From the Chapter I Membership – Donna Lovill

 

Greetings everyone:

 

I am the Chapter I membership person for 2009 and would like to take this time to thank all of you who are members of NRA/NCRA and especially those in Chapter I. As of the 4^th quarter of 2008, we have 74 members in Chapter I. This number is considerably less than in quarters past and it appears that numbers continue to decline in statewide as well as nationwide. There are many reasons being speculated for the decline from the economic situation to “people just aren’t joining professional organizations anymore”.

 

I would like to encourage you as members of Chapter I to get busy recruiting new members. Even though we have 74 members, there are only handfuls that are actually active in the association. We need to bring in new members or have previous members who have lapsed, renew their memberships. Not only do we need the numbers, we need the actual bodies! In order to have a successful state chapter of NCRA, it takes many people to keep the projects and conference going. In Chapter I, our role in the region is to have consumer projects within the Chapter which may involve building a ramp, doing yard work, etc. in order to assist a person with a disability. In order for this to be successful, we need BODIES to do projects, to be seen in the community, and to assist in making a difference.

 

Another role of the Chapter is to compliment the state chapter. We try to send Chapter I members to the Governmental Affairs Summit in Washington DC every year but have been sending the same people every year as there are not enough people interested in attending. We also like to have a large presence at the Legislative Breakfast in Raleigh each year and would like to send consumers as well. We are having a difficult time even getting nominations for consumer attendance at the breakfast.

 

Speaking of nominations, another role of Chapter I is to provide nominations for the state chapter awards given out every year at the state conference. These awards range from Personal Achievement Award to Meritorious Award. We are having difficulty getting nominations for any of the awards. I know there are many consumers out there and employers who are VERY deserving of these awards.

 

Chapter I is also responsible for assisting in the state conference each year. We provide some of the funding for the social, in which everyone can get together and network. We provide training at our membership meeting for the conference which assists professionals in obtaining CRC credit.

 

Finally, the Chapter must do fundraisers each year in order to obtain money for all of the above.  This is where the rubber meets the road and where we truly need “bodies” to assist. Each year the fundraiser varies and they can be pretty simple to events that require quite a bit of work.

  

With all that being said, I do sincerely hope that those of you whose membership is about to lapsed, I d hope you will renew. For those who are currently members, I do hope you get involved in the work that Chapter I is doing. We need “bodies” that are willing to do their part to keep NCRA the 4^th largest state chapter in the nation!  We need all members to begin recruiting new members! We need new people on the Chapter board and people to get INVOLVED in the work we do.

 

If you have any suggestions or concerns about membership, please do not hesitate to let me know. I can be reached at 704-568-8804 or email me at donna.lovill@dhhs.nc.gov or ddlovill@yahoo.com