CISSA Branches & Commitments

Branches and Commitments are working groups that assist the organization to design, implement, and provide recommendations for organizational direction.

The branches and commitments should maintain transparency with members, and should recommend and guide organizational operations.

Policies and Procedures
  • Branches and Commitments will have a minimum of three (3) members who are consensus elected from the General Assembly. Each of these members will serve a two-year term. ​

  • One additional member of the Branches and Commitments will be from the Leadership Council and will serve a three-year term. Leadership Council members are not necessarily the “lead” of the branch or commitment but instead assist with the success of the group during their Leadership Council term. 
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  • Each Branch and/or Commitment will consensus elect a “Chair” of the committee who will be responsible for administrative functions and assuring that Branches and Commitments meet their stated goals and report regularly at the General Assembly gatherings and as needed at Leadership Council and Branches/Commitment meetings. 
 

Elections
Branches and Commitments self-nominations will take place at the second General Assembly meeting of each year as needed for each of the noted terms. 
  • All active members of the General Assembly are eligible to self-nominate for a term on the Branches or Commitments group. 
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  • ​Self-nominations will be confirmed and the General Assembly will reach consensus on confirming Branches and Commitments membership. 
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  • There are no limits on the number of active General Assembly members who can serve on Branches or Commitments. ​

Description of Duties
General Assembly members can serve on branches or commitments. Active members of the General Assembly can self-nominate to take leadership roles in branches and commitments. This can be an opportunity for General Assembly members to contribute to the organization and to help diversify the voices that are working on branches and commitments for the organizations.

Branches or Commitments can be updated, changed, or added to by consensus of the General Assembly at the second meeting of the year. The current Branches or Commitments include: 
Branches are focused on organizational development and sustainability and advocating and/or growing the organization.
  • Bylaws/Organization
  • Membership/Recruitment
  • Fundraising
  • Policy
  • Website

Commitments are guiding principles or areas of engagement for the organization
  • Reciprocal Scholarship
  • Mentorship
  • Conference Committee
The duties of the branches and commitments include: 
  • Attend meetings as established by the Branches/Commitments (a minimum of 2 meetings per year for each branch/commitment). 
  • Set a yearly calendar for goals/objectives of the branch or commitment to be presented to the Leadership Council for inclusion in the first General Assembly meeting update. Provide a report on outcomes to the Leadership Council for inclusion in the second General Assembly meeting update.
  • Provide updates to the Leadership Council with guidance on next steps for branches/commitments.
  • Contribute to the semi-annual reporting to the General Assembly. 
  • Contribute to the yearly report/newsletter. 
  • Assist with planning the General Assembly meetings. 
  • Provide administrative support to the branches/commitments to work toward stated goals.