Policy Manual Table of Contents

National Association of State Judicial Educators Policy and Procedures Manual

Communications

August 2008

COMMUNICATIONS

PURPOSE:
This communications policy will guide all members acting on behalf of NASJE in an official capacity.

POLICY:
All officers, board members, committee chairs, members, and the Secretariat represent the interests of NASJE. As such, there should be a distinction between when these members speak as an individual judicial educator and when they represent the official position of NASJE.

PROCEDURE:

1. Communications regarding an official position of NASJE shall be approved by the Board and distributed through the Board minutes and the President.
2. The President may delegate that responsibility to any officer, board member or committee chair if the situation so warrants.
3. All communications involving NASJE policy shall come from the President. In matters where the official policy of NASJE is not clearly articulated in the Constitution and Bylaws or in the Board minutes, the President shall seek the advice and consent of the Board before speaking.
4. The President communicates all matters affecting the work responsibilities and contractual obligations of the Secretariat to the Secretariat’s officer(s).
5. The Treasurer supervises the routine work of the Secretariat in fiscal matters and, in that role, communicates requests for information or reports on behalf of the President and the Board.
6. In dealing with an external organization’s request for an official position or action of NASJE, members should refer such requests to the President. However, this in no way prohibits a member from voicing a personal position or preference, as long as the member makes it clear that the member is not representing NASJE’s official position.

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

PURPOSE:
There are a number of projects, services, and organizations separate and apart from NASJE whose purposes are to further the professional education and growth of state judicial branch professionals and to provide products and services to the state judiciaries. The missions of some of these entities frequently complement or parallel those of NASJE. NASJE’s goals include enhancing the quality of judicial branch education, attending to the professional growth of its own members, serving as a resource and clearing house for the exchange of materials, techniques, and information, and promoting research and development in the field of judicial education. The special appointment concept was established by the NASJE Board to provide an opportunity for other organizations to establish and maintain a formal link to NASJE.

POLICY:
The special appointment ensures that the NASJE membership is aware of emerging trends and developing areas. Similarly, NASJE special appointments, through establishing relations with other designated entities, are able to inform others about NASJE activities, research, and developments and foster cooperative endeavors. The special appointment promotes the mutual interests of NASJE and the organization as authorized by the NASJE Board.

PROCEDURE:

1. Potential special appointments may apply for appointment with the NASJE President.
2. The President reserves the right to solicit applications from members and may, in his/her discretion, appoint any member deemed by the President as best suited to a particular assignment.
3. The President will inform specified organizations of the availability of a NASJE special appointment to serve as a representative of NASJE.
4. Special appointments shall serve a three-year term and are eligible for appointment to one consecutive second term.
5. When possible, the NASJE member or the member’s own state shall pay the expenses of attending the organization’s conference and/or board meeting. If this is not possible, the President shall request authority from the Board to authorize the expenditure of NASJE funds for such attendance.
6. A special appointment shall be NASJE’s primary contact with the designated organization.
7. A special appointment shall attend meetings of the organization, where possible, and shall inform the organization of NASJE research, developments, and activities in areas germane to the organization’s jurisdiction or function.
8. The special appointment shall report at least annually to the NASJE Board on the organizations activities and developments.
9. At the direction of the NASJE Board, the special appointment may represent NASJE’s position or intention on an issue.
10. The special appointment may be empowered by the Board to negotiate with the organization on cooperative projects.
11. The special appointment shall not, without NASJE Board approval, represent NASJE’s position or intentions, or unilaterally enter into cooperative agreements or projects with the organization on NASJE’s behalf.
12. The special appointment may be a member of the organization to which he/she is appointed, but, must not, during his/her tenure as NASJE special appointment, serve as an officer, director, committee chair, or advisory board member for the organization.
13. President shall send a confirmation letter and this policy to special appointee.

OTHER OFFICIAL NASJE REPRESENTATIVES:

1. Some grants require that a NASJE representative serve on a planning committee for a judicial education project. An organization requiring a NASJE representative should contact the NASJE President for a recommendation.
2. The President shall contact the NASJE member he/she is recommending to alert the member to the potential invitation from the organization.
3. The NASJE member serving in that capacity shall work to further the goals of NASJE and the interests of the profession.
4. When the grant-funded project involves a requirement that conference participants conduct follow-through educational projects after the conference, the NASJE member shall encourage the organization to make certain that state judicial branch educators are included in the invitation to attend the conference.

JUDICIAL EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES:

1. While the special appointment function is an official representative of NASJE, a NASJE member may be approached, as an individual judicial educator, to serve on a project.
2. In this capacity, the representative functions on his/her own behalf, and not as a representative of NASJE.
3. Funding for travel of the representative to the organization’s meetings will not be the responsibility of NASJE.
4. An organization may elect to contain the NASJE President for suggestions for potential judicial education representatives, but the selection of that individual will be made directly by the organization.