House of Delegates

Under the terms of its bylaws, WAFP is governed by a House of Delegates representing the Academy’s constituent local chapters (determined by county/region), including chapters for family medicine resident and student members. The House of Delegates establishes policies and defines basic principles to complement the strategic plan through the adoption of resolutions (i.e., policy directives) at the annual meeting.

WAFP bylaws allow for a proportional number of delegates and alternate delegates to represent the 19 constituent chapters at this important meeting, who are appointed annually. In a sense, your colleagues sitting in the WAFP House of Delegates are like the representatives holding the proxies of stockholders of a private corporation. At the annual meeting, delegates also elect a Board of Directors, which in turn has full power and authority to conduct the Academy’s affairs in between meetings of the House of Delegates.

All members are encouraged to attend the Annual House of Delegates meeting each spring. Members do not have to be a delegate to participate in reference committee and express their views on resolutions under discussion.

If you decide to commit your time and energy to this process as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the WAFP House of Delegates, you will need to:

• Familiarize yourself with WAFP Bylaws and House of Delegates manual. Resolutions will be sent to delegates and alternates in time to familiarize with the issues before the meeting
• Talk to your colleagues and learn their views on current issues affecting family medicine.
• Consider writing, co-writing, or sponsoring a resolution.
• Plan to attend reference committee meetings and be prepared to express your views on subjects of special interest to your chapter and your constituents.

Each chapter will be asked to appoint delegates and alternates in January or February. Consider taking part in this democratic process. Your involvement could make a real difference in how family medicine is practiced in our state.

Remember that the power of the Academy begins as a single idea, grows and evolves in the House of Delegates, and not only can shape WAFP, AAFP and WSMA policy, it may also impact Washington state legislation and make a tremendous difference to your profession, your practice, and most importantly — to your patients.

Resolutions, representing ideas for new projects or policies, are presented to the House of Delegates by members via their chapter delegates, or arise from the work of the Academy’s committees. A resolution, once accepted by the House, will begin its journey in a reference committee. During the reference committee hearings, attendees may testify for or against resolutions. The reference committees then make recommendations to the House for each resolution: adopt, adopt with modifications, do not adopt, reaffirm as current policy, or refer to the Board of Directors for further study. After discussion by the entire House, a vote is taken and the resolution may become WAFP policy, be passed along to AAFP or WSMA as a resolution to their Houses, or may form the basis for the WAFP’s legislative position on various issues in the coming year.

A minimum of two WAFP members must sponsor a resolution. When you are ready to submit your resolution or if you have additional questions, please email info@wafp.net.

Any WAFP member in good standing is welcome to participate in the House of Delegates. Delegates and alternate delegates represent their their local chapters; residents and medical student delegates and alternate delegates represent the Resident Chapter and Medical Student Chapter.

Each chapter is allotted delegates based on rules contained in the WAFP bylaws.

Delegates vote on resolutions and in elections; alternate delegates are seated as delegates in the absence of previously declared delegate. If not seated as delegates, alternate delegates may be called on to help administer the House of Delegates.

Questions? Contact WAFP staff.

The schedule for the 2025 HOD will be finalized closer to the event. For your reference, below is the schedule for the 2024 HOD:

Friday, April 26, Wenatchee, WA

• 7:30 a.m.: Breakfast
• 8:00 a.m.: First Session begins
• 9:30 a.m. (approx.): Reference committee hearings begin
• 11:30 a.m.: Lunch break
• 1:00 p.m.: WAFP Foundation annual meeting
• 1:10 p.m.: Family Medicine Educator of the Year announcement
• 1:20 p.m.: Fellowship convocation
• 1:30 p.m.: Second Session begins
• 3:45 p.m. (approx.): Adjourn
• 4:00 p.m. (approx.): Swearing-in of new WAFP leadership
• TBD: Family Fun Night

Saturday, April 27, Wenatchee

• 8:30 a.m.: KSA

An archive of WAFP House of Delegates resolutions is on our Members page. 

To see previous AAFP Congress of Delegates resolutions and AAFP policies, visit their new Governance Information Center page. (You must be logged in.)

How to Write a Resolution (Presentation Slides by Dr. Jeanne Cawse-Lucas and Dr. Jonathan Wells)

Reference committees are a critical link in codifying WAFP policy. Policy resolutions — those directing the Academy to take a position or undertake a project — submitted to the House of Delegates will be assigned to one of the reference committees (usually there are three). The committee will consider testimony and, with that testimony in mind, make a recommendation to the larger House of Delegates: it can recommend to adopt, to adopt a substitute resolution, to not adopt, or to refer to the Board of Directors for further study. Reference committees are comprised of a chair, a secretary, and a member-at-large. If you'd like more information, email Brian Hunsicker at brian@wafp.net.

WAFP officers are elected by the House of Delegates, and future WAFP officers are nominated by a 10-person nominating committee chaired by the immediate past president. If you would like to serve on the Nominating Committee or be considered for leadership by one of the nominating committees, please email info@wafp.net.