical
  records and documentation (custodian of
  historical data and artifacts)
• Collects all books and other written material for
  the organization and maintains an archive
  (curator or records)

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Chaplain

• Leads invocations, prayers, benedictions for
  meetings and other events
• Counselor to members

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Sergeant-At-Arms

• Assist in preserving the order of the chair
• In large assemblies, directs charge of ushers
• Handles physical arrangements of assembly
• In legislative or public bodies, administers
  fines, penalties, warrants and notices
• Removes disorderly members if requested by the
  assembly

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QUESTIONS
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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS

• BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT

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NATIONAL PROGRAMS

• LESSON OBJECTIVE
• To be aware of the various programs, services and
  initiatives BIG provides to its members,
  constituents, and to the community
• STRATEGY/FOCUS
• Present national programs offered by BIG
• Provide an overview of services and initiatives
  provided by BIG
• Discuss how to plan and implement programs at the
  regional and chapter level

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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS

• NATIONAL PROGRAMS BOOK
• Monetary Assistance Program (MAP)
• Scholarships to Acquire Career Keys (STACK)
• Officer Leadership Training
• Training In Communications
• Information Superhighway Student Competition

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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS
MONETARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MAP)
Provides monetary assistance to chapters and
regional councils to support their specific
activities and projects that are in line with
the goals and objectives of BIG Non-refundable--1
,500 Refundable--3,000 Not to exceed 4,500
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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS

• TIPS FOR COMPLETING MAP REQUESTS
• Submit applications during the first month of the
  quarter prior to the quarter in which funds are
  needed
• Example Funds needed in 11/05 due in national
  office no later than 7/31/05
• All requests must have chapter or regional council

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TIPS FOR COMPLETING MAP REQUESTS

• Current bank statements and supportive financial
  documentation, as appropriate
• Budget for project or activity
• Signatures of three chapter or regional council
  officers, as appropriate

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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS
SCHOLARSHIPS TO ACQUIRE CAREER KEYS (STACK)
Assist in the development and maintenance of an
effective workforce. Facilitates training for
career advancement and development
opportunities. Training relates to current or
potential employment.
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SCHOLARSHIPS TO ACQUIRE CAREER KEYS (STACK)

• Funds applied to tuition or associated costs
  (i.e., room and board, instructional or lab fees,
  books, travel to training)
• Accredited Institution
• Awards must be used within the fiscal year or one
  school term
• Be a financial and active member of BIG for two
  years
• When used for continuing course of study a
  minimum grade average is required

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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS
LEADERSHIP TRAINING To provide updated
Leadership Training to members of BIG on goals,
objectives, purpose and philosophy of BIG
organizational governing documents roles and
responsibilities of officers and programs,
initiatives, and services of BIG
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BIG NATIONAL PROGRAMS
YOUTH PROGRAMS Training In Communications To
provide training in communications and leadership
skills and practical experiences to develop those
skills (9th-12th Grade)
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YOUTH PROGRAMS

• Information Superhighway Student Competition
• Encourage students use of computers. Students
  create presentations for World Wide Web pages
• 9th - 10th grade category/11th 12th grade
  category

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QUESTIONS
?