I am responding regarding questions on the reasons for the board recommendation to revise the RAPS bylaws. My intent is not to lobby for a particular outcome but to share my understanding of the board's reasons.
Earlier this year the RAPS board of directors considered several initiatives to achieve best board practice to enhance performance and effectiveness in supporting the executive director and staff. During this review changes to the current board officer structure were proposed (moving to two-year terms and eliminating president-elect).
Under this proposal the commitment to serve on the RAPS board executive committee increases from a three-year commitment (serving as president-elect, president, chair - each for one year) to a four-year commitment (president, chair – each for two years).
The chair is RAPS' most senior board position and has the most direct involvement working with and supporting the executive director and RAPS organizational strategies. The impact and follow-up regarding most strategies exceeds a single year. Other associations have implemented similar changes and reported benefit from having a two-year term for the senior board officer with more continuity over four years as the officer roles transition (in RAPS case president to chair).
The RAPS board believes the proposed change will facilitate better continuity in the senior officer positions, providing an improved opportunity to support initiatives and ensure follow-through over each two-year term. The RAPS board approved a resolution proposing this amendment and has submitted the recommendation for approval by member vote.
You can make a big difference in RAPS' future by taking just a moment to vote on this important issue:
https://www.raps.org/vote
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Paul Brooks
Executive Director
Washington DC
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 18-Sep-2019 13:04
From: Ludger Moeller
Subject: Vote on Bylaw Amendment for Revised Officer Structure - 17 September-8 November
Dear Neal,
great comments.
I guess I would like to learn what are the reaosons for the changes.
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Ludger Moeller
President, MDSS GmbH
l.moeller@mdssar.com
Original Message:
Sent: 17-Sep-2019 16:18
From: Neil Armstrong
Subject: Vote on Bylaw Amendment for Revised Officer Structure - 17 September-8 November
Thank you Nancy for the reminder to vote and on the importance of voting. I have to confess the democrat (small d) in me has an initial negative feeling: reducing the number of positions and extending the terms of incumbents is something I normally associate with despotic African regimes, rather than a professional body. I see RAPS very much as the voice of the profession; a frequent change in those expressing publicly that voice is in my opinion good for a number of reasons:
- it shows the strength in depth of the organization and hence profession
- it reduces the likelihood of a "personality cult", i.e. no one person can me seen as Mrs/Mr RAPS
- it opens opportunities for greater diversity - (the fact no one thought about changing chairman until, shows we still have a way to go)
- it is less burdensome on the incumbent (and limits any potential career damage)
- and most importantly, if we do elect someone we all regret, it limits their potential to harm the organization and hence the profession.
I would relish the opportunity of having a short appointment and it would force me to prioritise and rapidly build consensus. For me consensus is the important bit, that's how create consistency not having an automatic double term. If you can't make a difference in a year, then in my opinion there is something lethargic or fundamentally wrong with the governance structure, not something wrong with the length of the year.
So to my mind, I am afraid better governance, a more engaged profession and consistency from one presidency to the next, seem to be on the side of not making this change!
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Neil Armstrong FRAPS
CEO MeddiQuest Limited
Peterborough
United Kingdom
Original Message:
Sent: 16-Sep-2019 15:01
From: Nancy Singer
Subject: Vote on Bylaw Amendment for Revised Officer Structure - 17 September-8 November
Hi Everyone,
The RAPS Board of Directors is recommending changes to the current board officer structure to improve the effectiveness of its governance and better support the RAPS community. These changes require an amendment to the RAPS bylaws, which requires a membership vote.
The recommended board structure reduces the number of officers from four to three and extends the chairman and president terms from one to two years. It provides an improved opportunity to support initiatives and ensure follow-through over each two-year term.
Current Board Structure | | Recommended Board Structure |
Officer Position | Term | | Officer Position | Term |
Chairman | 1 year | | Chairman | 2 years |
President | 1 year | | President | 2 years |
President-elect | 1 year | | Treasurer | 3 years |
Treasurer | 3 years | | | |
You can make a big difference in RAPS' future by taking a moment to vote on this important issue. Voting begins 17 September 2019 and runs through 8 November 2019.
Thanks!
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Nancy Singer JD, FRAPS, RAC
President, Compliance-Alliance
Arlington VA
United States
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