Committees
If you are interested in serving on a Committee - email contact@iesma.org.Standing Committees:
Audit & Budget: This committee will conduct an annual audit in coordination with the Treasurer. This committee will also develop guidelines for financial accountability including the pre-summit budget in coordination with the Treasurer. The committee shall be composed of the statewide elected officers, the EMAT Coordinator and one Regional Vice-President appointed by the President from a region other than the ones represented by the above listed committee membership. Specific tasks include: the committee shall coordinate the annual audit; the committee shall prepare an annual budget; and the committee shall present the budget to the Executive Board at the final meeting of the fiscal year.
Communications: Committee membership may include any interested member in good standing. Specific tasks include: coordinate with IEMA to analyze existing communications systems; develop new concepts as needed to maintain a high state of readiness; analyze cost factors, state bid information and new equipment capability; provide recommendations on emerging communications technology; and coordinate with the various 911 associations that function to represent communications in the State of Illinois.
Constitution, Bylaws, Policies & Procedures: This committee is charged with the responsibility of analysis and preparation of any Constitutional, Bylaw, or Policy and Procedure amendments as well as review and recommendation on any resolutions. Specific tasks include: prepare and submit to the membership proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws concerning annual dues submission guidelines, and fiscal procedures addressing fiduciary responsibility; prepare and submit to the IESMA Executive Board any recommendations for changes to the Policies and Procedures document to align with the Constitution and Bylaws; and provide policy clarification on any issues or topics as requested by the IESMA Executive Board.
Legislative: This committee has numerous responsibilities including but not limited to providing educational information to the State Legislature pertaining to issues important to the emergency management program and keeping the membership informed on these issues. Specific tasks include: assure that the membership is informed of the status if IEMA/FEMA budgets, legislation, and other issues through E-mail, postal mail, and articles in the organization’s official publication, telephone or other means as deemed appropriate due to time restrictions; work with other coalition organizations to establish a system of information distribution for members to be kept apprised of status on issues; and provide guidance on information and data to be utilized to educate Congress on issues of importance.
Membership: This committee has an overall goal of increasing membership and member interaction with and in the Association. Committee membership may include any interested member in good standing. Specific tasks include: develop membership campaigns targeting all levels of membership; screen membership applications to assure appropriate member placement; working through the existing network of Regional Vice-Presidents and IEMA Regional Coordinators, conduct a membership campaign among the emergency managers throughout Illinois; develop a database of membership to include background area of expertise, interests, hobbies, etc.; conduct a survey of the membership on the quality and quantity of information available through the Association and present a report to the Executive Board at the Annual Summit; and in conjunction with the Executive Board, research and make recommendations on merchandise, vendors and all costs associated with items for sale.
Nominating: This committee is responsible for both the process of nomination of candidates and for the certification of elections for the Association. This committee is comprised of a Delegate member who is not an elected Board member, from each IESMA region and an Executive Board member to serve as chairperson shall be appointed by the President. Specific committee tasks include: review of policies and procedures concerning the nomination of candidates and voting procedures with recommendations to the Executive Board; establish a procedure to be utilized at all business sessions that easily and quickly identifies eligible voters. This procedure should be explained to the members present prior to the opening of the business session; completion of a teller’s record following each election. The teller’s record shall contact the number of votes cast, the number of votes necessary to win the election, the number of votes cast for each person, the number of illegal ballots (if any) and the reason they were determined to be illegal. The teller’s record will be filed with the Secretary in a timely manner but in no case later than 10 days following the election; in the event of a Regional Vice-Presidential election, the Nominating Committee member who bound the geographic area shall serve as the teller for that area. A Nominating Committee person shall not act as a teller in the Region in which they reside; and the committee shall be responsible for the validation and maintenance of any absentee ballots of the Association.
Past-Presidents: The purpose of this committee is to provide ongoing leadership to the Association utilizing the members who have served as President. Membership is limited to those members who have completed a term of service in the capacity of Illinois Emergency Services Management Association President. Specific duties include: act as an advisory board to the current administration; provide insight on Constitution, Bylaws, Policies and Procedures for the Association; assist in mentoring of new members of the Executive Board; and as a peer group, assure that all Past Presidents are being utilized for their strengths within the Association.
Special Committees:
Publication & Website: This committee is responsible for working with the editor of the Association’s Official Publication to provide resource articles for publication. Committee membership may include any interested member in good standing. Specific tasks include: solicit and actively pursue articles to be included in the publication: monitor current pricing of advertisements to assure appropriate cost structure and make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding advertising; solicit advertisements to be included in the publication; and communicate frequently with the Regional Vice Presidents in order to assist in acquiring new information in particular from different EMA/ESDA organizations throughout the State of Illinois.
Student Affairs: Special Committee assigned to liaison with, and assist in the creation of student chapter groups of higher education focused on the profession of emergency management. Specific tasks include: in coordination with the IESMA President, coordinate student activities with IEMA and other partner organizations; provide the IESMA Executive Board with situational awareness and opportunities presented to the association by student chapters and their parent educational facilities; and coordinate student affairs information with the Publications and Website Committee and other committees as appropriate.
Emergency Management Assistance Team (EMAT): This committee is charged with oversight of the Illinois Emergency Management Mutual Aid System (IEMMAS) and the EMAT. Specific duties include: review of applications for potential membership; ensure appropriate callout systems are in place for deployment of EMA teams; provide current information to the Executive Board regarding applicants, members, deployments, training, exercises and drills involving the EMAT; review requirements for membership in the system in conjunction with the Professional Standards Committee; shall create Policies to provide a uniform operation of the EMAT. Each Policy shall be approved by the IESMA Executive Board for implementation of the EMAT. Approved EMAT Policies will be distributed to the team membership and will also be maintained on the official IESMA website. Each member shall be provided a copy of each policy upon approval; and establish and maintain the IEMMAS Agreements between all county and local jurisdictions and IESMA.
Ad Hoc Committees:
Summit & Awards:This committee shall develop guidelines and assist in planning and conducting the Annual Summit. Committee membership may include any interested member in good standing. Specific tasks include: develop guidelines for the summit program including speakers, audio-visual needs, head-table seating arrangements, protocol, etc.; solicit a broad array of exhibits for the Annual Summit; maintain contact with vendors of emergency equipment and suppliers on a continuing basis; be responsible for exhibitor set-ups and other needs at the Annual Summit; develop guidelines for working with the summit facility including meeting room requirements, meal functions, menu planning, rooms necessary, complimentary rooms, etc.; develop guidelines for the areas of competition and publish said guidelines in the organization's official publication; and coordinate the evaluation of nominations, ordering, and presenting of awards at the Annual Summit.
Illinois Professional Emergency Management (IPEM) Advisory: This committee is created for the specific purpose of adopting professional standards for emergency managers. Specific tasks include: conduct an annual review of data compiled by IEMA, IAEM, and FEMA concerning the background evaluation of the need for professional standards; research and develop materials that can be utilized in the formation of professional standards; serve as the facilitator(s) in the education of IESMA members on proposed standards; and act as a liaison to IEMA for coordinating the IPEM program.
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) & Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Advisory: This committee is created for the specific purpose of providing input and making recommendations on the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program (EMPG) and the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). Specific tasks include: review them and provide input on the various emergency management grant programs; make recommendations for changes that benefit the emergency management programs in the State; and develop projects, programs, and strategies that advance the mission of emergency management relative to the homeland security mission that can be recommended to the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF).