Catholic Charities USA

Sections Guidelines
1. Formation. The National Ofice will provide interested parties with
specifc inormation re!ardin! the ormation o a Section. The
ormation o a Section shall ollow these steps"
a. #em$ers interested in the ormation o a Section within
Catholic Charities USA shall secure the si!natures o at least
thirt% &'() other mem$ers interested in the Section to $e
ormed.
$. The proponents shall su$mit a petition to the *oard o Trustees
on a Catholic Charities USA +etition to Form a Section orm
which sets out the ollowin!"
i. The purpose&s) o the Section, includin! its relevance to
the mission and vision o Catholic Charities USA-
ii. The proposed primar% activities and $enefts o the
Section, possi$l% includin!, $ut not limited to, the
ollowin!- pu$lication o a Section newsletter, sponsorin!
one or more meetin!s o the Section per %ear, continuin!
proessional education activities on $ehal o those served
$% Catholic Charities- on!oin! communication amon!
Section mem$ers, includin! telephone and video
conerencin!- mentorin! and support or its mem$ers- and
representation o its priorities and concerns to the *oard
and its recommendation or the overall wor. o the
national or!ani/ation-
iii. The oficers or other !overnance structure proposed or
the Section and the procedures to $e used or their annual
election, insurin! that no mem$er serves in the same
capacit% &e.!., ofice) or more than three&') %ears
continuousl% nor as a mem$er o the !overnance structure
or more than si0 &1) %ears continuousl% rom the time the
section is initiall% approved-
iv. The assistance rom staf o the National Ofice which is
$ein! re2uested to support the proposed activities o the
Section.
c. The competed +etition to Form a Section shall $e su$mitted to
the +resident o Catholic Charities USA.
d. The +resident o Catholic Charities USA shall su$mit a
recommendation in writin! re!ardin! each +etition to the
30ecutive Committee o the *oard indicatin!"
i. The +resident4s 5ud!ment on the importance o such a
Section to the efectiveness o the national or!ani/ation
and its service to its mem$ers- and
ii. The availa$ilit% o stafin! rom e0istin! resources or the
Section, in li!ht o competin! responsi$ilities o the
national or!ani/ation.
e. The 30ecutive Committee shall meet to review an% petitions
which ma% have $een su$mitted or the ormation o Sections
and ma.e recommendation or action re!ardin! such petitions
to the *oard o Trustees.
. The *oard o Trustees shall approve, disapprove, or recommit to
the 30ecutive Committee, the proponents, and the +resident or
urther development an% petition or esta$lishment o a Section.
!. Approval shall $e contin!ent upon ft% &6() mem$ers 5oinin! the
Section within twent%7our months o the *oard4s action and
meetin! the re2uirements or mem$ership. 8 mem$ership
should all $elow ft% &6() mem$ers, the *oard shall consider
whether the Section should continue to e0ist.
h. An% chan!es to the !uidelines o a Section $% a Section must $e
su$mitted to the 30ecutive Committee or review and approval.
i. Ater the ormation o a Section has $een approved $% the *oard
o Trustees, su$se2uent chan!es to the !uidelines o that
Section will $e reviewed $% the 30ecutive Committee- the
Committee will use its discretion in reerrin! such proposed
chan!es to the *oard o Trustees or ratifcation. The
Committee will see. the recommendation o the +resident on all
chan!es to the Guidelines o the Section addressin! the
importance o such a Section to the efectiveness o the national
or!ani/ation and its service to its mem$ers, stafin!, or dues.
9. #em$ership. +articipation in Sections is open to an% and all staf
mem$ers o air share Catholic Charities a!encies, afiliate a!enc%
mem$ers, and +arish Social #inisters.
'. Governance. 3ach Section shall elect a chairperson and such other
leadership as it desires, accordin! to its procedures. The Section also
ma% use a steerin! committee o Section mem$ers to !uide its wor.
under the direction o its chairperson and other oficers. Those
providin! the !overnance or a Section shall $e responsi$le or
sharin! the contents o the Guidelines or their Section with the
mem$ership o the Section.
:. Social +olic%. 3ach %ear, all Sections will $e invited to su$mit
recommendations to the Social +olic% Committee o the *oard o
Trustees re!ardin! the social polic% priorities and wor. o the national
or!ani/ation. Section mem$ers ma% also promote social polic%
concerns and advocac% amon! their own mem$ers in support o the
social polic% priorities o the national or!ani/ation, as approved $% the
*oard o Trustees, and in support o other matters o concern to the
mem$ers. ;owever, no Section shall issue an% pu$lic communications
in support o or in opposition to an% proposed le!islation or re!ulation
in the name o the Section or in the name o Catholic Charities USA
without the e0press written approval o the +resident o Catholic
Charities USA or the Senior <ice +resident or Social +olic% and
Government =elations.
6. Section #eetin!s. Aside rom the meetin!s o the Section4s
leadership >oficers or steerin! committee o a Section? and an%
re!ional meetin!s or trainin!, all Sections are encoura!ed to meet
5ointl% with other Sections or the purposes o networ.in!,
communication, inte!ration, and acilitatin! staf support. Section
meetin!s must $e conducted in coordination with Catholic Charities
USA4s #eetin! +lannin! Staf.
1. *oard =eports. 3ach @anuar%, all Sections must su$mit a written
annual report to the 30ecutive Committee o the *oard o Trustees
summari/in! the wor. o the Section or the precedin! calendar %ear.
An% Section su$mittin! priorities and concerns to the *oard and its
recommendations or the overall wor. o the national or!ani/ation
shall ma.e such recommendations in writin! to the 30ecutive
Committee o the *oard who ma% convene ace7to7ace meetin!s with
Section representatives, as determined $% the Committee.