Governing council to consider changes to Constitution, By-Laws: Executive board, ISC recommend changes.

Proposals that would amend APHA committee administration, appointments and other processes should be considered by the Association's Governing Council, APHA's Executive Board recommended in March.

Meeting via conference call, the Executive Board discussed a series of changes reviewed by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, which is a standing committee of the Governing Council.

The board recommended that the council consider making modifications that would:

* add language to the By-laws in reference to existing term limits on the American Journal of Public Health Editorial Board and Publications Board;

* add chair-elect appointments for the Education and Science boards, bringing them in line with what was previously adopted for the Action Board;

* add the definition of a Caucus and a statement of its relationship to APHA;

* delete unnecessary and incorrect information on how working groups are named within certain APHA boards; and

* clarify that By-law changes can be considered at any Governing Council meeting, among other changes.

The Governing Council will also be asked to vote on two changes proposed by APHA's Intersectional Council. The first change would allow Section Action Board representatives to have a vote on each Section Council. The second change would replace language that says "program development board" with "science board."

The Governing Council will be asked to vote on the measures during its Monday, June 18, conference call. All Governing Council members are requested to take part in the call, which will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Information on the meeting will be provided to the Governing Council prior to the call.

APHA members who want to review the proposed changes can access them online at www.apha.org/about/gov/bylaws. Comments should be sent to [e-mail] by June 1.

At the APHA Annual Meeting in November, the Governing Council will also be called on to vote on a revision of the Constitution and By-Laws, which are being merged by the committee at the direction of the Executive Board. Once merged, APHA would have a single, simplified By-laws document to guide its work.

This summer, the merged documents will be posted on the APHA Web site for public comments by all APHA members. Members will receive notification that the documents are available for review via APHA's electronic Member News and a link will be on the APHA home page.

For more information on the Executive Board or Governing Council, e-mail [e-mail] or call [phone].