Becoming an Active member of AAPG and contributing to the growth and success of the Association was the theme of last month’s column. Our programs are the result of a collaborative partnership between member volunteers, who donate their time, effort and expertise, and AAPG staff worldwide, who offer strategic guidance and provide operational support.
But we are fundamentally a member-led organization, and this leadership begins with the AAPG Executive Committee (EC).
The EC consists of Active members who are elected to these positions by those AAPG members eligible to vote. They serve a variety of functions.
♦ The president is the chief executive officer of the Association, serving as spokesperson on all matters pertaining to the public. The president appoints the members of AAPG’s committees as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws, appoints delegates to cooperating organizations to represent AAPG and serves as chair of the EC.
♦ The president-elect sits on the EC for the year prior to assuming the presidency. The purpose is to orient the incumbent to the duties they will assume as president.
The president-elect also is responsible for developing and presenting the budget for the following fiscal year (their term as president).
The time commitment to serve as president actually spans six years: one year as a candidate, one year as president-elect and one year as president, followed by three years serving on the Advisory Council (we’ll discuss this group in a future column).
♦ The vice president-Sections focuses on the Association’s activities in the U.S. Sections. In addition, the VP-Sections may assist with the presentation of honors and awards at the opening session of meetings, provide committee oversight and other duties assigned by the president or EC.
The vice president-Regions is concerned with all of AAPG’s activities in its international Regions. Similar to the VP-Sections, the VP-Regions may assist with Honors and Awards at the opening session of meetings, provide committee oversight, and other duties assigned by the president or EC.
Both vice presidents serve two-year terms, which are staggered. As a result, in the second year of their respective terms they would step in to perform the duties of the president should that person no longer be able to serve in that capacity for whatever reason.
♦ The secretary records the actions of the EC, keeps possession of and affixes the corporate seal, and provides policy oversight of all non-technical and non-peer reviewed publications and communications. The secretary serves a two-year term.
♦ The treasurer supervises the receipt and disbursement of all funds on behalf of the Association. The treasurer serves a two-year term, is an ex officio member of the Committee on Investments and prepares and submits an annual financial report.
♦ The AAPG elected editor supervises and has final authority of the solicitation, acceptance and rejection of all technical content submitted for publication.
The editor oversees and is responsible for the editorial content of all technical and peer-reviewed publications issued by AAPG. In addition, the editor manages the volunteer associate editors selected from the membership to accomplish these tasks.
The editor serves a three-year term.
♦ The chair of the House of Delegates oversees the activities of the House, which is the Association’s representative and legislative body. It consists of delegates elected from affiliated societies and international regions.
The chair is elected by the delegates, serving one year as chair-elect before taking over as chair.
Candidates for office, other than the chair of the House, are nominated by AAPG members. These nominations are then reviewed and candidates selected by the Officer Candidate Nominating Committee, a subcommittee of the Advisory Council.
This committee is currently soliciting nominations for the positions of president-elect, vice president-Regions, secretary and editor.
Do you know an AAPG Active member who would be a good candidate for one of these positions?
Talk to them about it and see if they would be interested in serving. Visit the AAPG website for more details, at http://www.aapg.org/business/officer_nom/index.cfm.
The deadline for submission is Feb. 1.
AAPG’s future will be determined by all of us working together to create the Association we want it to be.
That starts at the top.