What NCSSA Membership Does For Me
Theme Park Discounts
NCSSA members receive discounts to Busch Gardens, Sea World, Adventure Island, Water Country USA, Sesame Place, Kings Dominion, Carowinds and Great Wolf Lodge through the Theme Park Portal. In addition, members receive notifications of special rates and vacation packages at locations such as Colonial Williambsurg, Grove Park Inn, and Dollywood.NCSSA Savings Center
The Savings Center and Affiliate Network allow members to access discounts on a wide variety of products, services, and events. Designed to put savings opportunities at your fingertips, this portion of the Member Benefits section of the site provides links to online savings programs, articles on thrifty living and spending, coupons, and free items that range from samples to meals for children. With something for everyone, utilization of this program will very quickly result in a return on your membership dues investment.NC Vision Plan
NCSSA partners with EyeCare Centers across North Carolina to bring substantial discounts to members and their families. Patients receive discounts on eye exams, glasses, contact lens, and sunglasses.SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
NCSSA Scholarships
NCSSA ScholarshipsTo assist its members and their dependents, claimed on the 1040 Tax Return, with the ever-increasing cost of post-secondary education, the NCSSA has established a scholarship program to provide financial assistance. The number and amount of scholarships that can be awarded each year is contingent upon the success of the Scholarship Committee’s fund-raising efforts. The Association encourages its members to respect their agency’s rules governing fund-raising activities, while at the same time encourages the membership to be both creative and supportive.
The Chairperson or another member of the committee will notify winners.
Administrative Support (Clerical) Specialty Chapter Scholarships
Periodically, the NCSSA Administrative Support (Clerical) Specialty Chapter attempts to award two scholarships based on academic excellence and financial need to members, or their spouse or children, who desire a degree in business. One scholarship in the amount of $300 is awarded for a technical school and one in the amount of $500 for a four-year degree. (Scholarships are awarded based upon available funds.)The scholarships are awarded at the Administrative Support (Clerical) Specialty Chapter Annual Conference yearly.
The Jim Willis Memorial Fund
The Jim Willis Memorial Fund was established as a memorial to the late Jim Willis, former NCSSA President 1983-84 and employee of the Guilford County DSS. The fund will provide a $1,000 benefit in case of a member’s accidental death provided that:- the recipient must be the estate of deceased member;
- a written claim must be filed within a reasonable time following date of death not to exceed 90 days;
- the claim must include a certified copy of the death certificate, a copy of the letters of estate administration or affidavit executed by the deceased’s next of kin;
- the deceased must be a member in good-standing at the time of death;
- payment will be contingent upon resources available in this special fund;
- the benefit is not payable for death resulting from suicide or self-inflicted injury.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
One of the NCSSA’s primary role is to advocate for the advancement of social services and to provide for the professional development of its members. In this capacity, the Association maintains active legislative liaisons. NCSSA’s liaisons help to leverage our political action which generally involves direct communications with legislators and their staff, coordinating letter-writing campaigns, arranging for the presentation of testimony before legislative committees, task forces, state boards and study commissions and the co-sponsorship of legislative receptions.Membership on the Legislative Committee
Membership of the Legislative Committee consists of the District Legislative Representatives and a Chairman appointed by the NCSSA President and any members-at-large with an interest in the legislative affairs of the organization.The NCSSA Legislative Action Network
Through the use of computer-assisted technology the NCSSA can automatically engage its Legislative Action E-MAIL Hotline, which generates a call for action with supporting documentation to individuals that stand ready to act on your behalf. Through the employment of our listserv, the Association can mobilize hundreds of calls, letters and emails to gain the attention of key policy-makers.NCSSA’s Legislative Coalition Matrix
The NC Social Services Consortium is an unincorporated partnership with a shared lobbyist. The primary function of this organization is to identify a shared legislative agenda and to coordinate efforts towards passage of initiatives considered being mutually beneficial to the delivery of social services in North Carolina and to the participating organizations. Organizational members include: NC Social Services Association, the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services and the NC Association of County Boards of Social Services.
The Covenant with North Carolina’s Children is a coalition of over 100 organizations committed to advancing public policy to benefit North Carolina’s children. The Covenant is organized in seven (7) Work Groups: (1) Child Welfare and Protection; (2) Early Childhood; (3) Education; (4) Economic Security and Welfare Reform; (5) Health; (6) Safety; (7) Juvenile Justice. Membership in Covenant Work Groups is open to all Covenant members. The responsibility of the Work Groups is to develop recommendations for the Covenant’s Legislative Agenda and to recommend items from other organizations’ legislative agendas for Covenant endorsement. NCSSA is an active member of the Covenant.
AWARDS and RECOGNITION
Dean Edmiston State Member-of-the Year
The State Member of the Year, chosen from the eight District Member of the Year winners from across the state, and is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual member of NCSSA. During the 2003-2004 year, the award was designated as the Dean Edmiston Award to memorialize the outstanding contributions and exemplary service of Dean Edmiston, a charter member of NCSSA who was awarded one of the first Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards. Dean passed away just before Christmas 2003. His legacy to our Association was his never faltering dedication to our principles and our goals.
Honorary Membership
The NCSSA By Laws enable the Board of Directors to award up to two Honorary Memberships per year for outstanding service toward the advancement of social services in the State of North Carolina.Best Practice Awards
The Membership Committee recognizes the outstanding achievements of counties and/or chapters across the state through the selection of Best Practice Awards Winners each year. The awards are chosen from entries submitted by a county/chapter in a specific category. The categories are:- Best Practices in Community Service
- Best Practices in Membership Recruitment
- Best Practices in Innovative Fund Raising Projects
- Best Practices in Membership Retention
- Best Practices in Leadership Retention and
- Chapter-of-the-Year
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Human Resource Specialists representing all fields agree that the ability to speak before groups and to convey technical information correctly and articulately is the most desired and marketable trait in American business today. The NCSSA offers a wide range of opportunities to develop the capacity to speak before groups and motivate others to pursue mutually beneficial activities. Through its process of professional development, communications and orientation programs, the NCSSA helps the individual member realize his/her professional potential.Local Chapter, Specialty Chapter and Committee Involvement
All Statewide Standing Committees and most ad hoc Committees are replicated at the local level as the first processing step for presenting a response to statewide initiatives or generating new ideas and proposals for consideration by the Association. Every member is encouraged to be active at their local level by contributing their time, expertise and consideration to a local committee function. Local Chapters offer an expanded opportunity for professional involvement as a locally elected officer. NCSSA’s local Chapters collectively generate revenue from a wide range of community projects. Funding from these Local Chapter Projects fill a niche in the social services delivery system that our agencies cannot, and they offer our members an opportunity to garner some positive press and immediate gratification for community service. NCSSA offers its members the opportunity to participate in Specialty Chapters. These are Statewide Chapters, which focus on a general program area of social services. The Chapters seek to influence policy development and legislation, and advocate for its members.District and State Volunteerism
District representation on each of the Committees, Task Forces and Joint Ventures is the backbone of this non-profit corporation. Participants enjoy the professional recognition that accompanies these positions, as well as the intrinsic benefit of knowing that their personal contribution has served to make a positive difference in the professional lives of their colleagues and in the lives of the clients whom we seek to effectively serve.Board and Commission Appointments
By virtue of its leadership position in the State and its legislative advocacy mission, government leaders who nominate individuals to serve the state on legislative or gubernatorial appointed boards, councils and/or study commissions occasionally approach the NCSSA. Appointment to one of these positions carries a great deal of prestige, responsibility satisfaction and often, an opportunity for further career development.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLICATIONS
Through a system of electronic publications and professional development programs the NCSSA seeks to provide its membership with news, events and activities that enable individuals to continually improve their skills and performance as practitioners in the field of social services.
The Program Committee and the Public Relations/Publications Committee are two of the committees that play an important role in over-seeing this system of professional development and information exchange. Opportunities for professional enrichment abound.
Annual Meeting and Social Services Institute Partnership
The NCSSA holds its Annual Meeting in conjunction with the Social Services Institute each year. This meeting brings together the full spectrum of social services practitioners at a single meeting. It is an opportunity to learn about the many facets of the state’s social services delivery system, build upon ones web of professional contacts, and participate in a variety of educational, business and team-building activities.
District Meetings
The NCSSA is divided into 8 Districts, which are designed to provide the membership with localized opportunities for professional development and involvement. Each District holds both a Fall and Spring Meeting, which feature motivational speakers, presentations from legislators, allied professionals, state and federal authorities, District officers and quality local entertainment.
It is at the District Meetings where many of the Association’s legislative and membership benefit initiatives are given birth, personal energy is restored, and professional bonds are forged to last a lifetime. District Meetings are about 5 hours in duration allowing attendees to commute from their home counties to the District Meeting and back in one working day.
