OCDA November 2023 Newsletter
November is National Career Development Month!
A Message from the President, Christine Yancey
November is a magical time of year when the air turns crisp, leaves turn vibrant colors, and bonfires and pumpkin patches fill our weekends. Families join together to celebrate life’s harvest and reflect and remind themselves of all they have to be thankful for with a fabulous feast while enjoying the spirit of Thanksgiving.
November is also National Career Development Month and OCDA has a full month of activities and workshops designed to provide our members with information and networking opportunities throughout the month. These activities include Motivational Meet and Greets, Professional Development events offering CEU’s and workshops providing information and resources for goal setting and providing services for special populations. I encourage you to check the schedule and reach out to the NCD Month Co-chairs, Alicia Camak at Alicia.camak@dot.ohio.gov or Hannah Harshman at Hannah.harshman@sinclair.edu for questions. More information is included in this newsletter as well.
The month of November will also see the launch of OCDA’s DEI Initiative. The committee has been hard at work putting together a kick-off event with a guest speaker and is currently looking for committee members to assist and be part of this meaningful and impactful initiative. OCDA’s DEI Committee has been put in place to raise awareness by Representing all members, Advancing Equity, Inspiring Change, Supporting education of DEI, and empowering all to achieve their full potential. You will read more about the DEI’s Purpose, Mission, and Vision in this newsletter. Please watch your emails for more information.
Other committees are also hard at work increasing the value of OCDA Membership; from creating this robust newsletter and providing professional development and networking opportunities to promoting messaging and sharing best practices through our social media and website platforms. These all work together to provide our members with resources and tools they need to better help their clients.
On a personal note, November is also a time for giving thanks to those who sacrificed for our freedom. I’d like to give a personal shout out to all veterans who currently serve or who have served and encourage everyone to thank a veteran, especially on Veteran’s Day (November 11th).
Finally, I’m personally thankful for all of you. I’d like to express my gratitude for your commitment and dedication to the profession and especially thank you for being a part of OCDA. I wish you and your family a wonderful November and I hope to see you soon!
Respectfully.
Christine Yancey
OCDA President
Register for Our NCD Month Events Here!
DEI Committee Announcement
Inclusion is the key that unlocks the door to a world of endless gratitude, where every voice is heard and every story is valued!
This month, the DEI Committee extends a warm invitation to you, an invitation to unite with us in a heartfelt celebration of the remarkable might of gratitude and respect. We're here to applaud and honor every individual and community that, together, weaves our incredible, diverse tapestry.
Gratitude is more than just a feeling; it's a force that bridges divides, creating unity and connection. Let's take a moment to appreciate the incredible diversity that surrounds us, from the myriad of cultures and backgrounds to the rich tapestry of unique experiences within our community. By expressing our thanks, we not only recognize the intrinsic value each person brings but also cultivate an environment where inclusivity and mutual respect thrive.
As we journey through the vibrant month of November, there's a magnificent array of holidays awaiting our celebration and appreciation:
· Diwali (November 4th)
· Veterans Day (November 11th)
· Thanksgiving (November 25th)
· Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20th)
· Native American Heritage Month
· National Veterans and Military Families Month
Let's embrace the diversity that surrounds us, practice gratitude, kindness, and respect, and work together to build a more inclusive and equitable world. We invite all interested OCDA members to become part of the OCDA DEI Committee by sending an email to ocdadeichair@gmail.com. Your voice and commitment are invaluable, and we are excited to welcome you into our diverse and passionate community.
Sincerely,
DEI Committee
OCDA Tip of the Month: Showing Gratitude
Brought to you by WBUR, this radio show episode is dedicated to the "Science of Happiness." Sit down, relax, and enjoy the stories of those who find "awe" in life. This may inspire you to show gratitude and give thanks to the many small (and big!) things that happen every day.
Listen here to "Awe: Science's answer to your search for happiness"
Pulse on Ohio
Issue 2
November 2023
On behalf of the Government Relations Committee at OCDA, we want to wish you a Happy National Career Development Month! This is the perfect season to spread awareness of our industry and educate our elective and appointed leadership at every level of the work that is being done by all of us in every corner of Ohio. Advocacy is simply working to garner support for a particular cause or policy.
During this year’s National Career Development Month, we are inviting you to reach out to your elective and appointed leadership and share about what you do to educate and inform Ohio’s policymakers. It can be as simple as using a contact form on the public official’s website to share about National Career Development Month. Expanding awareness about what you do to support fellow Ohioans receiving career development services across the continuum from youth through mid-career and the “third act” in later years. Below you’ll find a sample letter that you can copy, personalize, and paste into a contact form, email, or letter to your representatives and links to find your representatives.
If you choose to reach out to your representatives and/or receive responses, send copies of the correspondence to sarah@valuesbasedcareers.com. We are tracking advocacy efforts in order to report on our impact!
HOW TO FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES:
Congressional Leadership:
State Government Leadership:
https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/district-map
County Government Leadership:
- Visit your local county government website (usually “commissioners”) and look for a contact form, press/media page, or public information officer’s contact
Hyper-local Government Leadership:
- Visit your local city, township, or village government website and look for a contact form, email address, or press/media page
EXAMPLE LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVE FOR OCDA MEMBER USE:
[DATE]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
The Honorable [REPRESENTATIVE’S FIRST AND LAST NAME]
[REPRESENTATIVE’S ADDRESS]
Dear The Honorable [REPRESENTATIVES’S LAST NAME],
I am writing to you as a constituent and a [YOUR ROLE OR TITLE] working in the career development industry here in Ohio. I work with [INSERT THE TYPES OF PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH] to [INSERT THE GOALS OF YOUR CLIENTS GENERALLY/WHAT YOU WORK TOWARD]. [SHARE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR WORK HERE.]
November is National Career Development Month. As a member of the Ohio Career Development Association, I am writing to you in order to share about the relevancy and impact of our industry. Founded in 1975, the Ohio Career Development Association (OCDA) is a chartered state division of the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and a division of the Ohio Counseling Association. The NCDA was initially founded in 1913 under a different name and is the first, longest first, longest running and preeminent career development association in the world.
The OCDA exists to promote a greater understanding of the meaning of work and vocation, to foster career development over the lifespan, and to improve the standards of professional service in the field of career guidance and counseling in Ohio. The development of any person's career takes place over most of his/her lifetime. These stages are: (a) preschool age youth; (b) K-6 school grades; (c) 7-9 school grades; (d) 10-12 school grades; (e) adults (ages 18-65), and (f) retired persons. Our members make up constituency groups including professionals working in K-12, higher education, graduate students/educators/researchers, private practice, government/advocacy, workforce development agencies, and business/industry/employers.
As you are making policies impacting the career development industry and the fellow Ohioans we serve, I urge you to look toward the OCDA and NCDA as the preeminent voice for career practitioners in order to ensure policies and practices ultimately support the
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I appreciate your service to our community. For more information on the NCDA you can visit www.ncda.gov and for more information on the OCDA you can go to www.ocdaonline.org.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR TITLE/ORGANIZATION]**
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION LIKE A PHONE OR EMAIL]
-END OF SAMPLE LETTER-
*Every 10 years after the U.S. Census, Ohio's House and Senate district boundaries must be redrawn to reflect the results of the most recent Census. The Ohio Redistricting Commission is tasked with redrawing each of those legislative districts. District maps have been redrawn in 2023, while the process still has legal challenges ahead, please note your representation might change in the near future due to map boundaries changing due to population changes.
**If choosing to include your professional title and organization, please ensure proper permissions are granted from your organization. Often universities, colleges, agencies, and businesses have a process or staff who handle all advocacy outreach. In these instances, we encourage you to check your organization’s guidelines and/or consider reaching out to your representatives from your position as a private citizen where you may use your personal contact information.
If you have ideas or submissions for membership email content, please email Maddie Kindig at kindig.13@osu.edu
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