Developing & Maintaining Policies & Procedures

1. Developing & Maintaining Policies & Procedures 2007 National Leadership Conference

2. Policies • Spell out standards of conduct and decision making. • Articulate the strategy and philosophy of an organization’s governing body. • Provide the framework upon which the association builds its procedures.

3. Procedures • Delineates how to administer the policy. • Spells out the steps needed to turn a particular concept into reality. • Staff and volunteers can develop procedures • Written procedures should accompany each policy.

4. Guidelines for Policy Development • Define the question or problem requiring a policy statement. • Analyze the alternative solutions. • Select the most reasonable alternative. • Develop the policy that speaks to the accepted alternative. • Develop procedures that will implement the policy. • Evaluate the results to identify the need for change.

5. Operations & Management Policies • Credentialing • Finances • Government Affairs • Meetings/Conventions • Membership and Dues • Office Administration • Personnel • Publishing • Services

6. Public Image and Public Policy • Media Relations • Crisis Management

7. Review of Policies • Set an annual date to review all existing policies and procedures and stick with it. • During annual review of the Bylaws • Involve staff in reviewing the association’s policies and procedures. • Consider using past presidents to review policies and procedures that affect external entities. • Set aside a short period of time to try out the new policies and procedures before finalizing them.

8. Annual Sunset Review • Sunset Review of all Board policies dating back three years is conducted annually -- all SNA policies reviewed every four years and either reaffirmed or allowed to expire. • Prior to October Board meeting, Exec Team assigns policies to be reviewed by appropriate committee. • Board provided with copy of all policies scheduled for sunset review at the October meeting. • Committees review in October.

9. Annual Sunset Review • Prior to December 15, committee chairs and Board members submit in writing to VP a list of the policies that are recommended to be retained as active SNA policy for another four years. • Exec Team reviews prior to March 1. • List of all policy recommendations shall be incorporated into a single recommendation in time for Board approval at Spring Board Meeting. • Assuming Board approval, policies remain as active SNA policy for another four years, while the policies not included expire.