Membership
Becoming a Member
Membership in The Arc of Orleans County is open to individuals who are interested in the welfare of persons with mental retardation, other developmental disabilities, as well as traumatic brain injury.
Membership is the basic foundation on which every Chapter of NYSARC, Inc.,including The Arc of Orleans County, was founded. Membership can fulfill many needs, such as volunteers for programs and committees, manpower and energy for fundraising, public awareness, special events and other important activities of The Arc.
As membership increases so does The Arc’s voice and strength on local and state levels. Membership gives The Arc of Orleans, through NYSARC, the voice it needs to influence decisions made by state legislators and policymakers by effectively advocating on behalf of individuals who have retardation or other developmental disabilities in order to achieve its goal of providing quality programs, services and opportunities for the people it serves.
Membership growth and retention are essential to the survival of The Arc of Orleans County and NYSARC, Inc. They are fundamental goals toward which every NYSARC Chapter must strive.
Benefits of becoming a member of The Arc of Orleans County include:
- Participation in the largest not-for-profit organization in the nation (NYSARC, Inc.), for families and individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
- Participation in the national organization, The Arc US.
- Participation in the affairs of The Arc of Orleans County and NYSARC, Inc.
- Opportunities to contribute time and talent through volunteerism.
- Access to NYSARC’s Guardianship and Trust programs.
- Receipt of The Arc of Orleans County’s newsletter, Inside The Arc, and NYSARC’s newsletter, Our Voice Today, with up to date information concerning the organization and current trends and issues in the field of mental retardation.
Your membership support enables The Arc of Orleans County and NYSARC, Inc., to:
- Provide advocacy for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities in your local community.
- Support distribution of publications that can inform, inspire, and engender support for programs and services.
- Provide funding for information, education, advocacy, support for parents and family members.
- Influence policy and funding decisions of county legislators, boards of education, community services boards, and village and city administration.
- Allow for participation of people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities in planning services for themselves.
- Provide base of volunteers to plan, insure, implement and evaluate policy and services in local community.
- Bring people together who share our commitments.
- Provide an opportunity for individuals to become involved in community services for youth and adults of all ages.
- Provide publications – white papers – on various aspects of policy affecting the lives of people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and their families.
- Develop legislative agenda that reflects the needs of people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Provide leadership and training opportunities for membership at the state level.
- Give members the opportunity to affect public policy and implementation at the state level.
- Build coalitions with parents and professional organizations in planning and implementing public policy on a statewide level.
- Inform and educate the public at large about mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and its prevention or ways to reduce the incidence of mental retardation/developmental disabilities in future generations.
- Provide advocacy to protect the rights of people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and their families through state legislation and policy.
How can you become a member of The Arc of Orleans County?
Membership in The Arc of Orleans County automatically makes you a member of NYSARC, Inc. and The Arc U.S. Please call us at 585-589-5516 or email kspychalski@arcoforleans.org We will contact you with additional information.
|
