Midwest Area Council for Office Professionals Charter
A. Mission and Goal:
The two-fold mission of the Midwest Area Council for Office Professionals (MWACOP) is to:
1. To serve as a liaison between the Senior Management Team (Area Directors - hereafter referred to as SMT) and the Midwest Area (MWA) office professionals on relevant topics impacting the Agency.
2. To provide guidance and support to MWA office professionals through opportunities for networking, training, mentoring, and elevating the stature of the office professional as a valued team member.
Our goal is to ensure that ARS has highly skilled office professionals working as team members to meet the strategic goals of the Agency by providing communication, training, and networking to heighten job performance and increase job satisfaction.
B. Vision:
The Council's vision is for office professionals to function as integral team members in achieving the Agency mission. It is also our vision that positive communication, training, and networking heighten job performance which leads to job satisfaction.
C. Objectives:
The objectives of the Council include:
- Improve communication, awareness and skills to enhance teamwork and promote excellence.
- Share resources to improve professional development through training and mentoring.
- Establish annual goals.
- Serve as a resource for the SMT on new initiatives which impact Area employees.
D. Scope of Coverage:
The Council will represent office professionals throughout the Midwest Area. This includes employees in the Secretarial Series 318; Office Automation Series 326; and Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistance Series 303 (Program Support Assistants).
E. Council Membership:
The Council consists of the Management Analyst serving as the Sponsor and the two representatives of the National Advisory Council for Office Professionals (NACOP) serving as Technical Advisors. Council members will serve a 4-year term beginning in June. If a member cannot complete a term, that vacancy will be recruited for a 4-year term beginning in June. See Rotation Schedule (Appendix A).
Co-Chairs will lead the Council. All Council members beginning their third year of a 4-year term are eligible for election as Junior Co-Chair. The Junior Co-Chair will assume the senior role, and the Council will elect a new Junior Co-Chair. The Senior Co-Chair will lead the group in his/her fourth year. The Senior Co-Chair will rotate into an ex-officio position for one year at the end of the annual meeting. All new positions are assumed at the close of the annual meeting. Council Members will volunteer to assume the roles as the Recorder, News Notes Editorial Team, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)/Web Editorial Team. Other tasks will be identified and assigned as needed. These positions will be reviewed on a yearly basis.
The Recorder, News Notes Editor, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Editor will be selected by the Council. Other tasks will be identified and assigned as needed.
The SMT will select the representative to the National Advisory Council for Office Professionals (NACOP) from previous members of the Council.
F. Roles and Responsibilities:
Co-Chairpersons will:
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Lead the Council by presiding at all meetings and conference calls.
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Keep Technical Advisors & Sponsor informed.
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Organize meetings, arrange conference calls, and distribute minutes and agendas.
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Work with the SMT on implementing policies and programs within the Area.
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Develop correspondence and obtain appropriate approvals prior to dissemination.
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Prepare annual report for NACOP.
Ex-Officio will:
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Advise and work with the co-chairs.
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Have no voting privileges.
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Assist in preparation of the Annual Report for NACOP.
Recorder will:
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Record minutes and action items of conference calls/meetings (draft minutes distributed within one week to Co-Chairs for review before distribution to MWACOP).
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Maintain an accurate roster and e-mail list of membership.
- Recorder will post agendas and minutes on MWACOP SharePoint site.
- Maintain MWACOP Representatives/Liaison list.
Technical Advisors/Sponsors will:
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Act as a liaison between the SMT and the Council.
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Ensure all Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the established charter and appropriate issues are addressed.
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Ensure that all recommendations from the Council are consistent with policies and procedures.
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Have no voting privileges.
SOP Editor will:
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Ensure the SOP manual, AXON and SharePoint are updated as needed.
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Lead the annual review of the SOP manual.
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Coordinate updates and revisions from Council members.
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Ensure all updates are completed and posted appropriately.
News Notes Editor will:
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Compile articles for News Notes semi-annual editions.
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Edit as appropriate; send to Co-Chairs/Technical Advisors/Sponsor/Council Members to review before dissemination.
- Maintain and edit MWACOP brochure, as needed.
- Maintain MWACOP Snapshot for outreach.
All Members will:
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Fully participate in all Council activities.
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Serve as a confidential sounding board for other office professionals and represent their concerns to the Council.
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Provide a venue for office professionals to communicate needs to help them succeed.
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Disseminate information and activities of the Council.
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Nominate and elect the Co-Chair and chairpersons of the subcommittees established by the Council.
- Send all SOP/Web revisions through the SOP/Web Editorial Team.
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Submit items for the Council News Notes.
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Provide corrections and additions to meeting/conference call minutes as needed.
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Adhere to the Council Code of Ethics.
- Review/proof News Notes provided by the News Notes Editorial Team before dissemination.
G. Operating Procedures:
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Meet annually at a location and date to be determined; payment of travel expenses will be the responsibility of the representative's unit.
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Conduct conference calls on a monthly basis.
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Make decisions by consensus or majority vote.
- Submit recommendations from the Council with Agency/Area wide impact to the Sponsor for approval prior to implementation.
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Summarize accomplishments at the completion of each meeting.
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Initiate recruiting process prior to the expiration of a member's term.
H. Council Code of Ethics:
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Be honest.
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Maintain confidentiality.
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Acknowledge that trust is the cornerstone for the Council's success.
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Agree to disagree - respectfully.
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Agree that every opinion has value.
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Behave and respond professionally.
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Involve yourself as an equal participant.
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Be positive, not negative.
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Be constructive, not destructive.
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Commit to the mission of the Council.
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Encourage, support, and praise each other, and pass it on.
National Advisory Council for Office Professionals
NACOP Annual Report