Lesson: Finding Opportunities

“Boards need representatives who are truly impacted by the decisions made in their own day-to-day lives.”

-Emily Bowerman, SC WIL Appointed Office Director

Emily Bowerman, Appointed Office Director for SC WIL, explains how statewide board and commission opportunities can be found through WIL and the Secretary of State’s websites. (2 min. 56 sec. watch)

TIP:

Unfortunately, unlike the local level, there isn’t one go-to person for state boards and commissions information. If you have questions, you can contact SC WIL, your state senator, state representative, and the Governor’s office. It may be more outreach than you’d like, but the more people you contact, the more likely you are to find the answers you’re looking for.

With hundreds of statewide boards and commissions, where should you begin searching for opportunities? It may take some work to find what’s available, but there are several places you can look.

Governor’s Office

This seems like the natural starting place, right? While the Governor is responsible for appointing the majority of board members, the Governor’s Office website is not the place to find what’s available. While they accept applications online, their website directs you to the legislative manual and the Secretary of State’s website.

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State’s Office maintains state board and commission records. They have lists of all the state boards and commissions, vacancies, and expired positions. They also have a search feature that will pull up the current members and enabling legislation of boards and commissions. While this information is helpful, there is a caveat. Often, this information is compiled based on what the boards or departments that oversee the boards report to the Secretary of State. This means that the data can be out of date. While this is an excellent place to start, it is also wise to Google the board. You may find more information on its own or the overseeing department’s website.

SC WIL

Not to toot our own horn, but SC WIL has the most comprehensive statewide board and commission positions database. Our Governmental Appointments Projected Database uses the information from the Secretary of State’s office. However, we also cross reference it against legislative records. That way, you can know if there’s already a pending nominee for the position you’re interested in without having to do hours of research. We update it every month. If you have any questions about the database or need help tracking something down, contact us at gap@scwomenlead.net.

Legislative Delegations

Sometimes, you can find information on positions appointed by your legislative delegation through your county or the statewide database. Yet, the best way to find current opportunities is to contact your legislative delegation’s staff. They’ll walk you through what’s available and how to begin the application process.

The good news is that the information can be easier to find than at the local level. Just bear in mind that it may be out of date.

Exercise:

This worksheet will help identify your strengths, weaknesses, and conflicts of interest, allowing you to determine what types of boards you should pursue and avoid.