DAC Membership Qualifications, Requirements and Selection Process

I. DAC Membership

• A maximum of 16 with a minimum of 14 members.
• When membership declines to 13 members or less, members will be added within a minimum of 30 days or a maximum of 45 days.
• Decisions will be made by the consensus of the DAC group. If a decision is unable to be reached at the end of a current meeting, the item will be passed on to Diversity Advisory Task Force (DAT) for resolution.
• DAC may appoint member(s) to the group. This action would occur only if it is determined by the group that an individual possessing diversity expertise or experience that would be of value to DAC. The appointee would become a decision-making member and through attrition the committee would return to its standard size. DAC members and directors can make new DAC member appointment recommendation(s) to the group.
• Diversity and group building training should be available for all new members

II. Membership eligibility

1. Full-time and part-time Cleveland Metroparks employees
2. Availability for monthly meetings
3. Commitment and interest

III. New member's selection process

The DAT chairperson will receive recommendations and applications.

1.    New member recruitment

• Current DAC members
• Self-nominations with letter of interest
• Directors
• Managers
• Personnel Committee
• Peers

2. With reference to the Preferred Representation Chart, the group will select members from the applicants list and determine a best fit. DAC will review recommendations/applications.  

• Select meeting facilitator
• Determine needs of DAC, with regard to maintaining cross-section representation (i.e., race, gender, department, division, location, etc.) of Cleveland Metroparks employees.
• Select new members
• As needed, an applicants eligibility list will be kept on file to insure the availability of new members. DAT will be responsible for the maintenance of this list.

3. DAC new membership term limit          

• New members - four-year term limit. As of April 2003, current members will begin their four-year term. Over a period of time, membership will stagger naturally.  
• Upon completion of term members could be asked by DAC to serve an additional term.
• At the end of their term, members should continue their diversity work outside the committee, as an advocate for diversity and as a diversity resource.
• Termed members would be eligible to serve as taskforce member

IV. Retired employee membership  

• Serve at the request of DAC, along with the 14-16-member group.
• May serve as an advisor (not a decision maker)
• May serve as taskforce member
• Term limit will be the same as a DAC member.

V.    Attendance

Meetings are held every first Tuesday of the month. With three consecutive monthly meeting absences, members will not be considered a member of DAC. DAT will send notification, in writing, to relieve member. Considerations for extenuating circumstances (i.e., court appearance, illness, etc.) will be given. Notice is to be given prior to a missing meeting, to the DAT chairperson.

Preferred DAC Representation Chart

DAC representation should have a cross section of Cleveland Metroparks employees (i.e., race, gender, department, division, location, etc.)

Twice a year - at the DAC January and July Meetings, DAC will evaluate membership procedures and make any changes deemed necessary.