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State affiliates are vital to our shared efforts with AGS to insure that older adults have access to high quality, patient-centered care. Your contributions of time and expertise to your state affiliate are integral to advancing improved health care for older adults at the local and regional levels.

AGS commitment to State Affiliates and their representatives includes:

• Provision of a common meeting ground for State Affiliate Representatives via the Council where all states come together with the AGS to share ideas on how best to advance geriatric initiatives and programs at the state level.
• A voice and representation at the AGS Board of Directors through the Council Co-Chairs.
• Opportunities for leadership training that will help you to advance as a leader of your Affiliate.
• Resources such as staff support, including:
  • development and maintenance of a state affiliate web page
  • membership tracking and dues collection
  • quarterly affiliate mailing
  • Access to AGS member mailing list by geographic region
  • Access to COSAR listserv
• Provide affiliates who take advantage of AGS member tracking (affiliate dues collection, member lists, etc.) with member discounts on AGS products and programs.
• Keep you apprised of new developments at the AGS via AGS News Week in Review, the AGS Newsletter, and announcements posted to MyAGS that are specific to Committees.
• Keep you apprised of national public policy that could impact your state.

To strengthen reciprocal relationships between State and National organizations in Geriatrics, expectations of the State Affiliate Representatives include:

1. Knowledge of:
   • The AGS mission and goals (see Who We Are)
   • AGS current strategic highways (see AGS News, 2nd quarter 2006);


2. Service in the following capacities:
   • Spokesperson for your local affiliate and the American Geriatrics Society with the media and other organizations requesting local contacts and where your expertise fits the topic at hand.
   • Identify and encourage your colleagues to identify patients and caregivers who are willing to tell their stories on the FHA stories site and to the Media. The need to identify patients and caregivers is essential for the Society to advance its message about geriatrics care to policy makers, the media and the public.
   • Calling and/or visiting Congressional offices in your state or in DC, and participating in AGS advocacy campaigns on the Health in Aging Advocacy Center website and encouraging your state affiliate members to do the same. Getting to know your legislators and telling them about the issues you and the Society find important helps build relationships with legislators that vote on bills central to the Society's mission.

State Affiliate Co-Chairs

• Serving on the AGS Board of Directors and assuming all the duties and responsibilities of an AGS Board member.
• Working with staff on planning the agenda for the bi-annual meeting and co-chairing the bi-annual meeting.
• Mentoring new affiliate representatives.
• Being available to leaders of new and provisional Affiliates to provide advice and counsel on establishing and maintaining a state affiliate.
• Identifying AGS projects and programs where State Affiliates could be helpful in advancing our shared goal of improving the health and well-being of older adults.
• Collaborating on an analysis of the annual feedback to the Society from state affiliate representatives in order to identify common themes.

State Affiliate Representatives are responsible for:

• Representing their state via membership on the Council of State Affiliate Representatives (COSAR) and attend bi-annual meetings of the Council.
• Working at the local level to assure that the Affiliate has a structure in place for identifying and developing leaders thereby assuring the long-term viability of the Affiliate.
• If the Affiliate is taking advantage of the services offered by AGS staff, facilitating interactions between the staff and affiliate leaders and members.
• Responding to AGS staff queries in a timely manner.
• Reviewing agenda materials in advance and coming prepared with comments and ideas.
• Developing educational programs to advance interdisciplinary geriatric education.
• Disseminate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in Geriatrics.

Goal-Setting and Provision of Annual Feedback on Affiliate Progress
While recognizing that each State Affiliate will have its own unique goals, AGS encourages COSAR to collectively set goals whereby each affiliate can measure benchmarks and progress. In advance of the annual AGS scientific meeting, each state representative, in collaboration with other Affiliate Leaders, will be asked to identify which areas they would like to focus on in the coming years.