The State of California provides a variety of opportunities for individuals to get involved in the development of policy that impacts over six million people with disabilities and the rest of the people who live here. Governor Schwarzenegger appoints members to councils, commissions and boards each week, as terms continually expire. Many of those appointments are to councils that can benefit from the inclusion of informed and interested people with disabilities, and several have statutory requirements to include people with disabilities as members.

The State Independent Living Council (SILC) is one of those organizations that is continually seeking qualified members, as members' terms expire every three years. The SILC currently has several vacancies.

This situation also impacts many other disability-related boards including, but not limited to, the State Rehabilitation Council, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the State Rehabilitation Appeals Board, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the California Commission on Aging, the Governor's Committee on Employment of Disabled Persons, and many more that have an impact on statewide issues of importance to persons with disabilities.

The need for qualified people goes far beyond the issue of disability. Besides specific disability-related bodies, there are vacancies occurring in all areas of interest. Are you interested in law, transportation, environmental issues, water resources, forestry, healthcare, childrens' or cultural issues, good government, education, recreation, public safety, aging issues, licensing, natural resources, consumer protection, oversight of specific professions, volunteerism, employment, energy, recreation, wildlife or the status of women? If so, there's an organization you and your peers could be appointed to--as members.

Any California resident is eligible. Governor Schwarzenegger appoints people of any and all political parties to these positions, so don't let party affiliation slow you down. In most cases, all expenses for participation as a board member are paid. Some Governor appointees are assigned to jobs or positions that pay healthy full-time salaries, with benefits. Others are strictly volunteer, or members may receive a stipend if they are unemployed or missing work while on State business.

The application process is fairly simple. The Governor's application and list of all available positions is available online, on the Governor's website: http://appointments.ca.gov/en/form/index.php

The Schwarzenneger Administration uses the same application for paid and volunteer positions, and a pull-down menu at each line of the application will assure that you can find the opportunity of your choice.

The application can also be reached via the SILC website at www.calsilc.org. Just click where it says Application for SILC Membership, and it will take you directly to the Governor's appointments page. You have a choice of filling out the application on-line or you may print it out and use a typewriter or pen. If you choose the on-line option, just print the last page when you're done, sign it, and deliver to the Governor's office via mail or other means.

Agencies and boards that are seeking applicants benefit from knowing who is applying for their vacancies. Call those organizations you might be interested in to find out the time obligation, workload, pay (if any), statutory requirements and types of members being sought. Please send a courtesy copy of your application when it is submitted to the Governor, so the agency can track the progress of potential members and discuss your status with the Governor's Appointments staff during periodic meetings.

If you apply to become a SILC member, please send us a copy of your application at:

State Independent Living Council
1600 K St., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95814

If you have additional questions about the application process, contact the California SILC at 916-445-0142.