Technology & Accessibility
Overview
We’ll bring the Local into a secure, member-first cloud environment that we own and govern. A single sign-on member portal (Azure AD) will host contracts, minutes, forms, and meeting links; hybrid meetings become the default, with captions and accommodations. An LLM helpdesk answers simple questions 24/7 and routes complex items to humans.
All of it sits behind strong identity, retention, and audit controls with clear data-custody policies so we never hand member information to a black-box vendor. Accessibility isn’t an add-on; it’s a requirement baked into tools, content, and meeting rules.
What we’ll do
- Stand up an Azure AD portal (Tech & Accessibility; Q2): personal dashboards, grievance/contact forms (with routing), document libraries, and calendar.
- Default-hybrid meetings (Tech + Recording Sec; immediate): publish links and procedures with notices; enable captions; adopt electronic-meeting rules aligned with Robert’s Rules.
- Pilot an LLM helpdesk (Tech; Q2 pilot, Q3 expand): trained on bylaws, CBAs, and FAQs; human escalation; logs retained for accuracy audits.
- Enforce custody & security (Trustees + Tech; ongoing): MFA for officers, dual-control on sensitive libraries, email retention (≥5 years), quarterly access reviews.
- Accessibility by design (Tech + Communications; ongoing): WCAG-compliant web, alt-texted PDFs, ASL/CC on request, Spanish/English parity for key content.
Why it matters
Members on 4 a.m. shifts or across the county should have equal access to meetings, information, and support. A secure, centralized portal reduces friction, speeds responses, and creates a durable record. Hybrid and accessible meetings raise turnout, and the LLM assistant handles the routine so humans focus on strategy. Most importantly, we keep custody of our data, code, and archives, avoiding cost creep and lock-in that undermine member trust and long-term capability.
FAQ
- Why Azure/365?
- It aligns with identity, retention, and audit needs while keeping us in control.
- Is the bot authoritative?
- It’s assistive only; complex or sensitive questions go to trained reps.
- What about members without devices?
- Phone lines, mailed notices on request, and steward support remain available.