SILC Membership Development: Recruiting, Orienting and Supporting Council Members

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SILC-NET Presents

• SILC Membership Development Recruiting,
  Orienting and Supporting Council Members
• A National Webinar/Teleconference
• Presented by
• Camille Pansa Shelly Emery
• Monday, March 8, 2010
• 300 PM 430 PM EST

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SILC-NET Presents

• SILC Membership Development Recruiting,
  Orienting and Supporting Council Members
• A National Webinar/Teleconference
• Presented by
• Camille Pansa Shelly Emery
• Monday, March 8, 2010
• 300 PM 430 PM EST

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Introduction and Objectives

• Describe effective strategies to strengthen SILC
  member recruitment processes that will result in
  committed, highly engaged council members, while
  reducing turnover.
• Identify the elements of highly effective member
  orientation sessions that result in greater
  knowledge of the IL field and a higher comfort
  level among members as they begin their new
  roles.
• Utilize effective best practice tools and
  techniques for improving the ongoing support and
  development of SILC members.

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Typical Problems

• Poor attendance
• Quorums not met
• Lack of knowledge about the SILC and the overall
  IL program
• Members uncomfortable in their roles and
  responsibilities
• Member turnover

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What are the geographic and demographic
realities that your SILC needs to consider?

• Is it feasible to do direct, in-person outreach
  and recruitment, or do you need to do recruitment
  via other methods (public service announcements,
  etc.) and through partnership networks?
• Can members readily attend on-site trainings, or
  would this be an expensive and time consuming
  endeavor?

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What are the geographic and demographic
realities that your SILC needs to consider?,
contd.

• Is your SILC membership large or small?
• Do you have plenty of well-informed members with
  the time and ability to mentor new members, or do
  new members need to be supported by a few
  individual members /or staff?

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Rhode Island Demographic Impact

• Smallest state, ranked 43rd in population
• The 4 largest population centers are within 18
  miles of each other
• Opposite regions of the state can be reached in a
  little more than an hour

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Rhode Island Demographic Impact, contd.

• There are two CILs in the state, with no unserved
  areas.
• Impact
• Possible to do in-person outreach
• Possible to do in-person training/meetings
• Low population from which to draw qualified and
  knowledgeable members

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Oregon Demographic Impact

• 9th largest state, but ranked 27th in population
• There are 4-5 main population centers, with the
  majority of the state being rural
• Can take 6-9 hours to get from a SILC meeting
  location to other locations across the state

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Oregon Demographic Impact, contd.

• 14 of 36 counties without an IL Center
• Impact
• Difficult to do in-person outreach
• Costly and time consuming to have in-person
  training/meetings
• Difficult to locate new, qualified members with
  disabilities in some areas, who have IL knowledge
  and are not connected to a CIL or state agency

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Recruitment What has worked?

• Rhode Island
• Planning
• Written recruitment process
• List of volunteer opportunities
• Application
• Interview Sheet
• Letter of welcome and acceptance

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Recruitment What has worked?, cont.

• Broadened Recruiting Base
• Networking
• Advertising
• Council members
• Formal Interview with ED
• Membership Committee Review and Approval
• Nominated for Council membership after one year
  of active participation

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Recruitment What has worked?

• Oregon
• Recruitment Tool sent to CILs and directors of
  disability organizations (lists SILC
  responsibilities, types of members needed, and
  how to apply)
• Targeting specific organizations where desired
  representation may be found (through member/staff
  involvement in advisory group meetings direct
  requests for representation)

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Recruitment What has worked?, contd.

• Good vetting process
• Interview reference checks
• Meeting attendance
• Potential committee participation prior to
  membership

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Recruitment What has worked?, contd.

• Vetting Process Interviews
• Do they understand the SILCs responsibilities?
• Do they have any conflicting personal agendas?
• Do they live out the IL philosophy, even if they
  dont know the terminology?
• Do they have the time to participate?
• Do they have any knowledge about CIL services?
• Do they have any affiliations that will help with
  SILC collaboration?

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Recruitment What hasnt worked?

• Rhode Island
• Poorly planned processes
• Doing recruiting at Centers for Independent
  Living
• Immediate nominator for SILC membership

• Oregon
• Recruitment brochures at conferences/events
• Notices in SILC newsletter or on our Web site
• Recruitment announcements at SILC meetings
• Not publishing clear information about the SILCs
  specific role

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Other Recruitment Ideas

• Free Public Service Announcements on radio and
  television, in targeted areas
• Notices in targeted local newspapers
• Notices in newsletters of partner organizations
• Visits to disability organization offices
• Communication with disability support group
  leaders

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Questions Answers
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Orientation - What Has Worked?

• Rhode Island
• Active participation on a committee
• Completion of five in-person training sessions
• Independent Living Philosophy
• Centers for Independent Living
• The SILC
• The SPIL
• Tour of a Center

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Orientation - What Has Worked?, contd.

• Attending a quarterly SILC meeting
• Demonstrated ability to be an effective council
  member

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Orientation - What Has Worked?, contd.

• Oregon
• Attending a SILC meeting during vetting process
• Self-Paced Training Modules Basic Orientation
  module available prior to appointment (in desired
  format, and on the Web)
• Orientation Packet Contains reference info
  handbook and orientation process checklist
• Self-Assessed Knowledge on Key Topics with Follow
  Up Review of Correct Answers
• SILC 101

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Questions Answers
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Ongoing Training

• Potential Training Methods
• Self-paced, in depth topical training modules
• In-person training days, or topical training
  during segments of SILC meetings
• Shadowing those with experience
• Periodic Knowledge Assessments to evaluate growth

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Ongoing Training, contd.

• Potential Training Methods
• Knowledge Assessment Fact Review At SILC
  meetings
• Targeted ILRU Courses In person, online
  transcripts
• Targeted Conference/Training Events Related to
  member assignments
• A-Day-At-A-CIL

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Potential Training Topics

• History and the IL Movement
• Foundations of the IL Doctrine
• Political Response to Disability Rights Activism
  The Rehab Act
• Relationship of Rehab Act to Workforce Investment
  Act WIA

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Potential Training Topics, contd.

• Significant Rehab Act Amendments Rehab Act
  Titles
• Title VII IL Services
• Title VII Implementation in your state

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Potential Training Topics, contd.
Title VII Implementation in your state

• Elements of the SPIL
• Section 704
• IL Service Regulatory Documents
• Current SPIL Goals Objectives
• Current SPIL Funding
• Section 705 SILC Duties
• SILC Budget
• SILC Operations

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Potential Training Topics, contd.
Title VII Implementation in your state

• Bylaws Policies
• Committees
• Chapter One Part B (potential and current uses)
• Chapter One Part C (potential and current uses)
• Section 725 CIL Assurances
• CIL Core Services

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Potential Training Topics, contd.

• IL Services from Past to Present Related to
  Your State (e.g. CIL history, funding history,
  etc.)
• Relevant IL Acronyms for Your State

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Keeping Members Engaged Involved

• Involve members in committees, specific tasks
  ongoing education
• Utilize small work groups helps the quiet
  members have a voice

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Keeping Members Engaged Involved, contd.

• Involve members in networking activities,
  outreach, workshops, gathering of needs
  assessment input, etc.
• Connect members with mentors, if needed

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Keeping Members Motivated

• Communicate regularly so that problems can be
  addressed
• Use periodic surveys or group discussions to
  gather input on program improvements and what
  seems to be working well for members
• Periodic check-in with members by chairperson,
  staff, etc. to take the pulse of members

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Keeping Members Motivated, contd.

• Always have chairperson, staff, etc. check in
  with members when level of activity changes
• Plan occasional social/ice breaking events for
  members to build relationships
• Provide feedback and recognition

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Questions Answers
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Wrap Up and Evaluation

• Click the link now to complete an evaluation of
  todays program found at
• https//vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/12291g42b7b

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SILC-NET

• Support for development of this
  Webinar/teleconference was provided by the U.S.
  Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services
  Administration under grant number H132B070003-09.
  No official endorsement of the Department of
  Education should be inferred. Permission is
  granted for duplication of any portion of this
  PowerPoint presentation, providing that the
  following credit is given to the SILC-NET
  project Presented as part of the SILC-NET, a
  program of the IL NET, an ILRU/NCIL/APRIL
  National Training and Technical Assistance
  Project.