About AHCJ: General News

Call for candidates: Run for a spot on AHCJ's board of directors Date: 06/07/12

Each year, members in AHCJ’s “professional” category elect members for the association board of directors. (Associate and allied members cannot run for election or cast ballots.)

Six of the 12 director positions come up for election each year for two-year terms. Incumbent board members are allowed to run for re-election.

Service on the board is a serious commitment. It has commensurate rewards (but no pay). In addition to participating in two in-person board meetings each year and occasional conference calls, board members are responsible for making decisions about association policies and statements, as well as working with the executive director on training projects, financial matters and other efforts to achieve AHCJ’s strategic goals.

Board members take on committee duties and contribute to association activities, including fundraising, advocacy, helping plan sessions at training events, membership outreach and the newsletter. They may be asked to play a role in other association projects, such as writing, editing or fact-checking resource guides or online teaching modules. They are also asked to show their support through an annual donation to the Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, although there is no minimum required.

Planning to run

Potential board members should discuss the significance of the role with an employer, when necessary. The time commitment ebbs and flows, but board members can expect to average an hour or two a week attending to AHCJ business.

 The semi-annual board meetings last a day, but may be extended for special activities. The meetings are usually held in conjunction with the annual conference in the spring and a regional event in the fall. Board members will need to arrange time off from work to attend the meetings. Some employers have shown support for the organization by paying travel expenses of employees to board meetings. At the same time, it is the desire of the board that financial circumstances should not be a barrier to board membership. To that end, the practice of the board has been to reimburse members for most costs of attending the board meetings, if necessary and within reason.

Read more about the responsibilities, rights, restrictions and rewards of serving on AHCJ's board.

The details

You need to declare your candidacy by noon (Central time) on July 13. You can declare by sending the following to info@healthjournalism.org:

• A combination candidate statement (why you want to serve) and brief biographical sketch (who are you) of up to 400 words.
• A head shot to accompany your statement on the Web site.

We'll post candidate information on our Web site starting June 28, so it is advantageous to declare before then.

The election will be conducted via the Internet on the week of July 16. Members will be sent an email with the special ballot link. Your vote will remain confidential, although staff will be able to track whether someone attempts to vote more than once. Any duplicate votes used through that special link will cause all votes by that member to be voided.

Winners will be named the week of July 23. Their terms will begin immediately.

Please contact us if you have any questions at info@healthjournalism.org.