AHRMM’s Board of Directors recently voted to adopt a new governance structure that impacts AHRMM’s election process and  guidelines. The new governance model affects the way board members and officers are elected. Currently AHRMM’s board seats are determined by region, and only members of that region of the country may vote to fill relevant board vacancies. In the new governance model, board seats will be determined by area of service within the healthcare supply chain: healthcare provider, GPO/consultant/supplier/distributor, and the military. Seven seats will be allocated to providers; two seats to non-providers; and one seat to the military. This change will allow all AHRMM members to vote for each open board seat.  Board members elected under the new model will be phased in over the next three years, starting with the 2011 elections held in August, 2010.

The new governance model also calls for changes to board officer positions. Currently, AHRMM has a President (ergo President-Elect, Past President) elected by the membership. AHRMM will be migrating to a Chair/Chair-Elect/Past Chair model, with the Chair position elected by the seated Board of Directors. Effective 2012, AHRMM will add the role of Chair-Elect and eliminate the role of President-Elect to its board positions.

As for the 2011 elections that open at this year’s annual conference, every AHRMM member will vote for the President-Elect position, two healthcare provider board seats, and one GPO/consultant/supplier/distributor board seat. This change allows for all AHRMM members to vote for every seat on the Board of Directors. By 2013, the seated Board of Directors will have been elected by the entire voting AHRMM membership.

Member voting for the 2011 Board of Directors begins on August 3, 2010, and ends on August 17, 2010. All newly elected officials serve three-year terms which start on January 1 and end on December 31.

Each AHRMM Member’s participation is vital to the continued success of the Association. Make an informed decision! Go to the AHRMM Election site to review the election flyers and biographical information for this year’s candidates.

2010 Election Schedule

June 4, 2010
Biographical information for President-Elect candidates and Board Member candidates due at AHRMM headquarters

June 14, 2010
Nominating Committee to name final President-Elect nominees and Board Member nominees

August 3, 2010
Voting opens

August 17, 2010
Voting closes

September 7, 2010
Notification of Elected Board Members

Board Qualifications

All AHRMM members interested in becoming Board candidates must be professionals in the resource and materials management field, be a member in good standing with the Association for one year, and meet the following additional requirements for their respective position(s):

President-Elect

• Be an AHRMM member in good standing for the last three consecutive years.
• Be a Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP).
• Have completed a full elected term as an AHRMM Board member.
• Vendors, contractors, and/or consultants are not eligible to run for President-Elect.
• Have been off the board no more than three years.
• Meet at least three of the five criteria, within the past three years, as outlined below: 
  1. Have presented on an industry related topic at an AHRMM conference/meeting or an industry related conference/meeting.
  2. Have published an article on an industry related topic for an AHRMM publication or in an industry related publication.
  3. Have actively participated on an AHRMM committee as evidenced by 80% attendance on calls or production of significant contributions in support of the committee charge determined by documentation or formal committee meeting minutes.
  4. Have achieved and maintained Fellow (FAHRMM) status in AHRMM.
  5. Attended two out of the last three AHRMM Annual Conferences.

Board Members 

• Candidates must be an AHRMM member in good standing for the last one year. Their one-year membership must be completed prior to the start of the new Board term.
• No Board member who has served a complete Board term shall be eligible for reelection as a Board member for a period of one year.
• Candidates for the Healthcare Provider Board Member seats must be directly employed by a healthcare provider.
• Candidates for the Non-Provider Board Member seats must be employed by a non-provider organization or company (Group Purchasing Organization, Vendor, Manufacturer, Distributor, or Consultant).
• Candidates for the uniformed services’ seat be on active duty in the Uniformed Services.  The Uniformed Services are comprised of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Public Health Services.

If you are interested in running for a Board Member seat or running for President-Elect, please contact AHRMM at (312) 422-3840 or by email at bmccoy@aha.org for a candidate packet.

Governance Changes

• How do the changes impact running for a board seat?
  Now AHRMM members who meet the basic criteria can run for any open board seat instead of waiting up to three years for the seat in a given region to open. This gives every member more opportunities to serve on AHRMM’s Board of Directors.
• Can anyone run for any open seat?
  Seven board seats are allocated for the hospital provider community, two for the non-provider (GPOs/manufacturers/consultants/distributors) community, and one for the Uniformed Services. Previously, with the exception of the Uniformed Services, board seats were not allocated to a specific category. With the changing face of the healthcare supply chain and the transition from Materials Management to Supply Chain Management, the new AHRMM board structure will promote better diversity across the board. 
• How long do I have to be an AHRMM member to run for a board seat?
  Interested members need only to have been a member in good standing for one year to run for an open board seat. In the past, requirements dictated that candidates be a member for at least three years before running for a board seat.
• Now that regional board member seats are being eliminated, does that change how I will be represented on the board?
  No. AHRMM’s board is a national board, and board members have always represented the entire AHRMM membership. You may still contact any board member to voice your thoughts and concerns, and board members will continue to attend chapter meetings and give presentations upon request.
• Will there be any regional representation at AHRMM?
  Regional representation is considered when assigning individuals to serve on AHRMM committees and task forces, and that practice will continue. Specifically, there will be emphasis on regional representation on both the Membership Committee and the Chapter Relations Committee to ensure that AHRMM is strengthening the regional knowledge infrastructure and that regional representation remains in place. These are the groups that are best connected to the entire country; that are best able to recognize regional variances that should be communicated across the continuum of AHRMM (the committees, the Board of Directors, and staff). AHRMM's committees are on the front-line reading what members need for an exceptional membership experience. This structure allows for open communication between AHRMM and the regions from both a membership standpoint and a chapter standpoint.
• If I complete the candidate paperwork and meet the qualifications to run for the Board of Directors, will I automatically be included on the election ballot?
  No. AHRMM limits candidates to three qualified candidates for each open board seat.  In 2010, there will be two healthcare provider seats and one non-provider seat open for election. All potential candidates that meet the qualifying criteria will be reviewed by the Nominating Committee, and if there are more than six healthcare provider candidates and more than three non-provider candidates, the Nominating Committee will review and place on the ballot the six healthcare provider and three non-provider candidates deemed most qualified and whose skills and experience most closely align with AHRMM’s needs at that time. The two healthcare providers and the non-provider candidates who receive the most votes during the election will be seated on the AHRMM Board of Directors.
• Besides serving on the national board, what other opportunities exist to serve AHRMM?
  AHRMM members can volunteer to serve on committees, which are closely aligned with the AHRMM Strategy Map and help shape the organization. For members who have been active in their local chapter or are passionate about advancing the profession and like to “roll up their sleeves” and dig into the details”, committees are a wonderful place to start. If you enjoy facilitating a group of volunteers, Committee Chair roles may be for you. Leaders who can motivate, coordinate, and execute Committee agendas are critical to AHRMM’s success. Committees are where the important work of AHRMM gets done! The AHRMM Board of Directors set the vision and strategic direction for the organization; committees execute the nuts and bolts work of the organization.
  

Please take the time to review information and get to know each of the candidates running for the open positions below. Your vote will make a difference in shaping the future of the association!