Professional Development Team Member

The Network’s Professional Development Team implements an annual schedule of training and networking meetings and oversees other opportunities to share information. The Network holds monthly training events, ranging from free lunchtime discussions to full-day conferences. Many of our current workshops address the trauma resulting from the pandemic and how it can be managed by workers and their clients. the training team meets on on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, immediately prior to the board meeting.

The team will work with the co-chair/board liaison to attain the approval of topics and expenditures, the executive director, and the marketing team to produce and distribute registration forms and flyers, listserv announcements, registration information, and reminders.

The Network holds monthly training events and quarterly social events:

• Quicklearns are conducted to offer current information and provide networking opportunity. Typically 90 minutes with a presenter or a panel for 50 minutes at the beginning, and time for networking & announcements.
• Trainings are in-depth coverage, typically by an 'expert’ or a combination of presentation, panel, and discussion.
• Social/Networking Events We offer social events several times a year. Free to all, these events provide an opportunity to share resources and information with peers.

Each event needs to be coordinated-speaker, logistics, marketing, etc. Staff usually handles this though at times a group of co-coordinators can share these tasks.

• Determine what specific subject within the topic needs to be addressed-will it meet the needs of attendees, does there need to be a panel in order to address a diversity of needs, who are the leaders in the field,
• Research and contact speakers
• Select date/time
• Provide a summary of info to the Network: title, objectives, trainer info, location, date/time
• Assist with announcing the event through your network, personal contacts, flyers
• Arrange for coffee/snacks, and if for a training event, a catered lunch; confirm costs with the ED, who will arrange for payment
• Confirm with the presenterprior to training about registrations, audience needs
• For in-person events, help with set-up, registration, introductions, food, clean-up

Staff approves all expenditures for each training (speaker and refreshments), handle speaker fee negotiation/contract, registration forms and flyers, marketing, registration and event reminders.