The National Space Society vision is people living and working in space

National Space Society Committees
Descriptions and Background Information

Index (Table of Contents)
Common Committee Information
Archives Committee
Awards Committee
Bylaws and Corporate Policies Committee
Chapters Committee
Conferences Committee
Education and Outreach Committee
Finance Committee
Fundraising Committee
International Committee 		Internet Services Committee
Membership Committee
Policy Committee
Projects Committee
Public Affairs Committee
Publications Committee
Social Networking Committee
Space Settlement Advocacy Committee
Strategic Planning Committee
Web Oversight Committee

Common Committee Information  |  Index

  • Appointment
    • (i)  Within 30 days after the Officers election is completed, each Officer shall nominate, for the approval of the Executive Committee , the persons to constitute the voting members of each Committee that reports to the Officer.
    • (ii)  To the extent reasonable, these nominees should be persons with experience in the area of responsibility of the specific Committee to which nominated.
  • Additional Appointees
    • (i)  From time to time thereafter an Officer may appoint additional persons to be a non-voting member of such Committee and, if the appointment of such a person is thereafter approved by the Executive Committee, such person shall become a voting member of the Committee.
    • (ii)  At any time, a Committee Chair may appoint additional persons to be non-voting members of such Committee.
  • Committee Chairs
    • (i)  Within 30 days after the Officers election is completed, each Officer shall nominate, for the approval of the Executive Committee, the person to serve as the Committee Chair of each Committee that reports to the Officer.
    • (ii)  Each Chair, which could be the overseeing Officer, shall have the same rights and privileges as the other voting members.
    • (iii)  A Committee Chair will be responsible for the following:
      • Scheduling of Committee meetings
      • Notification of Committee meetings
      • Conduct of Committee meetings
      • Any recording of meeting minutes (especially decisions)*
      • Any recording and tracking of actions*
      • Overseeing the timely completion of Committee activities and actions
      • *(could be delegated to a Committee Secretary)
    • (iv)  A Committee Chair may appoint committee-level officers (e.g., Secretary) and create lower-tier groups (e.g., sub-committees, task forces, etc.) to assist in the performance of such duties and ensure the efficient operations of the Committee.
  • Term of Service
    • (i)  A member of a Committee shall serve from the time of the Appointment until the Officer's group nominations are approved by the Executive Committee after the next Officer's election.
    • (ii)  This is a period of up to approximately two years.
  • Meetings and Operations
    • Each Committee should meet face-to-face at least once per year.  Opportunities include:
    • Each Committee should hold other meetings at least once per month.  Options include:
      • Telephone meetings (e.g., FreeConferenceCall.com)
      • Voice-over-IP (VoIP) meetings (e.g., Skype)
      • Web Chat Room meetings (e.g., NSS MOO)
      • Web Virtual World meetings (e.g., Second Life)
      • Web Forums*
      • Email Exchanges*
      • *(these are more conducive to correspondence than real-time discussion)
    • Each Committee will work as necessary with NSS Headquarters (HQ) staff, NSS volunteers, NSS local chapters, and contract services as directed by the overseeing Officer.
    • Each Committee shall provide a report on its activities for the Board of Directors.
      • Prior to the annual ISDC
      • Prior to the NSS Fall Board of Directors Meeting
  • For More Information

Archives Committee  |  Index

  • General Responsibilities
    • Responsible for the long term preservation of NSS physical and electronic records.
    • Reports to the NSS Secretary
  • NSS Web Site Responsibilities
  • Current Committee Officers

Awards Committee  |  Index

Bylaws and Corporate Policies Committee  |  Index

Chapters Committee  |  Index

Conferences Committee  |  Index

Education and Outreach Committee  |  Index

Finance Committee  |  Index

Fundraising Committee  |  Index

International Committee  |  Index

  • General Responsibilities
    • Responsible for enhancing the value that the Society delivers to the portion of membership that resides outside the United States.
    • Reports to the Vice President for Membership
  • NSS Web Site Responsibilities
    • (none yet)
  • Current Committee Officers
    • Chair, David Dunlop

Internet Services Committee (ISC)  |  Index

  • General Responsibilities
    • Responsible for the development, maintenance, and security of NSS Web sites (excluding chapter-managed sites) and associated Internet services (online forms and databases, email forwarding, email lists, domain and server licenses, etc.), and
    • for implementing the requirements of the Web Oversight Committee (WOC).
    • The Committee will also assist chapters with the development and maintenance of chapter-managed Web sites, to the maximum extent practical.
    • The Committee will also assist the WOC in the development of any standards (e.g., logos, colors, common headers and footers, etc.) to be followed.
    • Reports to the Senior Operating Officer (Senior Vice President)
  • Composition and Operations
    • Includes persons possessing or desiring Web site development, Web page design, email administration, and/or other Internet-related skills.
    • Committee members work individually or in small groups with counterparts from the WOC, who provide the requirements and guidelines for needed Web site changes, as well as approval oversight.
    • The Committee Chair coordinates this activity so that the requirements of the WOC are met in an accurate and timely manner.
    • The Committee Chair also helps Committee members to receive training, resources (e.g., server software), and access to servers.
  • NSS Web Site Responsibilities
  • Current Committee Officers
  • For More Information

Membership Committee  |  Index

Policy Committee  |  Index

  • General Responsibilities
    • Responsible for for determining the general positions of the Society on legislative issues and the strategy and program through which the Society shall promote these positions.
    • Has authority for expenditures for the Society's legislative program, including contracting for lobbying services, from funds set aside by the Executive Committee for such purposes in a duly approved budget.
    • Responsible for legislative action on behalf of the Society including a phone tree, letter writing, and other types of legislative campaigns.
    • Responsible for developing and maintaining a phone tree and other procedures, including appointment and removal of volunteer legislative action coordinators.
    • Reports to the Executive Vice President
  • Composition and Operations
    • Legislative program funds shall be budgeted for staff salaries as appropriate where staff personnel are assigned to legislative program tasks.
    • Shall not engage in any activities which are prohibited to nonprofit corporations pursuant to either the Laws of the District of Columbia or the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
    • Conducts group meetings with members of the U.S. Congress.
    • Coordinates local meetings with members of government and industry.
    • Operates and maintains the Political Action Network of volunteer activists.
    • Operates and maintains the NSS Phone Tree, in conjunction with email Alerts.
  • NSS Web Site Responsibilities
  • Current Committee Officers
    • Chair, Paul Werbos
    • Policy Formulation Subcommittee Chair, David Hitt
    • Policy Implementation Subcommittee Chair, Paul Werbos
    • Space Exploration Alliance Contact, Paul Werbos
  • For More Information

Projects Committee  |  Index

Public Affairs Committee  |  Index

Publications Committee  |  Index

Social Networking Committee  |  Index

Space Settlement Advocacy Committee  |  Index

Strategic Planning Committee  |  Index

Web Oversight Committee  |  Index

  • General Responsibilities
    • Responsible for ensuring that NSS messages, information, and services are accurately portrayed and effectively utilized via NSS Web sites, including chapter-managed sites (to the maximum extent practical).
    • Responsible for the observed structure (hierarchy) and content (text and graphic messages) in NSS Web sites (excluding chapter-managed sites) and associated Internet services (online forms, email forwarding, email lists, etc.).
    • Responsible for approving any standards (e.g., logos, colors, common headers and footers, etc.) to be followed, and encourages their use by chapters (to the maximum extent practical).
    • Reports to the Vice President for Public Affairs
  • Composition and Operations
    • Includes representatives from those participating NSS committees that require or desire Web site services.
    • Committee members work individually or in small groups with counterparts from the Internet Services Committee (ISC) or other service providers, for whom they will provide the requirements and guidelines for needed Web site changes, as well as approval oversight.
    • The Committee Chair coordinates this activity and help members to receive the support needed from the ISC and other service providers.
    • The Committee Chair also helps members to be educated on agreed-upon Web site standards.
  • NSS Web Site Responsibilities
    • all (see above for details) -- (shared with ISC)
    • NSS Blog
  • Current Committee Officers
  • For More Information

Join NSS button
Renew NSS button
Give NSS button

Facebook logo Twitter logo LinkedIn logo YouTube logo

New NSS Credit Card

Ad Astra Magazine

National Space Society Blog

Become A Space Ambassador

NSS Book Reviews

To The Stars Newsletter

Bookmark and Share

NSS Logo NSS Contact Information   NSS Privacy Policy
Copyright 1998-2012, National Space Society

Updated Sun, Mar 31, 2013 at 02:35:41 		Web Services by
Powered By CyberTeams