|
|
2004 Committee on Committees Report
The Committee on Committees is composed of
representatives elected by the Steering Committees of each of the 12 APS
sections as well as two Councillors. Its primary duty is to nominate
individuals to serve on other APS standing committees, as well as to outside
bodies where the APS is represented.
This year, the Committee on Committees continued with
the new nomination process that had been instituted in 2003. The Committee
members remain dedicated to the concept that their role is twofold: to
identify and promote members of their section who might serve on committees,
but then to set aside section affiliations to work with the committee as a
whole to nominate the best-qualified individuals to serve the Society,
keeping in mind the desire to promote diversity and the involvement of
younger members in the committee structure. Two sources of information are
available to the Committee in discharging this responsibility. First, the
two-page Candidate Information form, which those interested in committee
service can complete as a self-nomination, includes information about prior
activities relevant to the committee on which the individual wishes to
serve, a statement of interest, information about prior APS service, and
citations to two recent publications as well as a statement of academic
interests. This is then supplemented by the one-page Endorsement Form,
which is used by someone who knows the candidate, to comment on the ability
of that individual to carry out committee responsibilities. Only one
Endorsement form is accepted per nominee. Candidates can secure their own
endorser, or submit their information without an endorsement. In this
latter case, the primary section with which the interested party is
affiliated is asked to provide an endorsement from among their leadership or
membership. This task falls primarily to the sectional representative to
the Committee on Committees, who is an excellent resource to those
interested in serving the Society and/or seeking information as to the
charge of a given committee. The process is also facilitated by being
conducted electronically. Both Candidate Information and Endorsement forms
are available on the APS website, as well as links to the “job descriptions”
for each of the society’s standing committees. The electronic process also
greatly facilitates dissemination of nomination materials to the Committee
on Committees prior to its formal meeting at EB. No nominees are removed
from consideration prior to the Committee’s face-to-face meeting, providing
the broadest pool for the Committee to discuss on the basis of detailed
insights from its members. The Committee on Committees also seeks input
from the Chairs of standing committees as to the suitability of nominees in
forwarding their committee’s charge.
The Committee on Committees remains pleased with the
revised process for identifying candidates interested in serving the
Society, and at its meeting at EB, likewise worked effectively to identify
those most qualified to serve, setting aside any parochial sectional
loyalties. However, several section representatives commented that, while
high-quality nominations are received for many slots, it is sometimes
difficult to recruit interested candidates for committee service,
particularly for those committees considered more “thankless” in nature.
However, the chair would like to stress the in-depth consideration given by
Council to the activities and concerns of all of the standing committees of
the Society, and the value that is accorded to all committee service.
Indeed, the opportunity to contribute to Society affairs is perhaps one of
the most tangible benefits of Society membership, and can be rewarding not
only in terms of a sense of accomplishment, but also when it comes time for
a member’s review for academic advancement in their home institution, or
other career opportunities. Thus, the Committee, and the Council, is eager
that the broadest possible representation of the membership will consider
serving the Society as a committee member or chair. Overall, the process as
currently constituted is “self-driven,” although the section representatives
to the Committee on Committees are happy to provide information to their
constituencies, or assistance with securing endorsements. Overall, the
Committee on Committees is most eager to consider the qualifications of all
APS members with an interest in serving the Society, and hopes that many
will consider applying in the coming year. This applies particularly to
younger members, or those who have may have joined the Society more
recently.
Based on the process described and the committee’s
lively deliberations at the Experimental Biology meeting, the Committee on
Committees recommended individuals to fill vacancies on a range of APS
standing committees, as follows:
- Animal Care and Experimentation - 2
- Awards - 2 plus chair
- Career Opportunities in Physiology - 2
- Communications - 1 plus chair
- Ray G. Daggs - 2 plus chair
- Education - 3
- Finance - 2
- International Physiology - 1 plus chair
- Long-Range Planning - 3
- Membership - 1 plus chair
- Perkins Memorial Fellowship - 1 plus chair
- Porter Physiology Development - 2 plus chair
- Public Affairs - 2
- Publications - 2
- Senior Physiologist - 2
- Women in Physiology - 2
- AAAS - 2
- (biology and medicine)
- AAMC - 1
- FASEB Finance Committee - 1
- FASEB EB Board - 1
- FASEB Publications & Communications - 1
The Committee on Committees charge, as discussed above,
is to identify the best individuals to fill committee vacancies, regardless
of sectional affiliation. However, all other things being equal, the
committee seeks to instill diversity in the committee structure on the basis
of section of membership, geography, gender and seniority. Thus, the APS
members nominated to fill vacancies had the following sectional
affiliations:
- Cardiovascular Section - 7
- Cell & Molecular Physiology Section - 5
- Central Nervous System Section - 3
- Comparative and Evolutionary Phys Section - 0
- Endocrinology & Metabolism Section - 3
- Environmental & Exercise Physiology Section - 6
- Gastrointestinal & Liver Physiology Section - 2
- Neural Control & Autonomic Regulation Section - 4
- Renal Section - 4
- Respiration Section - 1
- Teaching of Physiology Section - 4
- Water & Electrolyte Homeostasis Section - 6
- No section selected - 2
There were nine members less than 45 years of age
nominated for committee vacancies (excluding alternate position nominations)
and 19 women nominated (excluding alternate position nominations).
We hope that many members will consider serving the
society as a member of one of its standing committees. Applications can be
submitted via the APS website, and are due (with or without an accompanying
endorsement form) by January 14, 2005, although earlier submissions are
welcome. Applications received without an endorsement will be forwarded to
the section of primary affiliation for support. Nominations are then
reviewed by chairs of committees on which there are vacancies, and by the
Committee on Committees as a whole. At their meeting at Experimental
Biology, the Committee on Committees develops their recommendation for each
committee vacancy, along with alternates, and submits this for approval by
Council at their July meeting. Approved nominees begin their term of
appointment the following January. Those who are unsuccessful at securing a
committee appointment initially are encouraged to re-submit their
credentials for consideration for the same or another committee in the next
cycle.
Kim E. Barrett, Chair
Council Actions
|
|
