The MASSB Minute

As we begin a new fiscal year and welcome new members to Social Services Advisory Boards across Maryland, I want to thank both our incoming and returning volunteers for their commitment to public service and community engagement. The success of our boards depends on dedicated individuals who generously contribute their time, experience, and leadership to support vulnerable children, families, and communities throughout our state. This is an ideal time to orient new members, review board responsibilities, and identify meaningful opportunities for engagement that strengthen the effectiveness of your board.

As you continue this important work, I encourage you to make plans now to attend the 2026 MASSB Annual Conference this October. The conference provides an outstanding opportunity to learn, network, share best practices, develop leadership skills, and celebrate the collective impact of volunteer service across Maryland. Together, through active participation, strong local leadership, and a shared commitment to service, we can continue to strengthen Maryland's human services system and make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.

Best,
Tony

July 1st, the first day of the DHS fiscal year, is the day we welcome new members to our local advisory boards. It's an exciting time as we look forward to tapping into their energy, ideas and experience.

Help new members acclimate by reviewing your board's operations and brainstorming how they can best engage. Your handbook is a great onboarding tool. If your board hasn't developed a handbook, contact us for our template.

Please email your updated board roster to massbftrustee@gmail.com so we can add your new members to our correspondence. Thank you!

The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) is the official compilation of all administrative regulations issued by agencies of the state of Maryland and authorized by the General Assembly.

The Annotated Code of Maryland is a compilation of the statutes enacted by the Maryland Legislature, generally organized by subject (e.g., Human Services Articles). The Annotated Code includes the statute directing each local Department of Social Services, with the exception of Baltimore City, to have a local board. Section 3-501 outlines the board member requirements, and Section 3-503 lists the duties of board members. Contact us for the full statute text.

The Open Meetings Act is a Maryland law that requires public business to be conducted openly and publicly. It ensures that citizens receive adequate notice about when and where public meetings take place, so they can attend if they wish.

The Open Meetings Act applies to Advisory Board Meetings, so it's important for Board Chairs to be familiar with the specific requirements of your county, including recommended or mandatory training. A summary of open meeting requirements:

1. Provide reasonable advance notice of meetings
2. Make an agenda available (except in emergencies)
3. Hold meetings openly — the public, media, and representatives can attend; people can witness deliberations and decision-making; meetings are held in accessible locations; filming is generally allowed (if not disruptive); public bodies may remove disruptive individuals
4. Meetings may be closed to discuss personnel actions or topics that must remain confidential, or to receive legal advice from attorneys. To close a session: hold an open session first with proper notice; take a recorded vote on closing the session; prepare a written "closing statement" explaining which exception applies, topics to be discussed, and the reason for excluding the public; have a member trained in the Act present; limit discussion to disclosed topics only
5. Adopt and retain minutes for 5 years
6. Receive proper training

Contact us for Maryland's Open Meeting Act: A Quick Guide.

The Open Meetings Act requires agendas, which is a best practice, anyway! So what makes a good agenda?

1. Distribute the agenda in advance to give participants time to prepare.
2. Begin with a welcoming message that all opinions matter.
3. Manage time effectively by setting specific time blocks for each topic — allowing adequate time for discussion.
4. Distribute Meeting Minutes that summarize key discussions and decisions, and clearly define actions and deadlines.

If you're struggling with the best format for your board, here are some examples to consider:

We continue to increase our presence on social media to build brand awareness, and to advocate, educate, and publicize issues important to MASSB. With this effort comes the responsibility to protect our reputation. As a nonprofit, our reputation is a key factor in drawing donors, volunteers and partners to our cause.

To that end, a draft social media policy was circulated to MASSB membership for comment in February. The policy has now been approved and is available for your use. This policy applies to anyone posting on MASSB social media platforms or who may be perceived as representing MASSB due to their personal online presence.

Remember that our social media platforms belong to you, too! We would love to share your projects, fundraisers and successes. And please follow our pages so you can like and support the work of board members across the state in our shared mission to Bridge Gaps and Lift Lives.

E-mail your content to Nate Poerio for posting at massbftrustee@gmail.com.

Grants up to $2,500 are now available for local boards. The grant funds are intended to kick-start new initiatives and may be used for direct customer support or fundraising expenses. The project or initiative should be board-led, or conducted in partnership with DSS. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

It's not too early to start thinking about the Lifting Lives Award! Awarded annually as part of MASSB's October conference, the Lifting Lives Award recognizes projects or initiatives that are innovative or impact the local community in a positive way. Projects may be DSS-led or Board-led, however, board involvement is strongly encouraged. Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place include a monetary allocation to the winning board's MASSB Foundation account of up to $1,500. The deadline for submission is October 2, 2026.