Annual Meeting*

The NCACBSS Annual Meeting was held on October 27, 2011 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in conjunction with the annual Social Services Institute. Approximately 50 county DSS board members and NCACBSS board members from across the state were in attendance. This year’s Annual Meeting included several training presentations that were well received, according to results of evaluations. As always, NCACBSS is grateful to our colleagues who presented, including our own Carl Ford; David Atkinson, Carteret DSS Director; Sandra Wilkes, Rowan DSS Director; Glenn Osborne, Wilson DSS Director; John Eller, Catawba DSS Director; and Phil Lassiter and Rita Bland with the NC Division of Social Services. NCACBSS always tries to identify relevant training opportunities and will soon begin work on our agenda for the 2012 Annual Meeting. Please share with your regional board member ideas for training that would be useful in your role as a DSS board member.

During the Annual Meeting, NCACBSS held its annual election of officers and directors for the new year. Our new officers are: William Thompson, President; William (Bill) Scarlett, Vice President; Denny Garner, Treasurer; Carolyn Silver, Secretary; and Walt Johnson, Past President. Betsy Wells and Shirley Kanode were elected as board members in Region I and Tom Collie was elected as a board member in Region IV. Lillian Morgan from Rowan County and Larry Woodley from Edgecombe County were elected as Members-At-Large for the Nominating Committee. NCACBSS is excited to have these new board and committee members serve. We will miss Edna Parker, our outgoing Past President; Nancy Fish, Region I board member; and Mary Rakestraw, Region II board member and appreciate their service.

At the October 27, 2011 NCACBSS Annual Meeting William Thompson was recognized as the NCACBSS OUTSTANDING BOARD MEMBER (DIRECTOR) OF THE YEAR. Mr. Thompson serves on the Cleveland County DSS board and has been very instrumental in advocating for our association as a NCACSS board member representing Region I. He has taken steps to organize a cluster meeting among his assigned counties, has been a regular attendee at NCACBSS board meetings, and has worked closely with the NCACBSS board on strategic planning. Mr. Thompson also stepped forward as a candidate for president of NCACBSS and was recently elected to serve in this position. Yes, we do now have a preacher as our President! Congratulations, William!

The Rowan County DSS Board has been a consistent leader in our state with their LBR outcomes. The board presented one of their outcomes for an education session during the annual meeting held in October. Notes of this presentation are provided for you below.

The Rowan Board of Social Services adopted on of the Leading by Results outcomes, “There are effective community partnerships in place to understand social issues and prevent social problems.” This outcome reflects the board’s mandate listed in NC GS 108A – 9 (2), to advise county and municipal authorities in developing policies and plans to improve the social conditions of the community. The idea of holding community roundtables became one mechanism for accomplishing this result.

Roundtable Purpose – to raise awareness of current issues, concerns, and gaps in services and to address the community’s role in responding to social issues. The community includes citizens, civic and faith organizations, human service professionals – no one is excluded.

To read the topics identified by the board and obtain the complete document click here.

Haywood County DSS moved into their new facility on January 6 and 9. Haywood County acquired the former WalMart building located in Clyde, and after leasing a portion to Tractor Supply, remodelled the rest to house DSS, the Health Department, Environmental Services and Central Permitting.

The total cost was $12.5 million versus an estimated $25 million for a new facility. For 25 years, DSS had been housed in the old county hospital building which was ranked in the bottom 1% of DSS facilities in the state. A formal ribbon cutting is planned for later.

The new facility is located at 157 Paragon Parkway, Suite 300, Clyde, NC 28721.

Nancy Fish is the current Chair of Haywood's DSS Board and Ira Dove is the Director

Scroll down to see the new facility graphic.