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The following is a summary of the function and responsibilities of Society committee members. The contribution of time and expertise by members to committee activities is one of the Society's most important and valued resources. The Society's success in furthering its mission depends in large measure upon the active participation of committee members, and upon regular and complete communication between the Society's governing Board, professional volunteers and administrative staff. Before you volunteer to serve on an AGS committee, please evaluate the amount of time you have available to devote to these activities. We appreciate and welcome your involvement in carrying out the Society's mission to improve the health and well being of all older adults.
- Committee members are expected to be familiar with the Society's history and mission and goals, as well as policies, positions, and activities. Committee members are kept informed by staff about the status of current Society activities through (1) the dissemination of minutes and action items from the semiannual Board and committee meetings; and (2) the circulation of memoranda, reports and other project-specific communications. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and the AGS Newsletter are also important sources of information on current AGS policies and activities.
- Committee members should consider themselves spokespersons for the Society, and in this capacity, public proponents of the Society's mission, goals and activities. As opportunities arise, committee members may be called upon to increase the Society's visibility and enhance its effectiveness in appearances before policy makers, other health professionals, the public, or the press.
- Committee members may be asked to serve as the Society's representative at meetings of related organizations or agencies, depending upon their areas of expertise and their availability.
- Committee members are required to attend bi-annual committee meetings. Members who miss two consecutive meetings or two meetings in a two-year period are probably over-committed in other aspects of their professional lives to make the necessary commitment to AGS committee work. Those individuals who are unable to meet this commitment will in most cases be asked to resign. Meetings are held in May during the AGS/AFAR annual meeting and during the Gerontological Society of America's annual meeting in November. (The AGS continues to operate under financial constraints and regrets that we are unable to cover the travel expenses of committee members attending the semiannual meetings, and must instead rely on our members' generosity and commitment to the field of geriatrics.)
- Committee members are expected to prepare for committee meetings in advance by reading meeting agendas and preparing comments and recommendations on specific committee activities.
- Committee members are expected to assume an active role in the work of the committee on which they serve which includes participating in, and at times providing leadership for specific project development and implementation.
- Regular and complete communication is a committee member's most important responsibility. Committee members are expected to provide periodic updates on their committee-related work to the committee chair and other committee members with whom they are working, as well as designated Society staff. If committee members are uncertain about the status of a project for which they have volunteered, they should take the initiative to contact the committee chair, the chair of the project-related subcommittee, or the Staff member assigned to the committee.
- Committee members are expected to be available to Society staff for consultation and expert advice in areas pertaining to the committee on which they serve.
- Committee members are expected to report any problems with leadership to the Committee & Liaison Affairs Advisory Group (CLAAG) representative and to AGS staff/committee liaison.
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