An Open Invitation to all Members to Serve on an Academy Committee – Please Volunteer

By Steve Mastro, CPM
stevemastro@sbcglobal.net

I have often said that committees are the backbone of any organization. This is where the detail work leading to informed action that strengthens the organization is carried out by passionate members serving the organization. As I prepare to serve the Academy as your president in 2009, I am seeking out others who wish to show their passion and commitment. Currently, there are over 70 members from 15 societies serving on AACPM Committees. My goal is to involve old and new members from every society to fill the memberships of the 14 Academy committees. I ask that society officers actively recruit and nominate their members to serve on Academy committees. If you are a member and you wish to serve, please feel free to contact me directly with your offer to serve on one or more committees.

The chair of some Academy committees is determined by an elected position and others by SOP requirements. Although most committees are not limited in membership size, most have only five to eight members. If the elected board is to be effective, they need the support of well functioning committees. By following SOP guidelines, committees conduct many annual tasks for the Academy. They also explore new ideas and bring well thought out recommendations to the BOD and HOD for action.

Following is the list of Academy Committees for which you may volunteer to serve:

• Bylaws and Ethics: Chaired by the Past President. Reviews and discusses proposed bylaw changes and prepares recommended changes for HOD approval.

• Communications: Chaired by the Member-at-Large (MAL) Conferences and Communications. This committee oversees the production of the newsletter and the maintenance of the Academy web site.

• Conference: Chaired by the President-Elect. Assists society conference planning teams in preparing to host future national conferences.

• Election: Chaired by the Past President. Additional members are not assigned until the ballot is determined. Members from Societies represented on the ballot cannot serve on the committee.

• Finance: Chaired by the President-Elect and staffed by the Treasurer. This committee advises on fiscal process improvements, reviews audit report, and assists with budget development.

• Integrated Marketing & Resource Catalog: Chaired by the Member-at-Large for Conferences and Communications. Works to market the credibility and value of CPM to various stakeholders and employers.

• Henning Award: Chaired by the immediate previous Henning recipient and staffed by members from Societies who have not submitted a Henning nomination. Solicits and evaluates applications, and selects the honoree.

• Leadership Institute: Committee is in the process of defining the LI program and will implement an embedded program in 2009 conference and a workshop program in 2010.

• Management Practices: This is a committee jointly chaired by the AACPM and the CPM Consortium for the purpose of honoring exceptional CPM projects with the Askew Award.

• Member Benefits: Chaired by the Member-at-Large for Member Affairs. The committee seeks to provide benefits to the members of the Academy.

• Mentoring: Chaired by the Past President and staffed by the MAL Member Affairs. This committee seeks to assist the development of new Societies who wish to become members of the Academy.

• Orientation: The President-Elect is responsible for this committee. The Mentoring Committee hands off newly chartered Societies to this committee for assistance in integration into the Academy. This committee also prepares the new member and first time attendee orientation at the annual conference.

• Ways & Means: Markets the Academy by providing merchandise with the AACPM Logo for sale and distribution.

• Wilkinson Scholarship: Chaired by a past Wilkinson Scholarship recipient. Solicits candidate applications, evaluates applications, and awards two scholarships annually.

Please e-mail me with the committee(s) you wish to serve on for 2009. Because I may not be able to give everyone their first choice, please list in order preference all the committees you would be willing to serve on. You will not be asked to serve on more than two committees, and if you wish to be assigned to no more than one committee, please indicate that in your request. E-mail me at smastro@csum.edu or stevemastro@sbcglobal.net. If you wish to discuss your options, call me at 707-758-7600. Please join me in serving the American Academy of Certified Public Managers® in 2009.

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