Appendix C

What's New

1. The Legislative Council and the Executive Board will be partners in governing the Association. A true system of checks and balances will be established between the Council and the Board.
2. Based on member identified needs, the Legislative Council will identify and rank a reasonable number of priorities related to the professions, the discipline, and the Association. The Executive Board will derive the annual and multiyear priorities for the Association based on the list of ranked priorities received from the Council and availability of resources--staff and funding. The Board will inform the Council about progress being made on priority work plans. The Council reports on progress being made on member/Association priorities to the membership.
3. The Legislative Council will include two subgroups-the Audiology/Hearing Science Assembly and the Speech-Language Pathology/Speech or Language Science Assembly.
4. Caucuses may be formed within the Legislative Council. Caucuses are self-identified groups of Council members and other Association members that represent various membership segments (e.g., scientists, public school personnel, health care personnel, private practitioners) or members who wish to discuss specific issues (e.g., multicultural, governmental affairs) or resolutions.
5. One additional audiologist will be added to the Executive Board by splitting the Vice President for Quality of Service position into two Vice Presidential position: Vice President for Quality of Service in Audiology and Vice President for Quality of Service in Speech-Language Pathology. Only audiologists on the Committee on Nominations and Elections will identify the nominees for the audiology position and speech-language pathologists on the Committee would identify nominees for the speech-language pathology position.
6. Communication among the Legislative Council, Executive Board, committees and boards, and the National Office will be enhanced. Procedures for enhanced communication, feedback, and accountability among the Council, Board, and National Office will be established:
   1. Executive Board members will have a voice on the Legislative Council but will not vote
   2. Committee and board chairs will have a voice on the Legislative Council to discuss issues related to their committee or board activities.
   3. The governing body (Legislative Council and Executive Board) will increase use of available technology to facilitate timely communication and decision making.
   4. A second meeting of the Legislative Council will be held each year.
7. Special interest divisions and other advisory groups (state associations, Allied and Related Professional Organizations, and other established groups) will provide input to the Assemblies on issues of concern to members.
8. Decision making by the Legislative Council becomes an ongoing process throughout the year.
9. Councilors and Executive Board members will be oriented to governance process and their roles and responsibilities.
10. A restructured Committee on Resolutions involving the leadership of the Council and Board will establish the agenda for the Legislative Council meeting.
11. A restructured Committee on Nominations and Elections will identify nominees for Executive Board offices.
12. Linkages with state associations and members will be enhanced.
13. The Executive Board will ratify policies of the Association.

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