As you read in last month’s newsletter, I am serving as the very part-time interim director of the NASW-MO Chapter. My goal is to help keep the Missouri Chapter running much as it did during Cassie Brown’s tenure. The search for a new executive director is underway, and several applications have been received. The application deadline is Monday, 2-10-25 and the search committee hopes to conduct the first round of interviews at the end of the month.
NASW-MO has a strong team of core volunteers, which includes the Executive Committee of the Chapter Board. However, there is always a need for more dedicated volunteers on the committees and several committee chairs’ terms are expiring. NASW-MO committees include the Advocacy, Chapter Ethics Committee (CEC), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), Nominations, Professional Development, Programs and MO PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election). Please let us know if you are interested in any of these committees by emailing chapter.naswmo@socialworkers.org
Additionally, the Advocacy Committee seeks volunteers with flexible schedules who are comfortable with public speaking to testify at legislative committee hearings in Jefferson City. Flexible schedules are helpful because hearings are often scheduled with very little notice. For example, we learned on Thursday that there is a hearing on gender-affirming care scheduled for Monday at 4:30 pm.
Our lobbyist, Jessica Petrie Thelemaque, and her colleagues at the Winton Policy Group are available to help volunteers craft their comments in a manner that is most strategic for a particular bill.
If you cannot make it to Jefferson City, there is always the opportunity to submit written comments. See Jessica’s legislative update in this newsletter for on what’s going on at the State Capitol. Additionally, she provides us with a mid-month update, so be on the lookout for that.
Our Annual LEAD Day is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4th. Please register on the website to let us know if you plan to attend (we want to make sure that we have enough pizza for lunch!)
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what’s going on at the Federal Level. Because much of the action has been through executive order, unfortunately, there isn’t much that NASW can do to fix this. What you can do is reach out to your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative to let them know how this mass confusion is impacting you, your organization, and your clients and the unintended consequences that may occur. See a list of the Missouri congressional delegation and links to their contact information below. Members of Congress may be able to put some pressure on the administration.
Don’t forget to check out our CE offerings – you can register for those on our website: naswmo.socialworkers.org.
Thank you for being a member! Your membership dues allow NASW to have a presence in Missouri and at the State Capitol, and provide NASW members with Missouri-specific guidance. Dues also pay the salary of our extraordinarily capable full-time professional development coordinator, Jennifer Engleby, who is ready to assist members.
Don’t hesitate to let us know how we can help.
Denise Rathman, MSW
Interim Executive Director, NASW-MO
Executive Director, NASW-IA