Committees 2022

Committee/Chair Responsibilities

  1. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE. A Membership Committee to keep a computerized spreadsheet or list of all members including the payment of annual chapter dues with current contact information; complete tasks outlined in the written job description of the Membership Committee (if provided by the Board); and other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.The Membership Committee will inform/remind all members, in writing each year, of the following: in order to be a member of the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter, it is mandatory for any/all chapter members to concurrently be a member in good standing of the Sisters in Crime National organization at all times; that both memberships expire each year on December 31st, and both must be renewed every calendar year to retain membership status in the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter; and, the membership benefits offered to Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter members are specifically contingent upon each member’s status as a current member (paid/renewed for that year) in both organizations. The Membership Committee will also inform new members of this requirement when they join. The Membership Committee will provide a complete list of chapter members to the Sisters in Crime National organization in April of each year, and at any other time requested by Sisters in Crime National, to allow Sisters in Crime National to verify national membership of any/all Desert Sleuths Chapter members.
  2. PROGRAM COMMITTEE. A Program Committee to work in conjunction with the chapter’s President and/or Executive Committee to plan the chapter’s monthly program meetings, workshops, speakers or author-support at book signing events; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Program Committee (if provided by the Board); and, other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time;
  3. PUBLICITY COMMITTEE. A Publicity Committee to publicize and promote the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter, its events, achievements and image for the overall benefit of the membership; submit chapter news to the parent Sisters in Crime newsletter; contact media and respond to media inquiries; create and implement publicity campaigns as needed; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Publicity Committee (if provided by the Board); and other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.
  4.  MEMBER RELATIONS COMMITTEE. A Member Relations Committee, to serve as an Ombudsman and assist members of the chapter in related matters; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Chapter Liaison Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.
  5. CONFERENCES COMMITTEE. A Conferences Committee to plan, coordinate, promote, implement, manage and host the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter annual Write Now! Conference, and/or any other annual chapter conference(s); submit a recommended budget for, and create the overall conference program, and promote the conference, in concert with the Board of Directors, other chapter committees and members in this regard; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Conferences Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.
The Write Now! Conference Chair will:

Secure a location (whether online platform or in person)

    • Reserve a location or purchase access to an online platform (Crowdcast?)
    • Work with treasurer to pay for and record the amount for the space/platform

Secure speakers

    • Contact possible speakers and coordinate scheduling
    • Contact agents for setting up pitch sessions

Coordinate event schedule

    • Coordinate the schedule of speakers
    • Gather volunteers for helping manage individual sessions
    • Schedule Zoom events for the pitch sessions

Communicate Event

    • Write up the event schedule and description for website/social media/newsletter

Manage Attendees

    • Set up method of payment online/in person
    • Secure payments from attendees – if online this should be managed by an online platform, if in person, will need to determine whether/how to ensure only paid attendees are participating in paid sessions or main event
  1. SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE. A Special Events Committee to plan, coordinate, implement, manage and host special events, other than the annual conference(s); such as workshops, book signing events, educational seminars, reader appreciation activities, or events designed to promote and publicize the chapter, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate; submit a recommended budget for, and create the programs for each special event and work in concert with the Board of Directors, other chapter committees and members in this regard; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Special Events Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

Anthology Coordinator Will: 

    • Secure an editor
    • Create anthology theme and submission requirements
    • Set up submission deadlines and online platform for submission
    • Create blurbs for newsletter/social media explaining themes and deadlines

7. BYLAWS COMMITTEE. A Bylaws Committee to review the chapter bylaws on an bi-annual basis, and bring to the attention of the Board of Directors any perceived need for amendments or corrections, in keeping with the Sisters in Crime Mission Statement, Sisters in Crime, Inc., rules and regulations, Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter standards of practice, any directive from Sisters in Crime National, or other such information. The Bylaws Committee will deliver at least one copy of the most recent Sisters in Crime (National) Bylaws and Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter Bylaws to the newly elected Desert Sleuths Chapter Board of Directors no later than the January Board meeting each year; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Bylaws Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

8. CHAPTER LIAISON COMMITTEE. A Chapter Liaison Committee to communicate with, share ideas with, and network with other Sisters in Crime Chapters throughout the organization; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Chapter Liaison Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

9. ANTHOLOGY COMMITTEE. An Anthology Committee to coordinate, manage and implement the proper procedures to publish and sell anthologies or any other such publications of the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter, created and/or published by the chapter for the benefit of the chapter and members. The Anthology Committee will adhere to the Sisters in Crime, Inc. (National) written guidelines and restrictions for publications created by individual Sisters in Crime chapters and shall submit the appropriate paperwork for approval from the national office, within the required time frames; create and implement the budget, follow all policies and procedures under national and chapter rules during the process; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Anthology Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

10. SOCIAL MEDIA COMMITTEE. A Social Media Committee to monitor, enhance, implement, and create a social media platform, using the social media options deemed appropriate by the Social Media Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, to further promote the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter, its members and its events; introduce the Sisters in Crime organization and the Desert Sleuths Chapter to a larger audience; and benefit the chapter membership as a whole. The Social Media Committee shall follow all policies and procedures under national and chapter rules regarding social media and interaction with public; advise the Board of Directors on all aspects of and recommendations on social media options; complete tasks as outlined in the written job descriptions of the Social Media Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

11. SPEAKERS BUREAU COMMITTEE. A Speakers Bureau Committee to coordinate the appearance of members of the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter as guest speakers at public and private events, for the benefit of the public and individual organizations who request such appearances; to further promote the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter and its members; complete tasks as outlined in the written job descriptions of the Social Media Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

12. WEBSITE/ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. A Desert Sleuths Website/Electronic Technology Committee to maintain the Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths Chapter website; monitor the website; advise the Board of Directors on technological issues; make recommendations to the Board of Directors on special programs, procedures or systems that would benefit the chapter; implement the systems, programs and procedures approved by the Board of Directors; complete tasks as outlined in the written job description of the Website/Electronic Technology Committee (if provided by the Board); and, carry out other duties as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

Facebook

DS Members Only Group – These are our Paid Members only, with the occasional temporary guest where someone is trying out the group to see if they want to become a member.

DS Page  – Some members, fans of our org, people who are interested in us, mostly writers with some readers.

    • Posts about writing, mystery/thriller/crime books, local events, SINC related activities, and anything else our members and fans would be interested in. Include specific events that we host and that our members are featured at (Workshops, panels, conferences, signings, etc.)
    • Posts should be scheduled in advance whenever possible.
    • Post the monthly meeting details as well as all of our events. Share at least 1 reminder for the monthly meeting less than a week before the meeting. Post regular marketing for our big events, maybe once a week during the last 2 months before the event (ie. WriteNow).
    • Attend to the correspondence that comes in via the FB page (inbox, comments, invites, tagged things, etc.)
    • Post photos from our events.
    • Use our anthologies and event marketing for the header and pinned posts when possible.

Twitter

Audience- Members, writers, readers, general public.

Retweet things that our members will be interested in from the people in our feed.

    • Highlight the things our members are doing and amplify their voices.
    • Check in on local libraries, bookstores, agents, publishers, SinC Chapters/National, etc as well.
    • Tweet about our events, activities, and members.
    • Like things that our members are up to, including book releases, interviews, signings, etc.
    • Remain apolitical, secular, and avoid controversy with our tweets and retweets. Desert Sleuths is all inclusive and focused only on mystery writing content.
    • Follow  folks with good content (not just sales pitches nor just people who follow us) and follow our members whenever possible.
    • Sort people we follow into appropriate list categories for ease of referral.
    • Create lists of just our members so we can focus just on them when we need to. Ex. 2022 Current Members, LoveKills Anthology Writers, WriteNow 2022 Speakers, etc.
    • Use our anthologies and event marketing for the header and pinned tweets when possible.

Instagram

@DesertSleuths

Audience – Members, writers, readers, general public.

    • Post photos from our events and member meetings at possibly 1-2 posts a day.

Pinterest

Audience – Possibly interested writers or readers.

    • Collect our member’s book covers.
    • Collect pins for the categories we already have, especially writing quotes.
    • Create a board for any other categories that are interesting to our members or potential readers of our members’ books.

LinkedIn

Audience – Writer and freelance professionals who are trying to network and mostly people who want to sell services to writers.

    • Anyone interested can follow.
    • Post events here.