National Support Advisory Group
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Contents |
Overall Objective
The AFS-USA Support Advisory Group’s overall objective is to make recommendations and provide input for ways to strengthen support to participants, host families and natural families across the organization and move the organization towards meeting the goal of providing a high quality, supported, safe, experiential learning program for all students hosted in the USA or sent from the USA through AFS. This outcome is achieved by orienting, mentoring, guiding and counseling participants, host families, natural families, and volunteers, as well as working in partnership with Partners and staff colleagues.
Specific Objectives
In the 2011-2012 school year, the Support Advisory Group will convene monthly (or as necessary) to discuss and make recommendations on such issues as: raising the awareness of the AFS learning objectives, developing a proposal for Support families, creating an awareness of emergency response in the volunteer network, developing methods of proactive support, and reviewing policies and procedures on specific topics such as eating disorders, tattoos and body piercing, excessive phone/internet/computer use, alcohol/drug use, poor academic performance, cutting, independent travel, and others.
Updates
The Support Advisory Group is currently seeking a Chair Elect to serve along side Ted Thomas until June 2012, taking over Chair duties at that time. Any interested Support volunteers should contact Ted tothomas76@sbcglobal.net or Andy asmith@afs.org.
Composition
The group is composed of the following staff and volunteers:
George Arvay - Western Pennsylvania
Marjorie Bigelow - World Flags
Deb Dahlberg (National Council Representative) - East Metro
Krista Hawthorne - Greater Cleveland
Gayle Jordan - Midland West
Carol Mattes - Delmarpa
Barbara McManus (Legal Advisor) - Greater Cincinnati
Linne Shields - Dallas
Ted Thomas (Chair) - San Diego
Deb Maly (Liaison with Compliance Adviser Group) Milwaukee
Phil Gordon(Participant Support Manager) - East-Baltimore
Barbara Telser (Participant Support Manager) - Central-St. Paul
Jhorna Hochstedler (Participant Support Manager) - West-Portland
Andy Smith (National Director of Participant Support - Located in Baltimore
Method of Election/Appointment
Volunteers were either nominated by the Participant Support Managers or offered to participate during the National Volunteer Assembly. They were then asked to confirm their participation through a request by the VP-IEQ. The four staff persons are required to participate as part of their AFS position. The Chair was nominated and chosen by the members of the workgroup. Update 2012. Members are nominated by staff or volunteers and then asked to join the group.
Committee Term
Half of the original volunteer members will serve for one year and the other half will serve for two years. New members will be selected to replace the outgoing members. The determination of which volunteers will serve a 2-year term and which will serve for one year will be done on a voluntary basis, if at all possible. If too many volunteers offer to serve either for one year or for two years, then the determination of which volunteers will rotate off after one year will be determined by the Support Staff on the advisory group and by the Chair of the group. After the first year all terms will be for two years.
Methodology
• The committee will meet by phone conference monthly, October through June, or as needed.
• There will be regular email correspondence.
• Additional meetings may be called as necessary.
• The progress and outcomes of this committee will be regularly communicated to the National Council and other AFS-USA volunteers, via the monthly “Coming Together” newsletter, as well as by emails to leadership volunteers, as needed.
Accountability
The AFS Support Advisory Group will be accountable to the National Council and to the Support Department Staff.
Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes
- Support Advisory Group Minutes November 4, 2009
- Support Advisory Group Minutes December 2, 2009
- Support Advisory Group Minutes March 3, 2010
- Support Advisory Group Minutes October 6, 2010
- Support Advisory Group Minutes November 3, 2010
- Support Advisory Group Minutes March 1, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes May 3, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes June 7, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes July 12, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes October 4, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes November 1, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes December 13, 2011
- Support Advisory Group Minutes January 10, 2012
- Support Advisory Group Minutes February 7, 2012
SAG Application
Click Media:SAG Application.doc to access this document.
