About AHCJ: General News

AHCJ invites members to run for a seat on the board of directors Date: 06/09/14

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 writing/editing contributions. They may be asked to play a role in other association projects that arise. They also are asked to show their support through an annual donation to the Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, although there is no minimum required.

Image by FutUndBeidl via Flickr.

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, which is a great help for a nonprofit organization. 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, when necessary, the association has reimbursed members for reasonable travel and/or lodging costs.

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

The details

You may declare your candidacy starting today. The deadline to declare is noon (Central time) on July 11. You can declare by sending the following to info@healthjournalism.org:

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

We'll post candidate statements on our website starting June 26, so it is advantageous to declare well before the declaration deadline.

The election will be conducted via the Internet on the week of July 14. 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 21. Their terms will begin immediately.

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