Call for Nominations for ASH Officers and Committee Membership

The deadline for 2008 nominations has now passed. ASH is currently accepting nominations for leadership and committee member positions for 2009.

We need your help identifying "new blood"! The Society seeks a balanced committee membership that mixes bright, enthusiastic people with seasoned committee members. Since ASH is a volunteer-run association, we encourage and welcome any ASH member's self-nomination for committee service. A self-nomination is a good indication that you are keenly interested in helping to lead our Society into the future.

Nominations received for committee membership are compiled and reviewed by the Nominating Committee in the summer. Based on this pool of nominees, the Nominating Committee makes its recommendations to the President-Elect, who then makes the final appointments to the ASH standing and scientific committees with the approval of the Executive Committee in September.

Nominations for any of the positions listed below must include the name of the nominee, the nominee's institution, and a brief paragraph describing the reason why the ASH member is being recommended for service. Completed nominations forms should be sent to LaFaundra Neville at ASH Headquarters. Nominations must include all requested information.

Committees

STANDING COMMITTEES
Four-year terms for members (except for Nominating Committee members, who serve two- and three-year terms) and two-year terms for chairs; limited to two consecutive terms

Standing committees recommend to the Executive Committee policies, programs, or actions in the areas of the committee's responsibility and implement those policies, programs, and actions approved by the Executive Committee.

The following are the Society's standing committees:

• Awards Committee
  Reviews existing ASH awards and prizes and may rcommend the establishment of new ASH awards or prizes; oversees the study section for the Scholar Awards Program; and recommends a slate of nominees for all honorific awards/prizes for consideration by the President and Executive Committee.
  
  
• Committee on Communications
  Responsible for enhancing communication with ASH members and promoting the science and practice of hematology to ensure its future in medicine and the best care of patients; develops and executes a media relations strategy; continually evaluates the public image of the specialty and the Society; oversees the newsletter, e-mail news bulletins, annual meeting daily newspaper, Web site, and other electronic communications services; helps to develop and oversee appropriate survey, research, and assessment tools for ASH services; and explores ASH's options for developing patient education materials.
  
  
• Development Committee
  Responsible for creatively diversifying ASH’s sources of funding for support of the Society's non-revenue producing programs, educating ASH members about the funding opportunities that exist while encouraging them to respond to ASH annual appeals, identifying opportunities for foundation support, and advising ASH staff on all communications with ASH members regarding the Society’s fundraising efforts.
  
  
• Committee on Educational Affairs
  Oversees the Society's CME program and certification; has an advisory role in the planning of the annual meeting's education program and the development of Hematology, the ASH Education Program Book; has oversight of ASH's small meetings; and is responsible for developing educational materials, such as the ASH-SAP, the Image Bank, and the online Hematology Teaching Cases.
  
  
• Committee on Government Affairs
  Develops and advocates Society policy concerning issues important to the field of hematology that are before the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch, and works closely with the appropriate public, patient, and professional organizations, as well as other ASH committees.
  
  
• International Members Committee
  Serves as a means through which leaders of hematology from outside North America can advise the Executive Committee about the Society's educational and scientific programs; recommends potential international members to serve on committees; oversees the distribution of ASH educational materials to developing countries, as well as any other outreach activities of the Society; and oversees all aspects of the ASH Visiting Trainee Award Program.
  
  
• Committee on Investment and Audit
  Makes recommendations to the Executive Committee regarding the Society's long-term financial plans, including its investment policy, and reviews the annual audit and any recommendations from the auditor.
  
  
• Journals Committee
  Oversees the financial management and long-range planning of Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology. The Journals Committee reviews the plan and schedule for appointing the Editor of Blood, and a member of the Committee serves on the Search Committee for the Editor. The Committee is also responsible for evaluating proposals for new journals that benefit the Society or the field of hematology.
  
  
• Nominating Committee
  Recommends candidates for election as officers and councillors of the Society and recommends candidates for vacant committee positions to the President-Elect and Executive Committee.
  
  
• Committee on Practice
  Develops and advocates Society policy on pending federal legislation and regulatory developments, including reimbursement and compliance issues that affect the interests of hematologists, as well as matters of importance at the regional, state, and local level.
  
  
• Committee on Training Programs
  Seeks to foster high quality training programs in clinical and research hematology for pre- and post-doctoral trainees; provides career and educational opportunities for hematology trainees in a variety of settings; monitors requirements for certification via the hematology boards; and serves as the Society's liaison with other organizations involved in aspects of hematology training.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES
Four-year terms for members; two-year terms for chairs

The scientific committees are responsible for recommending to the Program Committee a scientific symposium, including potential topics, speakers, and moderators for the scientific program of the annual meeting. Members also build on ASH's expertise in basic and translational science to help define a research and policy agenda for hematology. The committees aid in the identifcation of opportunities for interdisciplinary research related to hematology by naming related scientific disciplines and by assisting with the recruitment of researchers in those fields to contribute to ASH programs and publications.

The following are the Society's scientific committees:

• Hematopathology and Clinical Laboratory Hematology
• Hematopoietic Cytokines and Factors
• Hemoglobin/Red Cell
• Hemostasis
• Iron and Heme
• Immunology and Host Defense
• Lymphoid Neoplasia
• Myeloid Biology
• Myeloid Neoplasia
• Blood Disorders in Childhood
• Platelets
• Stem Cells
• Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
• Transfusion Medicine
• Transplantation Biology
• Ad Hoc - Hematology of Aging (through 2010)
• Ad Hoc - Plasma Cell Biology (through 2010)

Executive Committee

The governing body of the Society that is charged with overseeing the affairs of the Society, formulating policy, approving or disapproving the recommendations or proposals of the ASH committees, and providing advice and approval or disapproval to the President and President-Elect in regard to committee and chair appointments.

Vice President
One-year term (followed by terms as President-Elect and President)
The Vice President serves as an Officer and voting member of the Executive Committee. The Vice President becomes President-Elect and President in succeeding years.

Secretary
Four-year, non-renewable term
The Secretary serves as an Officer and voting member of the Executive Committee. The Secretary oversees the maintenance of a permanent record of the meetings and the transactions of the Executive Committee and the Society.

Treasurer
Four-year, non-renewable term
The Treasurer serves as an Officer and voting member of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer oversees the financial concerns of the Society, including the development and presentation of budgets.

Councillors
Four-year, non-renewable term
Councillors serve as voting members of the Executive Committee.