Board Structure and Composition
The AST is a complex organization. The Board focuses on mission, strategic direction, organizational priorities, programs, and financial oversight. Article IV of the AST Bylaws dictate that the Board includes the following:
Executive Committee:
- President
- President-Elect
- Immediate Past President
- Secretary, two-year term, rotating on odd years
- Treasurer, two-year term, rotating on even years
Councilors:
- 9 Councilors-at-Large, with 3 rotating each year
Any vacancies that come up during the year are also addressed by the AST Bylaws.
Governance Committee
A governance committee is an essential part of any nonprofit’s leadership, working to develop the board structure. The AST’s Governance Committee is comprised of:
- The current Board Executive Committee
- The two most recent past presidents (that preceded the sitting Immediate Past President)
- The three Councilors-at-Large with most recently completed terms
- The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access to Life (IDEAL) Committee Chair
The Immediate Past President serves as Chair.
This group is responsible for:
- Assessing current Board composition and identifying areas of need based on upcoming opens, the strategic plan, and upcoming Society efforts
- Cultivating emerging leaders within the membership
- Reviews policies and procedures relating to the call for nominations
- Reviewing all nominations and recommending a final slate to the Board of Directors for the ballot
Board Nominations
Annually, the full membership receives a call for nominations. Ideal nominees must have:
- Commitment to the AST
- AST membership in good standing for a minimum of five years
- Attendance at AST meetings, including ATC
- Service in AST leadership positions (e.g. chair of a committee, COP, task force, program planning committee, or advisory council)
- Governance and leadership experience
- Basic, demonstrable, leadership skills
- Three to five-year horizon plan
- Ability to foster teamwork among peers
- Knowledge and experience with governance
- Two letters of reference detailing the nominee's leadership abilities that answer these questions and provide specific examples:
- Can the nominee effectively help direct the AST's resources to achieve its goals and objectives?
- Can they guide the AST in the future?
Nominees are subject to the AST's Conflict of Interest policy and must be free of all prohibited conflicts. Nominees must also maintain the AST Code of Conduct.
Setting the Ballot
The Governance Committee carefully considers how to balance and strengthen the Board with candidates to meet the current needs, considering the following:
- Professional disciplines
- Institutional affiliations
- Geography
- Practice areas
- Race / ethnicity
- Gender
- Age
The Governance Committee carefully vets all nominees and selects the candidates who go to the Board of Directors for final approval.
On the ballot, officers run unopposed. Councilor-at-Large candidates are run in pairs. The Committee strives to put together pairings from similar specialties or backgrounds whenever possible to avoid putting a candidate at a potential numerical disadvantage based upon the representation of his/her specialty.
As a result, very qualified individuals may not make the ballot. However, the Board may still call upon others for subject matter expertise as needed.
Voting
The ballot opens for electronic voting to all eligible AST membership. The results are announced at the Town Hall meeting during the annual meeting, and the next iteration of the Board begins its work the following day at its first meeting.
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