Area activities give CCDA members a chance to become better acquainted and to build a network of contacts. They also offer opportunities for personal and professional growth and to earn CEUs or NBCC hours. Area Councils provide visibility for the state organization as a whole and bring in perspective members.

CCDA is decentralized to provide local programs. Each year the President appoints Regional Directors (Area Coordinators) who are responsible for identifying Area Chairpersons for each of the 16 CCDA Areas and keeping each of these chairpersons informed of the Executive Board’s activities and vise versa.

Chairpersons are responsible for organizing programs in their areas. Most have a steering committee to help organize, sponsor and market the programs. Past programs have ranged from coffee hour informal gatherings to day-long seminars.

With the advent of technology and our jam-packed lives, we hope to do more building of connections and discussions on our web site. Watch the newsletter for ongoing information in each issue.

Each year the Annual Membership meeting is held during the International Career Development Conference held in conjunction with the International Career Development Conference (California Career Conference). Association business is conducted at that time including presentation of the slate of officers and various awards and scholarships. The membership is encouraged to participate in long-range goal setting for the organization and to volunteer for various committees as needed.

1.0 PURPOSE: To improve CCDA’s impact on its membership by establishing Area Councils that can be responsible to local needs in the areas of information dissemination, professional development, and membership development.

2.0 IMPLEMENTATION: There will be two Regional Coordinators, one for Northern California and one for Southern California.

2.1 The Regional Coordinators, with the help of the CCDA Executive Board, will appoint Area Council Chairs, who will have overall responsibility for the functioning of the Area Council.

2.2 An Area Council Steering Committee will be composed of the Area Council Chair and such other Area Council members who may fill roles as Secretary, Treasurer, Professional Development Coordinator, Legislative Relations Coordinator, and Membership Coordinator.

2.3 All members of CCDA who reside in a geographic area represented by that Area Council are members of the Area Council.

2.4 Each Area Council is ultimately responsible for its own structure.

3.0 GOALS: Area Councils are constituted to meet the needs of the local CCDA membership in the following areas:

3.1 Advocacy and Public Awareness

3.1.1 Providing information to the general population on the role of career development professionals.

3.1.2 Providing information to the professional mental health community as well as the community at large on the field of career development as a profession. Such information could take the form of speeches, informal informational talks, booths in malls and other public places, and the distribution of written materials. All such services would be provided at no charge. These services are to be distinguished from content training, often presented by our member-ship for a fee, and not considered to be within the realm of the Area Council

3.1.3 Providing pro bono (free or low cost) services to individuals who are unable to afford professional career counseling.

3.1.4 Participating in Career Development Month activities.

3.1.5 Serving as advisory members to community agencies, for example school district commit-tees (restructuring, vocational education, guidance, etc.), Rotary Club, Private Industry Councils, and IEC’s.

3.1.6 Marketing our profession through media releases, brochures, audio and video public service announcements, etc

3.1.7 Listing in source books as CCDA members, for example, community directories, Rotary listings, etc.

3.1.8 More coordination and education with other professional organizations in similar areas, such as the Career SIG of ASTD and the Northern California Human Resource Council.

3.2 Professional Development

3.2.1 Both small and large events for local CCDA members and interested nonmembers, both con-tent and social.

3.2.2 Informal Area Council newsletters including a job board for local areas.

3.3 Recruiting and Retaining Members

3.3.1 Regular networking meetings to which interested potential members are invited.

3.3.2 Involving counselor educators in the leadership of the Area Council.

3.3.3 Personally contacting counselor educators in each Area Council to provide them with CCDA membership brochures and offer to speak to classes on career counseling and career development issues.

3.4 Research and Mini-Grants

3.4.1 Encourage local CCDA members to apply for both re-search and mini-grant awards.

4.0 SUPPORT: Area Councils will aim to be self-supporting.

4.1 There is, however, a fund in the CCDA Treasury to provide "seed" money for organizing local events. Up to $300 may be used for each planned Area Council event. Local events are to be planned to, at the minimum, break even financially; however it is recognized that an important goal of the Area Councils is to utilize this money to generate activity at the local level for our membership.

4.2 Local Area Councils, as a body, are not eligible to receive research or mini-grant awards. They can, however, make a request to the CCDA Executive Board for any amount of money for any professional purpose subject to the approval of their request by the CCDA Executive Board.

4.3 Because all money collected and disbursed must go through the CCDA Treasurer and CACD headquarters, no Area Council may have a separate bank account in their name. This is because of the status of our professional organization under federal tax laws.