NORTH CAROLINA EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 43

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATEWIDE CITIZEN CORPS COUNCIL

 

WHEREAS, this Administration continues to be

committed to encouraging all people, organizations, agencies,

businesses, faith groups, and institutions in North Carolina to

help solve our most critical problems by volunteering their time,

effort, energy and service in times of prosperity as well as in

emergencies or disasters; and
 

WHEREAS, the need for homeland security,

community health and public safety have increased and have led

to the need to call upon the compassion and spirit of all people in

North Carolina to help solve many of the problems facing their

communities; and
 

WHEREAS, it is the standing reputation of this

Administration to discover and to encourage new community

service leaders, to promote individuals, organizations, and

institutions that serve as outstanding examples of a commitment

to serving others, and to convince all people in North Carolina

that a successful life includes serving others; and

WHEREAS, significant issues facing the nation and

state continue to be addressed by the collaborative efforts of

committed people volunteering their time and talents through

volunteer centers, national service programs, schools,

community organizations, government agencies, businesses,

labor groups, and a host of other community and state efforts,

and
 

WHEREAS, North Carolina has established a

comprehensive, intricate and effective community-based and

community-driven infrastructure for state-sponsored national

and community service through the North Carolina Commission

on Volunteerism and Community Service and its public-and

private-sector partnering organizations; and
 

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Crime

Control and Public Safety has established a comprehensive,

intricate and effective Division of Emergency Management with

a state and local infrastructure committed to enhancing the

quality of life in North Carolina by assisting people to

effectively prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate

against all hazards and disasters; and
 

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Commission on

Volunteerism and Community Service and the North Carolina

Department of Crime Control and Public are partnering agencies

in Citizen Corps in North Carolina;
 

NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as

Governor by the Constitution and laws of North Carolina, IT IS

ORDERED: 

 

Section 1. Definitions

A. “North Carolina Citizen Corps” means the North

Carolina initiative created under the federal USA

Freedom Corps program.
 

B. “North Carolina Citizen Corps Council”

(“Council”) means the body created within the

Office of the Governor that will foster

collaboration.
 

C. “North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and

Community Service” (Commission”) means the

entity established by Executive Order # 48 issued

by Governor James B. Hunt on 12 May 1994.
 

D. “USA Freedom Corps” means the federal

interagency initiative created under the terms of

Executive Order 13254 of March 29, 2002, (67

CFT 4869) and the Citizen Service Act of 2002, a

legislative proposal submitted to the United States

Congress by President George W. Bush.

 

Section 2. North Carolina Citizen Corps Council

A. Consistent with the provisions of Executive Order

13254 and any act of Congress enacted to

implement Executive Order 13254, the North

Carolina Citizen Corps Council is created as a

body that will foster collaboration in a statewide

volunteer effort focused on homeland security,

disaster preparedness and response, public health,

and public safety.

 

B. The Council is not intended as an advisory or

governing body, nor to set state policy.

 

C. The Council shall consist of the leadership of

appropriate collaborative organizations and/or

agencies necessary to promote volunteerism

focused on homeland security, disaster preparation

and response, public health and public safety by

promoting Citizen Corps programs and activities.

 

D. Members of the Council shall serve by invitation of

the Governor of the State of North Carolina.

 

E. When there is a change in leadership of a Council

member organization/ agency, the new leadership

of the organization/agency will become a

replacement member of the Council.

 

Section 3. Activities of the Council

A. The Council shall identify opportunities for local,

tribal and state organizations to collaborate to

accomplish the shared goals of the Citizen Corps

programs.

 

B. The Council shall assist with the establishment of

an implementation plan to develop and support

local Citizen Corps Councils.

 

C. The Council shall assist in the development of

initiatives to promote public awareness and

community service in coordination with existing

Citizen Corps programs including, but not limited

to, Volunteers in Police Service, Neighborhood

Watch, Medical Reserve Corps, and Community

Emergency Response Teams.

 

D. The Council shall develop and disseminate

messages on safety and emergency preparedness

that will be effective in engaging communities and

individuals in Citizen Corps.

 

E. The Council shall serve as a catalyst for engaging

others within their areas of expertise to promote the

Citizen Corps mission and programs.

 

F. The Council shall promote the USA Freedom

Corps initiative in North Carolina.

 

Section 4. Operations of the Council

A. The Governor shall designate one (1) member of

the Council to serve as Chairman.

 

B. The Council may promulgate bylaws, not

inconsistent with law and with this Order,

governing its organization, operation and

procedure.

 

C. Members of the Council may delegate their

membership responsibility to a designee only if the

designee has authoritative powers to act on behalf

of, and made decisions for, the

organization/agency.

 

D. A majority of the serving members constitutes a

quorum for the transaction of business at a

meeting. The Council shall act by a majority vote

of its serving members.

 

E. The Council shall meet at the call of the

Chairman and as may be provided in the bylaws

of the Council. Meetings of the Council may be

held at any location within the State of North

Carolina. The Council shall meet at least once per

quarter year. Meetings may be in person or via

conference call.

 

F. The Council may establish committees,

subcommittees, and ad hoc committees as

appropriate to ensure the success of Citizen Corps

in North Carolina.

 

G. Members of the Council shall serve without

compensation. Members of the Council may

receive reimbursement for necessary travel and

related travel expenses according to relevant

statutes, rules, and procedures of the North

Carolina Office of Management and Budget.

 

H. The Council shall be staffed by the Director of

Citizen Corps in North Carolina (the Deputy

Executive Director of the Commission).

 

I. Subject to applicable laws, the Council may

receive monies from any source, public or private,

including but not limited to, gifts, grants, donations

of monies and government appropriations. These

monies will be managed by the Director of Citizen

Corps.

 

This Order is effective immediately.

Done in Raleigh, North Carolina, this 30th day of

March, 2003.

 

_______________________________

Michael F. Easley

Governor

ATTEST:

_______________________________

Elaine F. Marshall

Secretary of State