On October 31, the AAPA Board of Directors (BOD) approved most of the recommendations outlined in a detailed report and presented by the Governance Work Group (GWG), laying the groundwork for revisions to the Academy's governance structure that will support the organization's ability to provide timely, relevant leadership for the profession as well as optimize organizational, fiduciary and policy-making decisions.
"The BOD's reaction to the report and recommendations was most favorable," said AAPA Director at Large and GWG Chairman Jeffrey Katz. "They recognized the amount of work that went into developing these recommendations. The Board amended only four of the recommendations and adopted the other 22 presented."
Over the course of six months, the work group reviewed virtually all aspects of AAPA's governance structure, evaluating the composition and terms of service of the BOD, the purpose and structure of the Student Academy of Representatives (AOR), all AAPA governance-related documents for related to committees, councils and congresses.
"The work group established operating principles at its first face-to-face meeting to facilitate discussion within the group," Katz explained. "This established an atmosphere where all ideas could be discussed and debated amongst all the members of the group."
Katz believes the five most important recommendations include the following: Revision to the committee/council structure to one with Commissions/Workgroups/Task Forces; enhancements to HOD operations; modifications to the composition of the BOD; establishment of term limits for Directors at Large and House Officers and changes to the role of student delegates in the HOD.
"I applaud the hard work and effort of the GWG led by Jeff Katz," said AAPA President Stephen H. Hanson. "It is consistent with our strategic plan, which the board approved last year. These recommendations now go to the House of Delegates, where they will be considered at its meeting next May."
In other business, the BOD took the following actions:
• Approved the concept for a leadership development and orientation plan, thus allowing staff to research relative to actual costs for development and execution of the program
• Received an update on the Sept. 26-27 Specialty Summit regarding AAPA's specialty section pilot program.
• Will review and consider revisions to the AAPA Strategic Plan at their February 2010 meeting. The board, committee and council chairs and senior staff met for a full day in advance of the October BOD meeting to review progress toward achieving goals and strategies in the current plan.
• Approved the PA Foundation's new strategic plan.
• Approved the PA Foundation's new Board of Trustees officers - PA James ‘Rick' Kilgore as Treasurer and PA Lisa Mustone Alexander as Secretary.
• Approved the appointment of PA Tom Tran, Orlando, Florida, as a new PA Foundation trustee for a term beginning immediately through June 2011.
