» 2008 Annual Report

As a result of the Society’s Strategic Planning meeting in 2006, a Task Force on Governance was created to review, among other items, the Society’s Chapter program and consider whether changes should be made to the program.  One of the task forces’ recommendations was that a Chapter Advisory Committee be created. During the Council’s 2007 fall meeting, this recommendation was approved, and the Chapter Advisory Committee (CAC) was created. The primary role of the Chapter Advisory Committee is to work to strengthen the existing program and encourage the creation of new chapters.

            The CAC held its first conference call on March 19, 2008. The Committee also had an informal face-to-face meeting at EB, and had a second conference call on May 12. The Committee has agreed to hold an annual meeting at the EB meeting beginning in 2009.

Committee Activities

            Bylaws. The Committee has developed and approved a Bylaws template that can be used by APS members when starting a new chapter, or for any existing chapter to use to update their current bylaws.

            Local Outreach. The CAC will encourage the chapters to undertake community outreach activities, and to act as a grassroots organization on behalf of the Society by contacting and educating local representatives on issues important to APS, such as animal research and the issue of evolution. The chapters will also work with the local organizations of States United for Biomedical Research (SUBR) to help promote biomedical research a local level.  

            Chapter Documentation. The CAC is encouraging all chapters to keep a running history of the chapters in a permanent location. This will help provide continuity for the chapters. Since each chapter is set up as an incorporated state society, a tax report has to be filled with the IRS. The CAC will request that all chapters house this documentation in the permanent location too.