NYS Forum

Call for Nominations 2009

The NYS Forum
2009-2011 Candidate Canvass for Corporate Board

The New York State Forum (The Forum) will begin its 23rd year on October 1, 2009. Thanks to your help, we have made great strides during the past years and with your continued support, The NYS Forum will prosper and grow for many years to come.

On October 1st, The NYS Forum's Corporate Board will assume new leadership. Vice Chair Paul Maguire, OASAS, will succeed JoAnn Bomeisl, OMRDD, who has served as Chair for the past year. Adam Gigandet, DMV, who has served as Secretary/Treasurer for the past year will serve as Vice Chair. The office of Secretary-Treasurer will be filled from among the members of the Corporate Board, including the newly elected members.

This canvass seeks candidates for the Corporate Board for two-year terms beginning October 1, 2009 and ending September 30, 2011. Any New York State or local government employee, whose agency/organization is in good standing, is eligible to serve on the Corporate Board. A slate of candidates will be presented to the Institutional Representatives (individuals designated by their respective state agency/authority as the liaison to The NYS Forum) for selection prior to the 23rd Annual Meeting scheduled for September 11, 2009.

The NYS Forum History

For the past 22 years The NYS Forum operated as a project within the State University of New York's Research Foundation (SUNY-RF), a not-for-profit entity, and was recognized by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) as in compliance with all requirements of OSC Bulletin G-76, enabling State agencies to expend State funds for NYS Forum membership dues and to make such payments without advertising in the Contract Reporter.

In December 2008, The NYS Forum became an independent, not-for-profit corporation and on February 11, 2009 the Office of the State Comptroller issued a letter indicating that the fact that The NYS Forum was no longer a project of the SUNY-RF, does not affect OSC's 1992 approval for state agencies to continue to expend State funds for membership dues without advertising in the Contract Reporter assuming that: (1) The Forum continues to provide activities directly related to the information technology initiatives of the member State and local agencies, and (2) the membership dues remain at a reasonable amount.

Governance of The NYS Forum remains consistent with its successful history, with the addition of a Corporate Board. Those elected to serve as Directors and Officers of The Forum Corporate Board will oversee the governance structure of The Forum and will also serve as Members of the Executive Council (previously the Executive Committee). The Executive Council will oversee the programmatic structure of The Forum and will represent all organizational and individual members. Participation on the Executive Council is open to all New York State and local government employees, Work Group (previously Committee) Co-Chairs, Ex Officio members, and members of the IT Corporate Roundtable, as was the case previously.

The following excerpts are taken from The NYS Forum Bylaws and describe The Forum's Mission, Objectives and Corporate Board Member Responsibilities.

Mission

It is the mission of the New York State Forum ("The Forum") to promote policies and practices for effective, equitable and secure use and management of information resources in New York State Government at all levels.

Objectives

• Promote exchange of information, sharing of information management experiences, and cooperation among government organizations, the nonprofit and the corporate sectors in New York State.
• Develop cooperative projects that result in shared information resources and collaborative problem solving.
• Recognize and showcase state and local exemplary information resource practices at the organizational and individual levels.
• Promote guidelines and standards that facilitate technology transfer and systems integration.
• Examine and recommend policies and guidelines that affect the development, use and procurement of information resources within the state.
• Promote research, development, evaluation and use of advance information technologies applicable to state and local government.
• Maintain active liaison with organizations, including those in the academic and corporate sectors having expertise relevant to the use and management of information resources.
• Promote education and training in information technologies and resource management as essential components of professional development of the state's information resource management workforce.
• Create a learning environment at The Forum meetings and events that allow members to obtain information on usable solutions, practices and ideas.

Corporate Board Member Responsibilities

• Establish an Executive Council.
• Provide for staff support and advise and direct staff efforts to support the business and programs of The Forum.
• Oversee the financial affairs of The Forum.
• Establish guidance for Officers, Directors, and Members of the Executive Council, to promote a culture of ethics and compliance with all applicable laws.
• Conduct other such activities as are necessary to carry out the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the purposes of the Corporation.

There is one additional consideration to be addressed this year, should you desire to become a candidate for The NYS Forum Corporate Board. To maintain the continuity of the mission and governance structure of The Forum with what has made it such a success for over two decades, the Bylaws name the elected Members and Officers as Corporate Board Directors and Officers, who will also serve as the leadership of the Executive Council. In light of that, to become a candidate you will need to provide, by September 1, 2009, a written statement (email acceptable) indicating that your agency Ethics Officer or other appropriate official is aware of your desire to serve on The NYS Forum's Corporate Board and that doing so is acceptable. We do not anticipate any difficulties with these approvals and our interim Corporate Board Members experienced no difficulties securing approvals from their respective agency officials. Should you have questions regarding this new requirement, do not hesitate to contact The Forum at (518) 438-7414.

Nominations must be received no later than COB August 11, 2009.

If you are interested in being considered for the Corporate Board or are currently a member and interested in the office of secretary/treasurer, please submit the online Candidate Canvass form along with a written indication from your agency that your service on the Corporate Board is acceptable.