DBSA State Organizations
DBSA state organizations serve as representatives of DBSA in their
states, provide support to new and existing local DBSA chapters, and conduct
statewide efforts to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders.
What do state organizations do?
- Serve as a communication link between local DBSA chapters in the state and the DBSA national office when appropriate
- Represent local DBSA chapters on state legislative matters when appropriate
- Speak for DBSA within their state or region (must be familiar with DBSA’s stand on public policies)
- Educate the public on the nature of mood disorders
- Recruit and lend assistance of new chapters in the state/region
- Lend assistance to individual local DBSA chapters on operational matters
- Provide leadership training to chapters in the state
- Be incorporated
- Participate annually in the DBSA re-affiliation process
- Send representation to any DBSA state organizations meeting, Chapter Leadership Forum, and the DBSA National Conference
- Provide ideas and suggestions for group programs, fundraising, membership recruitment, and other areas of chapter development to DBSA.
- Hold regular or annual meetings where a majority of chapters are represented
- Invite national staff to the annual state meeting
- Maintain current contact information with national organization (including affiliation, contact information, meeting schedules, and annual progress reports)
- Hold annual elections for the state organization’s Board of Directors, rotating board membership on a regular basis
How We Help DBSA State Organizations
- Provide a representative to participate in a scheduled state organization meeting (funding and schedules permitting)
- Work with state organization to provide training as desired
- Provide sample resource materials
- Provide DBSA brochures and other educational materials
- Provide contact information for persons interested in starting a DBSA group in the state
- Offer ongoing advice and consultation
- List state organization’s contact information on web site and make referrals via DBSA’s toll-free number
- Send regular informational communications
- Free or low-cost copies of select brochures and publications from DBSA’s stocked inventory
- Offer access to materials that promote the benefit of DBSA in publications and the media
- Offer annual leadership training at the DBSA National Conference
- Host a national meeting of state organization representatives (funding permitting)
Learn about starting a DBSA State Organization.
Find a DBSA State Organization.
|
