DBSA state/regional organizations serve as representatives of DBSA in their states/regions, provide support to new and existing local DBSA chapters, and conduct state or region-wide efforts to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders.
What do state/regional organizations do?
DBSA state/regional organizations
- serve as a communication link between local DBSA chapters in the state/region and the DBSA national office when appropriate;
- represent local DBSA chapters on state/regional legislative matters when appropriate,
- speak for DBSA within their state or region (must be familiar with DBSA’s stance on public policies);
- educate the public on the nature of mood disorders;
- recruit new chapters in the state/region;
- lend assistance to individual local DBSA chapters on operational matters;
- provide leadership training to chapters in the state/region;
- participate annually in the DBSA re-affiliation process;
- send representative(s) to DBSA state/regional organization meeting;
- provide ideas and suggestions for group programs, fundraising, membership recruitment, and other areas of chapter development to DBSA;
- hold regular or annual meetings where a majority of chapters are represented;
- invite national staff to the annual state/regional meeting;
- maintain current contact information with the DBSA national organization (including affiliation, contact information, meeting schedules, and annual progress reports); and
- hold annual elections for the state/regional organization’s Board of Directors, rotating board membership on a regular basis.
