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Structure and Governance Committee Reports

• Reduce bureaucracy and streamline processes.
• Focus on strengthening the interdisciplinary nature of the Association.
• Carefully consider the impact any proposed structure would have on the capacity of staff responsible for implementing or overseeing that structure.
• Carefully consider if we have the resources and capacity to carry out a proposed structure or process.

The full text of both proposals is linked below, we encourage everyone to review both options and provide comments by:

1. Sending an e-mail to ASHAReorg@Yahoo.com with your comments.
2. Responding to the online survey.
3. Participating in the in-person comment opportunities at the 86^th Annual ASHA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas:
   • Section Networking Luncheons, Thursday, October 11
   • Council Networking Luncheons, Friday, October 12
   • Special Town Hall Meeting, Friday, October 12

It is important to note that neither of the proposals posted below is final or complete. No decisions have been made. The purpose of these proposals is to simply start the conversation and serve as a basis upon which the final reorganization plan will be built. The final proposal will be posted for member approval some time in 2013 only after every member who wishes to comment has been provided the opportunity to do so.

Here is a summary of each proposal:

Option 1 (PDF)

This option proposes significant changes to our operating structure. The complete detail of the changes and a rational for each change is included in the full option 1 proposal document (PDF). Some of the major elements of this proposal include:

• A Board of Directors with at least 7 but up to 13 members all elected by the ASHA membership. Up to 6 of the Board positions are individuals with expertise in legal, finance, fund development, and other professions elected from outside the membership base of the Association. The Board would be the ultimate policy and fiduciary authority of ASHA with responsibility for providing strategic direction and oversight.
• Elimination of the House of Delegates.
• Creation of a Leadership Assembly that has authority for carrying out the programmatic functions of the Association such as advocacy, research, professional development, and multidisciplinary activities, then collapsing all standing and ad hoc committees under the authority of the Leadership Assembly.
• Elimination of Councils and replacing that structure with topic specific networking groups that change and evolve as topics and interests within the field of school health change and evolve.
• Reorganization of Sections to better align with the professional disciplines that make up the components of the Coordinated School Health Model.

Option 2 (PDF)

This option proposes less significant changes to our operating structure by maintaining many of the core structures of the Association, but does streamline some of our operating practices and eliminates structures and processes that are not currently working as originally designed. The complete detail of the changes and a rational for each change is included in the full option 2 proposal document (PDF). Some of the major elements of this proposal include:

• Elimination from the Board of Directors the Chair of Professional Development, Chair of Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and Chair of Councils.
• Elimination of Councils and replacing that structure with topic specific networking groups that change and evolve as topics and interests within the field of school health change and evolve.
• Broaden the scope of the House of Delegates to give that group more authority over some programmatic functions of the Association and oversight of issue specific networking groups. The Chair of Sections would be the Chairperson of the House of Delegates.
• Reorganization of Sections to better align with the professional disciplines that make up the components of the Coordinated School Health Model.

Again, it is important to note that neither of the proposals outlined above is final or complete. These proposals should only serve as a starting point for conversation on the topic. However, we invite each member to review both options with an open mind and provide their comments by replying to this blog below, sending written comments to ASHAReorg@Yahoo.com, responding to the online survey, and participating in the in-person comment opportunities at the 86^th Annual ASHA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas this October.

For more than a decade the American School Health Association (ASHA) has operated under the same bylaws and governance structure. Although some adjustments have been made to ASHA’s operating programs and policies very little has changed about the way we conduct the business of the Association.

However, in that same time, we have seen significant change in our operations, such as relocating the national office, a decreased size in our staff, a shift in the size of our membership, and other changes in the school health profession overall.  In order to remain a vital player in the school health community, ASHA must adjust the way we do business to meet new demands.

This fact was recognized by AHSA’s House of Delegates at last year’s annual meeting in Louisville, KY when they called on the Chair of Sections and Chair of Councils to examine the role and function of Sections and Councils in our Association.  The Board of Directors also began examining their organization and structure.  With recommendations in hand, the Board of Directors appointed an ad hoc committee in April of this year to draft a formal reorganization proposal.  The ad hoc committee members are:

• Ty Oehrtman, Chairperson
• Linda Caldart-Olson
• Jeff Clark
• Susan Clark
• Alexander Fraser
• Linda Morse
• David Wiley
• Steven Conley, ex-officio

The committee has been meeting regularly since April and has drafted two options for reorganizing our governance structure.

Why two options?
The committee recognized early on that there are many ideas and strong opinions about how ASHA should be structured. We also recognize that any change is difficult, particularly a change as significant as shifting the way we’ve been conducting business for more than 10 years.  So the committee has drafted two options for the membership to consider, one that proposes significant changes to our operational structure and one that makes smaller more incremental changes.

Now the time has come for the ASHA membership to contribute their insights. It is important to note that neither of the proposals is final. In fact, there will be numerous opportunities for ASHA members to contribute additional thoughts and ideas on the reorganization beginning next week! The committee will continue to meet and review comments and opinions that we believe will only strengthen the efforts to streamline our operations. Our goal is to present a single complete proposal to the membership for a final vote some time in 2013.

Here is a list of opportunities you will have to provide comments on the two proposals:

1. Next week both proposals, along with draft organizational charts, will be posted on this blog for member review. Any ASHA member is invited to respond to the blog by posting their comments for public viewing.
2. Also next week, we will provide a link to an online survey where you can respond and provide anonymous and private comments directly to the committee.
3. There will be at least three opportunities to provide comments in-person at the 86^th Annual ASHA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Please check the conference program book for exact times and locations:

• • During the Section Networking Luncheons on Thursday, October 11
  • During the Council Networking Luncheons on Friday, October 12
  • During a special Town Hall Meeting on Friday, October 12

4. Finally, any member is invited to send an e-mail with comments on the reorganizational proposals to ASHAReorg@yahoo.com.