Message from AMDA's House of Delegates Chair
The San Diego AMDA 25th Anniversary Symposium
is quickly approaching and preparations are moving along rapidly. We're
looking forward to a lively and productive House of Delegates (HOD). A
number of resolutions have been received and will be considered on the
floor. This year I am anticipating expanding the resolutions process to
allow for discussion, testimony, and refinement of the resolutions in
an open Resolutions Committee meeting following the HOD briefing
luncheon on Thursday.
Two bylaws changes that were passed at last year's HOD are worthy of
mention. First, the bylaws now provide for regional chapter
recognition, but there are a few steps that must be followed. States
wishing to organize as a regional chapter must first at least nominally
organize as a state chapter by adopting a set of bylaws and a
resolution seeking state chapter status in AMDA. These documents along
with a list of members must be sent to the AMDA Executive Director.
Once state chapter status is conferred, the state chapter may elect to
combine with other state chapters and thus be designated a regional
chapter. It is understood that in many cases the state chapter will
merely exist on paper and only function through the regional chapter.
This allows for participation in the AMDA HOD, State Presidents
Council, and leadership process by AMDA members who would otherwise
have no other opportunity to do so. It allows for administrative and
educational resources to be consolidated and more efficiently be
utilized. It also allows for establishment of state chapters in states
where there are none, possibly resulting in some of these chapters
ultimately growing and becoming able to function independent of the
regional chapter.
Secondly, the Chair of the HOD is now empowered to interpret the
bylaws during the HOD meeting, with the HOD being able to overrule the
Chair by two-thirds majority. While I do not anticipate this being used
often, it has the potential to more quickly resolve disputes in areas
where the bylaws are vague.
I ask that all delegates come to the meetings well prepared, having
read all materials, and ready to provide thoughtful constructive input.
Remember, it is the HOD that gives grassroots policy direction to the
AMDA leadership. Let's have the best HOD yet.
Randall D. Huss, MD, CMD
Chair, House of Delegates
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