Starting
an AAPA Constituent Organization
AAPA constituent organizations
include chapters, specialty organizations, caucuses and special interest
groups.
Application
Identification
Application for Special Interest Groups
Benefits
See
the Constituent Organization
Benefits Chart for a comparison of organizational benefits.
Who
Special Interest Groups are defined as a group of AAPA members who share a common concern, interest, or goal and desire to meet informally. The purpose of a special interest group shall be consistent with the vision and mission of AAPA.
The Constituent Relations Committee has the responsibility for approving a SIG.
To be considered for approval, the SIG shall:
- Submit the appropriate application to the Constituent Relation Committee (CRC)
- Have a minimum of five members
- Have at least one AAPA fellow member
Why
A
Special Interest Group provides an informal exchange of information
and networking opportunities remains informal, to allow (if desired)
the group time to establish officers, develop governing documents, a
membership base, and a structure for the organization. If structure
is pursued the Special Interest Group may then apply for the more formal
recognition as a Caucus or Specialty Organization through the AAPA House
of Delegates.
How
To
obtain recognition from Constituent Relations Committee (CRC), a contact
person for the Special Interest Group may submit a Special Interest
Group Identification Application to AAPA Constituent Organization Services,
who will present the application to CRC for approval. Once recognized
a letter of recognition is sent to the contact person. It is the recommendation
of the CRC that all new groups form as a Special Interest Group for
at least one year. This gives you time to organize and assess the level
of interest and commitment to your cause.
Contact
information on current Special Interest Groups
It
is recommended that all newly forming groups start as a Special
Interest Group and remain a special interest group for at least
one year. This gives the group time to assess the level of interest
and commitment and develop the necessary infrastruction (organize, develop
necessary governing documents, hold elections).
Application
Application
for Caucuses
Benefits
See
the Constituent Organization
Benefits Chart for a comparison of organizational benefits.
Who
A
Caucus is a group of five or more AAPA members, who share a common concern,
interest, or goal related to health care delivery and access and have
sought and received official recognition from the AAPA House of Delegates.
Why
Caucuses
communicate with the AAPA regarding the issues for which the caucus
was convened and recognized. Caucuses are national or international
in scope and complement AAPA's vision, mission, and core values. Although
they are not chartered, caucuses contribute to cultural awareness and
diversity as well as sensitivity related to health care delivery and
access. Caucuses serve as resources and as advisors to AAPA and provide
a forum for knowledge exchange with the goal of improving the health
of all people.
How
The
process to become an AAPA officially recognized Caucus is as follows:
- Complete
a formal application, which is submitted to AAPA Constituent Organization
Services.
- The
Constituent Relations Committee (CRC), a standing committee of the
Academy, will verify that the caucus has a common concern, interest,
or goal in access health care delivery that complements the AAPA's
vision and core values.
- Have
submitted bylaws
- Have
a minimum of five members
- Have
officers who are and remain fellow members in good standing of the
AAPA for the duration of their terms of office.
- CRC evaluates the application.
- Upon recommendation of the
CRC, the House of Delegates votes to officially recognize the Caucus.
Since
the above process takes time, it is recommended that your organization
become a Special Interest Group (SIG) in the interim.
SIGs are more informally structured and don't need bylaws, policies,
and elections to be recognized. As a SIG, you can have free meeting
space at AAPA's annual conference (on request and availability) and
free access to three mailing lists annually.
Contact
information on current Caucuses
It
is recommended that all newly forming groups start as a Special
Interest Group and remain a special interest group for at least
one year. This gives the group time to assess the level of interest
and commitment and develop the necessary infrastruction (organize, develop
necessary governing documents, hold elections).
Application
Application
for Specialty Organization
Benefits
See
the Constituent Organization
Benefits Chart for a comparison of organizational benefits.
Who
A
Specialty Organization may choose to apply to be officially recognized
by AAPA. AAPA recognizes the following specialties: (1) those holding
the name of a board listed by the American
Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS); (2) those specialties under
the boards of internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry named as eligible
for general or subspecialty certificates; and (3) those specialties
under the Board of Preventive Medicine named as eligible for general
certificates. Only one organization per specialty will be recognized.
Specialty Organization members are encouraged to be AAPA fellow members.
All officers of an officially recognized specialty PA organization are
encouraged to be and remain AAPA fellow members in good standing.
Why
Specialty
Organizations provide valuable information and insight about their specialty
to the AAPA membership and leadership. Specialty Organizations are recognized,
not chartered, and remain an integral part of the complex framework
that assures the AAPA the maximum amount of knowledge and understanding
of all issues involving PAs in that specialty. Specialty Organizations
also strengthen the PA profession through their liaisons with their
medical and professional counterparts. These relationships allow Specialty
Organizations to partner with AAPA to effectively address challenges
such as reimbursement, clinical practice, and regulation.
How
The
process to become an AAPA official recognized Specialty Organization
is as follows:
- Complete
a formal application which is submitted to AAPA Constituent Organization
Services.
- The
Constituent Relations Committee (CRC), a standing committee of the
Academy, will verify that the Specialty Organization has a common
concern, interest, or goal relating to health care delivery and access
that complements AAPA's vision and core values.
- Have
submitted bylaws
- Have
a minimum of five members
- All
officers of an officially recognized Specialty Organization are encouraged
to be and remain AAPA fellow members in good standing. Specialty PA
organization members are encouraged to be AAPA fellow members.
- CRC evaluates the application.
- Upon recommendation of the
CRC, the House of Delegates votes to officially recognize the Specialty
Organization.
Since
the above process takes time, it is recommended that your organization
become a Special Interest Group (SIG) in the interim.
SIGs are more informally structured and don't need bylaws, policies,
and elections to be recognized. As a SIG you can have free meeting space
at AAPA's annual conference (on request and availability) and free access
to three mailing lists annually.
Contact
information on current Specialty Organizations
Application
Application
for Chartered Chapter
Benefits
See
the Constituent Organization
Benefits Chart for a comparison of organizational benefits.
Who
There
shall be only one chartered Chapter per state, the District of Columbia,
each US territory, and each of the federal services. The Chapter is
required to have a minimum of five fellow members of the AAPA to obtain
and maintain active constituent Chapter status. The House of Delegates
has sole responsibility for chartering constituent Chapters of the Academy.
The constituent Chapter is a part of the parent organization. Constituent
Chapters and their members must follow the philosophy of the AAPA. If
they are unable to do so, they must work through the AAPA to change
the philosophy by altering the organization's bylaws.
Why
The
constituent Chapters address local concerns and issues without interference
from the parent organization (AAPA). The constituent Chapter is a part
of the parent organization. The AAPA Constituent Relations Committee
serves as liaison between the AAPA and constituent Chapter.
How
The
process to become an AAPA official recognized chartered Chapter is as
follows:
- Complete
a formal application which is submitted to AAPA Constituent Organization
Services.
- The
Constituent Relations Committee (CRC), a standing committee of the
Academy, will verify that the chartered Chapter and its members meet
all the provisions outlined in the parent organization's bylaws and
charter policy. This includes meeting all membership requirements.
More importantly, the constituent chapter and its members must be
willing to uphold the principles and purposes for which the parent
organization was founded.
- Have
submitted bylaws
- Have
a minimum of five members
- All
officers (president, president elect, vice president, secretary, treasurer)
of a constituent Chapter must be and remain AAPA fellow members in
good standing for the duration of their terms in office.
- All
fellow members of a constituent chapter must be AAPA fellow members.
- CRC evaluates the application.
Upon recommendation of the CRC, the House of Delegates votes to officially
recognize the chartered Chapter.
The
Chapter is actually a subdivision of the parent organization. As such,
the chapter and its members are required to meet all the provisions
outlined in the parent organization's bylaws and charter policy. This
includes meeting all membership requirements. More importantly, the
chapter and its members must be willing to uphold the principles and
purposes for which the parent organization was founded.
Since
the above process takes time, it is recommended that your organization
become a Special Interest Group in the interim. SIGs
are more informally structured and don't need bylaws, policies, and
elections to be recognized. As a SIG you can have free meeting space
at the annual conference (on request and availability) and access to
3 mailing lists annually.
Contact
information on current Chapters
Last Revised:
6/6/07
