 |
Commission for Women Reception (2012)
|
Commissions are an essential function in a democratic society. Somerville only has a few elected officials who represent all of us. To do their job, they create commission, boards, and committees to focus important attention on key duties. Read more to learn what are the Roles and Responsibilities of Commissions as well as the Benefits to and from Commissioners.
Commissioners Roles and Responsibilities
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Time Commitment from Commissioners
• The Benefits to Volunteers for working on Commissions
• Time Commitment from Commissioners
• The Benefits to Volunteers for working on Commissions
Commissioners’ role & responsibilities
- Ethics
- Duties
- Attendance
- Tasks & Projects
- Leadership
Ethics
Commissioners are unpaid employees according to legal requirements. The City Solicitor’s Office provides a short training on issues such as “conflict of interest,” bribery, and other responsibilities to comply with as an official.
Duties
Commissioners represent the entire group and the City. The main duties are to promote the commission, recruit new participants, identify and work on projects and events, and raise awareness about the commission’s main issues.
Attendance
It is essential for the quorum requirements as well as to conduct the business of the commission for all participants to regularly attend. It is always understandable when “life happens” but more than a rare absence should be avoided.
Tasks & Projects
Each commission works carefully to identify top priorities to focus on through creating events, projects, collaborations, and policy development. There are many ways to raise awareness and protect community interests—so be creative.
Leadership
Each commission has one or two chairs who represent the group, coordinate with City staff, speak on behalf of the group, and organize responsibilities for meetings and projects. Everyone should take an opportunity to learn this role for a year so the group develops skills.
Commissioners
• Qualifications for successful applicants
• Process to apply
Qualifications
• Resident of Somerville
• Attend monthly meetings
• Give five hours per month
• Interested to learn ordinance, listen to issues and challenges, outreach about rights, and connect groups with commissions
• Learn Ordinance
– Refer people to ordinance
– Educate commissioners and community advocates about rights
– Educate residents about how to redress concerns, how to file complaints, how to access change through the system
• Listen
– Attend meetings in the community to learn issues
– Watch for challenges, issues, and concerns
– Help with data collection
– Report to the commission
• Connect
– Attend meetings with other groups
– Attend events throughout the community
– Refer people to the commissions
• Recruit commissioners
• Refer residents for resources or support
• Refer advocates for collaboration
Benefits to and from Commissioners
Benefits: Community
The Commissions’ new “Timetrack-o-Meter” looks at each hour of time volunteered and how the community benefits for that investment. Consider how much time you might spend doing something in your daily life that actually benefits the community. See below how it might come out…
You give a ½ hour a month: You talk with family and neighbors about issues or concerns
• Residents talking about issues may potentially raise awareness on a limited level
You give an hour a month: You read or watch programs about the issues to get more informed
• Residents becoming informed about issues increase awareness of opportunities and challenges for solutions
You give 2 Hours a month: You attend a commission meeting for two hours discussing issues in the community, identify priorities, and inform leaders
• Residents from across the City discuss issues, choose priorities and identify next steps
• Residents educate Elected Officials and Community Leaders
You give 3 Hours a month: You attend a monthly commission meeting and take on a project such as helping City staff organize a “Know Your Rights” guest speaker at the library
• Somerville
• People feel more empowered
You give 4 hours a month: You attend a monthly two hour commission meeting and help commissioners and staff organize an event to educate girls about healthy body image and bring adult women’s elite athletes to mentor the girls
• Residents are discussing key issues and the implications of potential solutions and challenges to overcome
• Vulnerable community groups benefit with training and opportunities
You give 5 hours per month: You attend the monthly commission’s meeting and participate in activities in the community that spreads the word about commissions, encouraging neighbors and people you know to join commissions. You help with an occasional event or project during the year. You advocate about priorities at meetings and to elected officials. You stay informed about community issues.
• Issues are discussed in public meetings with a diverse group of people bringing up important concerns that impact different populations in Somerville
• Events, workshops, policies, and programs are developed to address highest priority issues
• Community involvement helps people stay connected, prevent isolation and marginalization, and community health improves with an engaged population
Benefits: Personal
If you need community…through commission you can find community
need work experience…develop skills
have stress…reduce stress
are overwhelmed with responsibilities & burdens…find resources
want to share abilities & resources…share resources & skills
have loneliness or isolation…reach out
Find Community
Commissions and community groups are great opportunities to make friends and meet new people. Often, committees on a commission will work together to organize a reception, workshop or other activity. Commissioners often laugh and share together making the time together friendly and fun.
Develop Skills
The commissions are great places to learn a lot about municipal decision making, identifying key issues and priorities, working on committees, event and project organizing, fundraising, outreaching to the public, and much more.
Commissioners frequently have opportunities to meet business leaders, elected officials, and influential community allies. For many individuals, these opportunities are excellent for both professional and educational networking.
Commission work is a strong asset on a person’s resume. Commissioners, City staff, and officials get to know you and can potentially give a recommendation during job searches.
Reduce Stress
Getting involved in local community activities can be helpful to reduce stress in other areas of life. You get to meet new people, help others, and enjoy new conversations.
Find Resources for Own Needs
Frequently, commissioners and local volunteers get to know each other and share how their day-to-day lives are doing. Often, conversations lead to finding new resources, babysitters, ideas to solve problems, and much more.
Share Resources & Skills
Commissions, community groups, and local agencies can help neighbors connect to share their resources, find places to make donations that make the most help, volunteer in local activities so you can see direct change, and much more.
There are many opportunities to give whatever you have: time, used furniture or clothes, skills and networks, or even donating funds.
Find Community
Participation in social and community groups are proven to help people prevent and reduce the effects of loneliness, isolation, and depression.
Many kinds of groups are available to fit different people. Folks who are not talkers can find groups such as the gardening or library where participation on activities, meetings, and events do not require everyone to be chatty.
Community Engagement Benefits
Join a commission to help the community and find many of your own personal benefits:
1. Find Community
2. Develop New Skills
3. Find Resources
4. Share Resources & Skills
5. Reach Out & Connect
Commissions are recruiting new members now
Call 311 or 617-625-6600 (x2400)
www.somervillema.gov/departments/health/ Somerville-Commissions
No comments:
Post a Comment