Guidelines to Proposed Priorities

Priority proposals must be submitted online for the 2022 Council of Representatives (COR) consideration. Authors must be a member of the NAD in good standing and can submit multiple proposals. Each proposal must be submitted separately.

Proposals must be submitted by April 30, 2022. Incomplete or late proposals will not be accepted.

Making the Proposal

Any individual member/delegate (an individual must make the proposal, and can be done on behalf of a State Association or Organizational Affiliate, but cannot be done solely from a State Association or Organizational Affiliate) may submit a proposed priority, by doing the following:

  1. Review official conference priorities from past conferences first, to make sure what you want to submit has not already been a priority.
  2. Use the official form.
  3. You may submit a proposed priority via video.  You shall provide an unlisted youtube link to the online proposed priority form.
  4. State your proposed priority clearly, making sure that the wording/language and intent is specific and to the point. Include: who, what, when, why, and how. Make sure to include financial impact/cost information.
  5. Have someone second your proposed priority so it can be acted upon.
  6. Below is a description of priority codes explained, which will be assigned by the Steering Committee prior to distributing the 2022-2024 Proposed Priorities:

2022-IL-XXX-XXX

Numerical order within Forum or COR Code:

  • DEV: Development
  • GOV: Governance
  • MEM: Membership
  • FIN: Finance
  • PUB: Public Policy

The Author

As a proposal author, you should:

  1. Have all facts and figures on hand and be prepared to support your proposal.
  2. Be prepared to answer questions, and give reasons why you think the proposal is needed and should receive consideration to become a possible priority as voted upon by members at the Forums, and by delegates at the Council of Representatives.
  3. Monitor your proposal as it moves through the conference process (if you will not be at the conference, find someone who is going, who is willing to track your motion and give it support).

Motion Writing Guidelines

These guidelines provide the basics on how to write a successful motion for proposed 2022-2024 priorities, which will be presented to and voted upon by official delegates at the 56th Biennial NAD Conference.

Also, you are responsible for making sure your Priority Proposal Form is worded so that the proposal is clear, concise, and complete before you send in your submission.

Proposal Format

Each motion for a proposed priority has five parts:

  1. Title
  2. Problem to be addressed
  3. Proposed Solution to the above problem to be addressed
  4. Rationale
  5. Fiscal impact

Title

  1. Describe in a few words the focus of your proposed priority.
  2. Make sure the title matches the intent (purpose) of the proposed priority being proposed.

Problem to be addressed

  1. Write what problem your proposal specifically focuses on, that needs to be addressed. What problem are you asking the NAD to solve/address.
  2. Be specific. Different problems with different solutions need to be separated out with separate proposals. 

Proposed Solution to the above problem to be addressed

  1. Write the text of your proposed solution to the above problem as a statement (clear, straightforward, and specific focus). 
  2. Make sure the proposal can easily be understood and replied to with a vote of, Yes, I am in favor of this proposed priority, or, No, I am opposed to this proposed priority.
  3. Do research in advance on your proposal. Was this addressed by the NAD in the past, or is this something the NAD is already doing? Is your proposal nationally significant? Is it forward-looking? (Check online documents, as well as those listed under 2022 NAD Conference business)
  4. Very important: Keep the focus of your proposed priority simple and to the point; do not combine multiple ideas or concepts in a single motion.

Rationale

  1. Clearly explain the reason why you believe your proposal is worth considering as a top priority for the NAD. For instance, why is your proposal of national significance? How will it impact the entire nation?

Fiscal Impact

  1. Clearly explain the fiscal impact for the proposed priority (how much would it cost the NAD, where the funds would come from, and how your proposal would be carried out). For instance, will there be costs involved to allow people to travel to support this proposal? Will there be any potential revenue from this proposal? 

Note: Financial impact statements and/or analyses are provided by proposalmakers and not the NAD. A decision has been made NOT to combine similar motions, but the Board/HQ comments section of each proposal makes note of similar proposals.

Summary

Keep in mind the three Cs for successful priority proposal writing: Make sure your proposal is clear, concise, and complete.

Sample Priority Proposal

Title: Red T-Shirts for Delegates

Problem to be addressed:
It is difficult to see which members are delegates, as part of the Council of Representatives, from the entire conference attendees. 

Proposed solution:
Require all NAD delegates to wear red t-shirts to the Council of Representatives at the 2022 NAD Conference.

Rationale:
This will make NAD delegates easy to identify during Council of Representatives meetings and make voting easier to tally.

Fiscal Impact:
The NAD would purchase a stock of red t-shirts (at an estimated cost of $10 each, with two (2) t-shirts per person in various sizes. The t-shirts would be sold to delegates at the start of the 2022 NAD Conference. Delegates would pay $20 to the NAD for these t-shirts. Estimated total cost for 125 delegates: $2,500. Cost to NAD: $0 (except staff time for ordering, shipment, and distribution).

Conference Motions and Proposed Priorities

  1. Conference Motions and Proposed Priorities
    1. Proposed Priorities will not be accepted on the floor at the Council of Representatives.
    2. Most of the business conducted during Council of Representatives meetings is conducted through a proposed priority process that involves receipt of the top ranked proposed priorities from the Forums.
    3. The only other motions that may be proposed by COR delegates shall deal with Bylaws, Finances, or Resolutions.
    4. All motions and proposed priorities that are carried by COR delegates are official. All other motions or priorities that are not passed shall die.
  2. Submitting a COR Motion
    1. Again, the only new motions that may be put forth by COR delegates shall deal with Bylaws, Finances, or Resolutions.
    2. Note: New motions that deal with Bylaws amendments shall apply only for 2022 conference bylaws consideration because the official deadline for 2022 Bylaws amendments has passed.
  3. The Steering Committee
    1. The President shall appoint the Chair of the Biennial national conference Steering Committee.
    2. The Steering Committee shall receive numbered motions/proposed priorities from the Chair, making necessary edits to wording of the motions/proposed priorities for clarity, and prepare Microsoft Word or PowerPoint files for presentation to delegates for COR action; and
    3. Keep the President continually informed on motion status and/or recommendation for the entire duration of the COR meeting.

Process of how NAD Priorities are determined at COR

The following proposed priorities for 2022-2024 consideration were submitted by individual members of the NAD. These are organized by assignment to the five categories that correspond with existing standing committees to aid with deliberations during the Forums and then the Council of Representatives.

During the Forum, NAD members will deliberate proposed priorities in breakouts based on areas of interest, and vote on the top few proposed priorities in each breakout. The resulting proposed priorities will be sent to the Council of Representatives (COR). Delegates at the Council of Representatives will then select the top 5 proposed priorities, which will then become the official priorities of the NAD for the next two years.

The NAD Steering Committee reserves the right to edit, revise or modify conference proposals received if they do not meet the priority proposal guidelines.

Proposed Priorities will be updated and available online 30 days prior to the conference.