OCL Study Process

1. Goal Statement
The annual study is the most important activity of the Onondaga Citizens League and the OCL board is responsible for selection of the study topic, and participation in the study and delivery of the study report. The Study Committee is responsible for ensuring opportunity for broad community participation in the study. The study report should be a resource to the community and should have clear recommendations for change. Each study will include a follow-up plan for promoting adoption of the recommendations by appropriate agencies or individuals. The annual Community Leadership Conference may be related to the OCL study or to a current relevant issue.

2. Guidelines for Selection of Topic

The OCL board president appoints a board member as Study Topic Committee chair; the chair convenes a committee representing a variety of interests composed of at least three OCL Board members and three other OCL members and up to three other community members.
OCL solicits input from members through the OCL newsletter and the website.
Press releases and public service announcements are disseminated through various media seeking suggestions for study topics.
The committee reviews past recommendations and solicits suggestions from key community leaders.
The committee selects three topics for development.
The committee drafts 1-2 page proposals including definition of issue, proposed scope of study, and summary of any related on-going public or community activities.
Committee members present the three recommendations to the Board, including recommendations for possible chair or co-chairs.

When selecting a topic, the Committee and the Board should ask:

Is the issue important to the community?
Will the topic generate interest among OCL members and the general public?
Can the study provide information that will add to public understanding of the issue?
Does the issue lend itself to long-term solutions, or is immediate action required?
Is the issue manageable – not too broad or complex?
Is there potential for the League to make a difference?
Are other organizations working on the issue; if so, will OCL study be redundant or collaborative?
Is there potential for financial support for the study?

3. Guidelines for Selection of Study Chair and Steering Committee
The Executive Committee appoints a member of the Board as Study Chair. The Study Chair, with input from the Board, selects members of a steering committee to guide the process. The steering committee of approximately 12-15 members --- including board members, OCL members, and other community members --- should be generalists who bring a citizen viewpoint and ability to raise questions from a different perspective than the experts.

4, Role of the Steering Committee
1) Define Study - The initial role of the Steering Committee is to develop the structure and format of the study including:

questions to be answered by the study;
schedule and location of study sessions;
focus of individual sessions;
potential speakers;
proposed budget.

The Steering Committee meets weekly for 5-6 weeks and may use other members of the community as resources in defining the study and study sessions. The Steering Committee reports to the Board, including any budget request and a proposed schedule of Study Sessions including topics, dates, times and locations.

2) Fact Finding - Steering Committee members participate in study sessions and review any related materials or reports contributing to the fact finding. Study Sessions occur on a regular schedule, usually over a three- to four- month period.

Study sessions must be scheduled well enough in advance in order to encourage broad participation in study sessions and should include mechanism for citizen involvement.

Staff invites OCL members and the general public to study sessions through OCL newsletter, OCL website, press releases, listservs, and invitations to elected officials, other relevant groups and stakeholders.

3) Develop Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations - The committee reviews the draft report prepared by the study writer and meets to:

develop findings based on the study sessions and resource material;
discuss conclusions based on findings;
recommend specific steps to be taken to solve the problem.

The Steering Committee presents the final report to the Board for approval.

4)Dissemination - After the Board has approved a study, staff mails the study to OCL members, study participants and elected officials. The Public Relations Committee develops press releases to be sent to all media. The study is linked to the OCL web page.

The Steering Committee uses the volunteer, citizen influence of OCL members to publicize seek implementation of the recommendations contained in the study report. Other Board members may assist in this phase

Examples of active dissemination may include:

Presentations to major groups and organizations such as the newspaper editorial board, Common Council committees, County Legislature, etc.
Contact with decision-makers and organizations at whom recommendations are directed;
Letters to the editor or letters to legislators;
Participation in public hearings, committees, etc.


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Current Studies Suggest a Study Topic Study Process Past Studies	OCL Study Process 1. Goal Statement The annual study is the most important activity of the Onondaga Citizens League and the OCL board is responsible for selection of the study topic, and participation in the study and delivery of the study report. The Study Committee is responsible for ensuring opportunity for broad community participation in the study. The study report should be a resource to the community and should have clear recommendations for change. Each study will include a follow-up plan for promoting adoption of the recommendations by appropriate agencies or individuals. The annual Community Leadership Conference may be related to the OCL study or to a current relevant issue. 2. Guidelines for Selection of Topic The OCL board president appoints a board member as Study Topic Committee chair; the chair convenes a committee representing a variety of interests composed of at least three OCL Board members and three other OCL members and up to three other community members. OCL solicits input from members through the OCL newsletter and the website. Press releases and public service announcements are disseminated through various media seeking suggestions for study topics. The committee reviews past recommendations and solicits suggestions from key community leaders. The committee selects three topics for development. The committee drafts 1-2 page proposals including definition of issue, proposed scope of study, and summary of any related on-going public or community activities. Committee members present the three recommendations to the Board, including recommendations for possible chair or co-chairs. When selecting a topic, the Committee and the Board should ask: Is the issue important to the community? Will the topic generate interest among OCL members and the general public? Can the study provide information that will add to public understanding of the issue? Does the issue lend itself to long-term solutions, or is immediate action required? Is the issue manageable – not too broad or complex? Is there potential for the League to make a difference? Are other organizations working on the issue; if so, will OCL study be redundant or collaborative? Is there potential for financial support for the study? 3. Guidelines for Selection of Study Chair and Steering Committee The Executive Committee appoints a member of the Board as Study Chair. The Study Chair, with input from the Board, selects members of a steering committee to guide the process. The steering committee of approximately 12-15 members --- including board members, OCL members, and other community members --- should be generalists who bring a citizen viewpoint and ability to raise questions from a different perspective than the experts. 4, Role of the Steering Committee 1) Define Study - The initial role of the Steering Committee is to develop the structure and format of the study including: questions to be answered by the study; schedule and location of study sessions; focus of individual sessions; potential speakers; proposed budget. The Steering Committee meets weekly for 5-6 weeks and may use other members of the community as resources in defining the study and study sessions. The Steering Committee reports to the Board, including any budget request and a proposed schedule of Study Sessions including topics, dates, times and locations. 2) Fact Finding - Steering Committee members participate in study sessions and review any related materials or reports contributing to the fact finding. Study Sessions occur on a regular schedule, usually over a three- to four- month period. Study sessions must be scheduled well enough in advance in order to encourage broad participation in study sessions and should include mechanism for citizen involvement. Staff invites OCL members and the general public to study sessions through OCL newsletter, OCL website, press releases, listservs, and invitations to elected officials, other relevant groups and stakeholders. 3) Develop Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations - The committee reviews the draft report prepared by the study writer and meets to: develop findings based on the study sessions and resource material; discuss conclusions based on findings; recommend specific steps to be taken to solve the problem. The Steering Committee presents the final report to the Board for approval. 4)Dissemination - After the Board has approved a study, staff mails the study to OCL members, study participants and elected officials. The Public Relations Committee develops press releases to be sent to all media. The study is linked to the OCL web page. The Steering Committee uses the volunteer, citizen influence of OCL members to publicize seek implementation of the recommendations contained in the study report. Other Board members may assist in this phase Examples of active dissemination may include: Presentations to major groups and organizations such as the newspaper editorial board, Common Council committees, County Legislature, etc. Contact with decision-makers and organizations at whom recommendations are directed; Letters to the editor or letters to legislators; Participation in public hearings, committees, etc.
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