Leadership Opportunities

Directs the Academy. Appoints standing committees’ chairpersons and is an ex officio member of each committee. One year term or until the regularly elected successor takes office.

President Responsibilities:

• Chair monthly Executive Committee virtual meetings
• Ensure the organization develops and follows a strategic plan
• Lead regularly scheduled Board meetings and call special meetings as needed
• Attend annual ASAE board management meeting 
• Attend annual AAFP Congress of Delegates
• Meet regularly with chapter executive
• Attend annual WAFP-WSMA and UW-WAFP meetings
• Serve as a member of the Finance Committee
• Lead as the chief spokesperson for the Academy
• Write quarterly articles for the Academy’s journal
• Ensure the Board’s relationship with the chapter executive is productive and healthy

As a member of the executive committee, the Immediate Past President provides continuity and institutional knowledge to the board.

Immediate Past President responsibilities:

• Participate in monthly Executive Committee virtual meetings
• Support the development and adherence to the organization’s strategic plan for the benefit of its members
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Attend assigned committee meetings as the EC liaison and serve as a member of the Finance Committee
• Chair the nominating committee to present candidates to the House of Delegates for elected roles

Act as President in the absence of (or at the request of) the President. Participate in governing the Academy, with an expectation of taking the presidential role at the close of the next annual meeting following their election.

President-Elect responsibilities:

• Participate in monthly Executive Committee virtual meetings
• Support the development and adherence to the organization’s strategic plan for the benefit of its members
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Attend assigned committee meetings as the EC liaison and serve as a member of the Finance Committee
• Attend ASAE board management meeting
• Serve on the nominating committee to present candidates to the House of Delegates for elected roles

The Vice President takes on leadership roles as assigned by the Board of Directors and/or President. The term of office is one year. Upon completion of their term, the VP usually moves up to president-elect and then president.

Vice President responsibilities:

• Participate in monthly Executive Committee virtual meetings
• Support the development and adherence to the organization’s strategic plan for the benefit of its members
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Attend assigned committee meetings as the EC liaison and serve as a member of the Finance Committee
• Attend ASAE board management meeting

Takes on the duties which the title ordinarily connotes: ensuring proper notice is given and records are kept of meetings; enrolls and maintains the records of members; serves as the custodian of all the official documents of the organization; and acts as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors. (Prior budgeting and financial experience is helpful but not a requirement for this role.)

Secretary-Treasurer responsibilities:

• Participate in monthly Executive Committee virtual meetings
• Review accounts of the assets and business transactions of the Academy
• Work with the chapter executive to steward the funds of the Academy
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Lead the Finance Committee, ensuring proper accounting of Academy funds, review of its investment accounts, filing of 990, chapter accounting, and regular external review of the Academy’s finances
• Report the state of the Academy’s finances to the House of Delegates
• Attend assigned committee meetings as the EC liaison

Manages the annual meeting of the House of Delegates, working closely with the Vice Speaker and Academy staff in its planning and execution.

Speaker of the House Responsibilities:

• Participate in monthly Executive Committee virtual meetings
• Support the development and adherence to the organization’s strategic plan for the benefit of its members
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Attend assigned committee meetings as the EC liaison
• Recruit and select the members of reference committees, including chairs; half of the members of the nominating committee; and a surveyor for the House of Delegates
• Support the participation and training of members and reference committee members
• Review resolutions and committee reports to establish reference committee agendas
• Preside over the House of Delegates annual meeting; the Speaker is a non-voting member of the House of Delegates unless their vote would create or break a tie; additionally, the Speaker cannot vote on secret ballots (i.e., leadership elections)

Assists the Secretary-Treasurer in all duties of the office, acts as secretary to the House of Delegates, and takes on other duties at the request of the Secretary-Treasurer or Board of Directors.

Assistant Secretary-Treasurer responsibilities:

• Assist the Secretary-Treasurer as needed
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Serve as member of the Finance Committee and attend all Finance Committee meetings
• Serve as Secretary to the House of Delegates, which includes conducting the roll call and presenting the list of WAFP members who have died during the previous year

Assists the Speaker of the House of Delegates in managing and presiding over the annual meeting of the House of Delegates.

Vice Speaker of the House responsibilities:

• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Assist with the duties of the Speaker, including helping to recruit/assign reference committees and develop reference committee agendas
• Review resolutions and committee reports to establish reference committee agendas
• Assist in presiding at the House of Delegates annual meeting; unlike the Speaker, the Vice Speaker may participate in both parliamentary and leadership election votes, provided they are seated as a delegate
• Support the participation and training of members and reference committee members

Bring regional perspective to the Board, serving as a liaison between the Board and membership. Note: None of the six Eastside and Westside trustees may be from the same local chapter.

Eastside and Westside Trustee responsibilities:

• Understand and represent the perspectives of members on WAFP issues to the Board
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• Identify and recruit individuals for future leadership positions within the WAFP and encourage these individuals to participate in WAFP activities
• Actively identify delegates for the House of Delegates
• As a group, review passed resolutions and policies for appropriate race and gender-neutral language and adherence to WAFP's mission and strategic plan
• Develop, review, and recommend action on standing Academy policy
• Participate in a minimum of one committee with preference for Board trustees to serve on different committees

Bring interests of residents to the Board, serving as a liaison between the Board and membership. The Resident Trustee and Alternate Resident Trustee are resident members nominated by the Resident Chapter and affirmed at the House of Delegates.

Resident Trustee duties:

• Report on activities from the Resident and Student Subcommittee and residency programs (if needed) to the Board
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President (the Resident Trustee is a member of the voting Board; the Alternate Resident Trustee is not)
• With the WAFP Student Co-Trustees, lead meetings of the WAFP Resident and Student Subcommittee
• Plan the annual WAFP Student & Resident Retreat with the Student Co-Trustees
• Contribute semi-annually to the Washington Family Physician journal
• Attend, and help organize resident delegations to, the WAFP House of Delegates and the AAFP National Congress of Family Medicine Residents (NCFMR)
• Oversee elections for Resident Trustee positions and recommend trustees to the Board
• Serve as a resource for subsequent resident trustees
• Identify and recruit individuals for future leadership positions within the WAFP and encourage these individuals to participate in WAFP activities
• The Alternate Resident Trustee should plan to run for Resident Trustee at the end of the Alternate Resident Trustee term

Bring interests of student members to the Board, serving as a liaison between the Board and membership. The Student Co-Trustees are student members nominated by the Student Chapter and affirmed at the House of Delegates. Student Co-Trustees share one vote at Board meetings.

Student Co-Trustee Position responsibilities:

• Report on activities from the Resident and Student Subcommittee and medical schools (if needed) and provide a student perspective to Board discussions
• Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings and special meetings called by the President
• With WAFP Resident and Alternate Resident trustees, lead meetings of the WAFP Resident and Student Subcommittee and plan the annual WAFP Student & Resident Retreat
• Contribute semi-annually to the Washington Family Physician journal
• Encourage membership and participation in WAFP/AAFP and serve as liaison to the FMIG leaders
• Attend and help organize student delegations to the WAFP House of Delegates and the AAFP National Congress of Family Medicine Students (NCFMS)
• Oversee elections for Student Trustee positions and recommend trustees to the board
• Serve as a resource for subsequent student trustees
• Identify and recruit individuals for future leadership positions within the WAFP and encourage these individuals to participate in WAFP activities