JUNE 26, 2005

Governing Structure and Participation

1. We should form a national provisional board and ask them to create by-laws. These should include a process for elections and terms of office for the board, a committee structure, membership meetings, clarification of the relationship between local groups and the Society, etc. [note: Seven individuals volunteered to be part of such a board. See below.]
2. Board and/or general membership meetings could take place before or after the Society's annual conference. There might also be an informal get-together at CSWE for those Society members who attend that meeting. Some Board business could be conducted through e-mail or telephone conference calls.
3. We need to work on recruitment and retention of a wider base of members of the Society, including students, clinicians, members of allied professions, the business community, and academics. This will require systematic outreach efforts. We should review and possibly revamp the management information system for membership records, as well as create resources and opportunities for members to form local groups and also interest groups within the Society.
   

Communication

1. An expanded web site could be developed over time. It would include contact information, the Society's mission statement, information about conferences and activities at the national and local levels, news from local groups, and links to related sites and resource materials.
2. We should work toward making The Forum a quarterly publication. A suggestion was to publish online with member access.
   

Continuity

1. The Society must develop a strong financial base through grants, sponsorships, the conference, and other means.
2. A process for succession needs to be developed for rotation of the Director and the host site for the Society, as well as for the planning and hosting of the conference and other programs and activities.
   

Conference(s)

1. We might want to reconsider that timing of the annual conference.
2. The Arizona group has agreed to share their knowledge and experience with how to put together a conference, which they did without hiring a conference planner.
3. We should encourage, support, and publicize multiple gatherings of Society members for retreats, one-day local conferences, and other meetings and activities. E-mail communication can help spread the word easily.
   

Ann W. Nichols wrote this list from the notes of the session held at the Arizona conference.

The members who volunteered for a Provisional Board of the Society for Spirituality and Social Work are: Tom Capshew (Iowa), Bonnie Collins (New York), Yvonne Farley (Iowa), Christine Kessen (Pennsylvania), Michael Norman (Minnesota), Jan Shuman (Arizona), Don Streit (Arkansas). Others are welcome! Send an e-mail to ann.nichols@asu.edu if you are interested.