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Official Designation: International Watch

Scope and Objectives: The purpose of International Watch is to share information on international disability issues and to advise the National Council on Disability on the development of policy proposals that will advocate for a foreign policy that is consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Duration: International Watch will continue to exist for two years from the date of this Charter, unless earlier renewed.

Reporting Relationship: International Watch reports to the National Council on Disability.

Support: National Council on Disability will support the activities of International Watch.

Duties: International Watch will provide advice and recommendations only.

Costs: The estimated annual operating costs associated with supporting International Watch’s functions are estimated to be $40,000 per year including all direct and indirect expenses. It is estimated that a staff person will spend approximately 288 hours per year to support International Watch.

Meetings: It is anticipated that International Watch will meet approximately seven times per year.

Organization: NCD will create any subcommittees that may be necessary to fulfill International Watch’s mission. In addition, NCD and International Watch will establish such operating procedures as required to support the group, consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended.

Members: The Committee will consist of not more than 30 members, who are selected for membership for the purpose of obtaining the point of view or perspective of an outside interest group, or stakeholder interest. While representative members may have expertise in a specific area, discipline, or subject matter, they are not selected solely on the basis of this expertise, but rather are selected to represent the point of view of a group or particular interest. A representative member may represent groups or organizations, such as industry, labor, consumers, or any other recognizable group of persons having an interest in matters before the committee, including on occasion the public at large.

Date of Termination: Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, International Watch will terminate two years from the date of this charter.

Amended: January 19, 2007

Mark S. Quigley
Acting Co-Executive Director
National Council on Disability

Section 1. Purpose: The International Watch (IW) was established as a non-paid advisory board of non-government to share information on international disability issues and activities and to advise the National Council on Disability (NCD) on the development of policy proposals and strategies that will advocate for a foreign policy that is consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. NCD's mission is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or significance of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and full inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

Section 2. Authority: The Executive Director of the National Council on Disability has determined that the IW is in the public interest. The IW is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as outlined in its Charter, filed with Congress on October 18, 2000 and amended on March 22, 2001.

Section 3. Functions: In its advisory role to NCD, the IW will perform the following duties:

1. Inform NCD of disability issues and policy developments proposed by world governments and international organizations.
   
   
2. Review and provide comments on NCD's priorities and projects as they relate to foreign policy objectives and activities affecting people with disabilities world-wide.
   
   
3. Enhance NCD's knowledge about how people with disabilities globally are affected by the implementation of federal legislation having international impacts such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Foreign Assistance Act and others.
   
   
4. Form working groups to focus on developing recommended strategies for addressing specific foreign policy issues affecting people with disabilities.
   
   
5. Advise NCD on strategies for pursuing foreign policy changes consistent with the values and goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Section 4. Membership: The International Watch shall be comprised both of members appointed by the NCD chairperson and NCD Foreign Policy Team (NCD board members) representing diverse cultural, disability and professional backgrounds, who are knowledgeable about international disability issues and policies.

1. Members of the International Watch shall serve at the discretion of NCD (generally for a two-year term), or until the termination of the International Watch, whichever occurs first in time.
   
   
2. If a member decides to vacate her/his position, the Liaison will, within 5 days after receipt of the resignation, inform NCD's Foreign Policy Team and request a replacement.
   
   
3. International Watch members will serve without compensation except that NCD will reimburse each member for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in attending the face-to-face meeting (See Section 4, Paragraph B) as well as performing assigned functions and duties, if funds are available. Reimbursable expenses shall be determined by NCD.

Section 5. Meetings and Teleconferences: The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) shall determine the time, place and manner of teleconference calls in consultation with IW members. Face-to-face meetings shall be arranged periodically at the request of the IW members and with the consent of NCD, or at the request of the NCD board.

1. All teleconferences and face-to-face meetings of the International Watch are open to the public and will be held in accessible facilities. Announcements and proceedings of all such meetings will be available in accessible format.
   
   
2. Members of the International Watch will convene for a face-to-face meeting biannually with the concurrence of the NCD board.
   
   
3. In compliance with Federal law requirements for public notice, the announcement of all conference calls and face-to-face meetings of the International Watch will be published in the Federal Register, at least 30 days prior to the conference call or meeting date. International Watch members will also receive a 30-day notice.
   
   
4. The agenda for conference calls or face-to-face meetings of International Watch will conform to specifications (e.g. welcome and introductions, reports on international issues, discussion of relevant issues, reaching consensus on any item (s) intended as advice to NCD, announcements, and adjournment).
   
   
5. A poll may be taken up among members of the International Watch to determine the degree of their consensus on the priorities of international disability issues and their strategy recommendations to NCD.

Section 6. Duties of the IW Liaison, Designated Federal Officer and Members

1. The NCD Chairperson shall appoint an NCD member to the position of International Watch Liaison with consent by the NCD board.
   
   
2. The Liaison will:
   
   
1. Preside at the public bimonthly conference calls and any face-to-face meetings.
   
   
2. Exercise general oversight and coordination of the affairs of the International Watch with NCD's Foreign Policy Team.
   
   
3. Consult with the IW members, as well as NCD board and staff in recommending new IW appointments to the NCD chairperson.
   
   
4. Report all advice and recommendations of the International Watch to the NCD board at its quarterly meetings.
   
   
5. Sign any formal statements of the IW for release to NCD or the public.
   
   
3. The Designated Federal Officer will:
   
   
1. Be present at all public conference calls of the IW working groups.
   
   
2. Ensure that NCD's public affairs officer is notified of all IW meetings for posting in the Federal Register at least 30 days in advance.
   
   
3. Be the communication liaison between the IW and the NCD board and staff through timely distribution of IW meeting notices, agendas and minutes.
   
   
4. Prepare any formal statements of the IW for release to NCD or the public.
   
   
5. Ensure that the IW by-laws, operations and procedures are in conformance with FACA.
   
   
6. Manage and coordinate the overall functions and operation of the International Watch.
   
   
4. Members will:
   
   
1. Attend the teleconferences and meetings of the International Watch.
   
   
2. Work with the Liaison and Designated Federal Officer in the completion of committee and working group assignments.
   
   
3. Lead the development of strategy recommendations through the strategic policy planning working groups.
   
   
4. Serve on one or more strategic policy planning working groups coinciding with their areas of interest and expertise.

Section 7. Conflict of Interest: In the event that an issue, proposal, or similar matter is presented to the International Watch, resulting in a potential conflict of interest, the affected member shall recuse him or herself from any discussion involving the matter, except points of clarification. For that purpose of these By-Laws, a conflict of interest situation would exist when work that a member is performing for another organization, state, local, or federal agency and the interests of that entity are likely to be impacted by advice or recommendations that the International Team makes to NCD.

Section 8. Term Year: A term year of the International Watch member shall be the same as the fiscal year for NCD (October 1 through September 30).

Section 9. General Communication and Official Statements

1. The Liaison and the Designated Federal Officer will communicate the business and advice of the IW to the NCD board and staff as outlined in Section 5.
   
   
2. All formal statements of the International Watch shall be prepared by the Designated Federal Officer, approved by the International Watch members and signed by the Liaison.

Section 10: Parliamentary Authority: The Liaison will chair each bimonthly teleconference and any face-to-face meeting of the International Watch by acknowledging each member who wishes to speak. Group members will facilitate informal discussion during teleconferences for the strategy planning working groups.

Section 11: Provisions and Amendments: All provisions and proposed amendments to these By-Laws shall be consistent with the approved International Watch charter. Any IW member may propose and present an amendment in accessible format to the Liaison. The Liaison will notify the IW members of the proposed amendment at least 30 days prior to the public meeting at which it is to be voted upon. A two-thirds vote of those present is required for ratification. An amendment shall become effective 30 days after ratification.

Section 12: Ratification: The NCD board of directors will ratify these By-Laws for purposes of ensuring their consistency with the charter and By-Laws of the National Council on Disability.

Kathleen Martinez, NCD Member and International Watch Liaison

Yerker Andersson, Disability Advocate
Rosangela Berman-Bieler, Businesswoman
Judy Brewer, Businesswoman
Marca Bristo, Disability Advocate
Judi Chamberlin. Disability Advocate
Bruce Curtis, Disability Advocate
Don Galloway, State Government Employee
Nora Groce, Ph.D., Educator
Arlene Kanter, Educator
Janet Lord, International Disability Advocate
Jerome Mindes, Disability Consultant
Jean Parker, Businesswoman
Eric Rosenthal, Disability Advocate
Tina Singleton, International Disability Consultant
William Kennedy Smith, MD, Physician
Susan Sygal, Disability Advocate
Patrishia Wright, Disability Advocate

Fiscal Year 2008 Meetings
November 2007 - September 2008

Fiscal Year 2007 Meetings
November 2006 - September 2007

Fiscal Year 2006 Meetings
November 2005 - September 2006

2005 Meetings
January - November 2005

2004 Meetings
January-November 2004

2003 Meetings
May 20, 2003 - Correction
January-November 2003 - Correction
January-November 2003

Federal Advisory Committee International Watch Conference Call Agenda (September 4, 2008)

Federal Advisory Committee International Watch Conference Call Agenda (July 3, 2008)

Federal Advisory Committee International Watch Conference Call Agenda (March 6, 2008)

Federal Advisory Committee International Watch Conference Call Agenda (January 3, 2008)

Federal Advisory Committee International Watch Conference Call Agenda (November 1, 2007)

Fiscal Year 2008 Minutes
July 3, 2008
May 1, 2008
March 6, 2008
January 3, 2008

Fiscal Year 2007 Minutes
November 1, 2007
September 6, 2007
July 5, 2007
May 3, 2007
March 1, 2007
January 4, 2007

Fiscal Year 2006 Minutes
November 2, 2006
September 7, 2006
July 6, 2006
May 4, 2006
March 2, 2006
January 5, 2006

2005 Minutes
November 3, 2005
September 1, 2005
July 7, 2005
May 5, 2005
March 3, 2005
January 6, 2005

2004 Minutes
November 4, 2004
September 2, 2004
July 8, 2004
May 6, 2004
March 4, 2004
January 15, 2004

2003 Minutes
November 6, 2003
September 4, 2003
July 3, 2003
May 20, 2003
March 13, 2003
January 9, 2003

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (July 14, 2008)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (April 21, 2008)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (January 28, 2008)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (November 29, 2007)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (July 2007)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (April 17, 2007)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (January 29, 2007)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (October 30, 2006)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (July 25, 2006)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (January 30, 2006)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (October 5, 2005)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (September 30, 2005)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (July 25-27, 2005)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (March 9-11, 2005)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (November 29-30, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (July 25-26, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (April 13-14, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (February 8-9, 2004)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (November 22-23, 2003)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Report (August 21, 2003)

International Watch Federal Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (June 23-24, 2003)

International Watch Advisory Committee, Quarterly Meeting Report (March 5-6, 2003)

Joan M. Durocher, Attorney Advisor
National Council on Disability
jdurocher@ncd.gov
202-272-2117
202-272-2074
202-272-2022 Fax