Presidential Team: President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President

Overall Term on Presidential Team

3 years (1 year each as President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President)

President-Elect

The President-Elect collaborates with the President to learn the role of the President, to become familiar with the programs of the Association and its governance, and to develop and facilitate officer transition. The President-Elect assists and supports the President as needed and plans for the Presidential year. The President-Elect shall automatically become President at the end of the term as President-Elect.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

In addition to the essential duties and responsibilities required for all Board of Directors (BOD) members, the President-Elect is charged with the following tasks:

  • Chair the Committee on Committees
  • Identify the theme—and actively participate in the planning and conduct of—the BOD’s annual orientation and retreat
  • Represent ASHA on the board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
  • Represent ASHA on behalf of the President, as requested

ASHA Standing Committees, Boards, and Councils

The President-Elect serves on the following ASHA standing Committees, Boards, and Councils (CBCs):

President

The President serves as the Chair of the BOD. The President ensures that the BOD fulfills its responsibilities for governance of the Association. The President works in partnership with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to achieve the mission of the Association and to optimize the relationship between the BOD and staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

In addition to the essential duties and responsibilities required for all BOD members, the President is charged with the following tasks:

  • Serve as the official spokesperson for the Association
  • Chair the BOD
  • Represent ASHA and the professions in a variety of public information activities, including federal agency and national legislative testimony
  • Collaborate with the CEO to prepare the agenda for BOD meetings and to ensure that resolutions are carried out
  • Attend 8–10 meetings of state Associations, related professional organizations, and ASHA-sponsored conferences, as requested
  • Prepare 6–8 columns for The ASHA Leader, as requested
  • Work closely with the CEO to ensure that BOD activities and National Office functions are coordinated and mutually supportive
  • Work with the Convention Co-Chairs and Convention staff to develop and carry out a Convention theme
  • Provide an address to ASHA members at the annual Convention
  • Maintain relationships with the volunteer leaders of related organizations
  • Prepare the President-Elect to transition to leadership
  • Prepare and coordinate a performance review of the CEO
  • Review the performance of the BOD, and take necessary steps to improve BOD performance
  • Serve as President of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) Board of Directors

ASHA Standing Committees, Boards, and Councils

The President serves on the following ASHA standing CBCs:

Immediate Past President

The Immediate Past President provides advice and leadership to the BOD regarding past practices and other matters to assist the BOD in governing the Association. The Immediate Past President supports the President and the President-Elect on an as-needed basis. The Immediate Past President performs the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

In addition to the essential duties and responsibilities required for all BOD members, the Immediate Past President is charged with the following tasks:

  • Ensure the smooth transition of leadership within the Presidential team
  • Ensure the election and development of effective volunteer leaders
  • Represent ASHA on behalf of the President, as needed

ASHA Standing Committees, Boards, and Councils

The Immediate Past President serves on the following ASHA standing CBCs:

Essential Experience/Expertise/Skills of the Presidential Team

In addition to the Experience/Expertise/Skills essential for all BOD members, the positions of President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President require the following:

  • Previous experience on the ASHA BOD (strongly preferred)
  • History of leadership at the state, national, and/or international levels
  • Strong public speaking skills
  • Flexible schedule to accommodate Association responsibilities
  • Forward-looking and visionary mindset

Time Commitment for the Presidential Team (excluding travel time)

The time commitments for the three members of the Presidential Team are detailed in the subsections below.

President-Elect (same time commitment as Immediate Past President)

  • Weekly (routine tasks, emails, and voting): 6–8 hours
  • Monthly (CBC work and BOD virtual conferencing): 8–10 hours
  • Quarterly (meeting prep and attendance): 6–10 days

President

  • Weekly (various duties): 10–15 hours
  • Monthly (various duties): 15–20 hours
  • Quarterly (meeting prep and attendance): 10–20 days

Immediate Past President (same time commitment as President-Elect)

  • Weekly (routine tasks, emails, and voting): 6–8 hours
  • Monthly (CBC work/BOD virtual conferencing): 8–10 hours
  • Quarterly (meeting prep and attendance): 6–10 days

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