Abstract
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The Board consists of 17 voting members (12 elected directors and five members of the Executive Committee [President, President-Elect/Vice-President, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, and Secretary]), as well as nonvoting members (Executive Director, Founders representative, and a member of the Council of Advisors). The editor of Breastfeeding Medicine is also an ex officio member of the Board. The Nominations Committee oversees the election process and draws up the ballot, endeavoring to have at least two nominations for each board position so that the membership has a choice about whom they elect. Nominations are called in the second half of the year so that the election can be finalized before the Annual Meeting (usually held in October or November), when the new Board members take up their positions. Board member terms are for 3 years, while positions on the Executive Committee are for 2 years. No one is able to serve more than two consecutive terms.
The Board has the responsibility to uphold the precepts, mission, and goals of ABM and to abide by the conflict of interest guidelines adopted by the Board. The Board is not involved in the day-to-day running of the organization. That is left to the management company that we employ, but the Board has the final responsibility for ensuring ABM business is carried out efficiently, effectively, and lawfully.
We meet in person once a year at the Annual Meeting and every 2 months by teleconference to discuss the financial statements, progress of initiatives, developments related to grants, and cooperation with other organizations and other activities that require Board input. As we have members spread across the world (at present, Israel, Korea, Australia, and the Americas), finding a time when we are all awake for a teleconference is sometimes a challenge, but that voice contact is so important to build relationships and to give everyone an opportunity to contribute. The Executive Committee meets (also by teleconference) in the alternate months to discuss more immediate issues.
Because we are a worldwide multispecialty organization, it is important that our Board reflects the diversity of the membership. As the majority of ABM members are pediatricians or neonatologists, it is not surprising that most of our Board members are also pediatricians/neonatologists, although we also have representation from obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, anesthesiology, and public health. Unfortunately, our representation from countries around the world is shrinking, rather than growing. This year we lost our Board member from Europe as she completed her second term. At the end of the year our Board member from Puerto Rico will also finish her second term, and at the end of 2015 we will lose our member from Israel.
This year there will be three positions for elected Directors to replace those who are finishing their terms, and the position of Secretary will also become vacant. Now is the time to start thinking about whether you would be interested on being on the ABM Board, or perhaps you know someone who you think would be just the person. It doesn't matter how old you are, where you live, or the length of your experience with breastfeeding. What we need are dedicated people who have some time to give, an ability to work cooperatively with a very diverse group of people, and the capability to think laterally but act realistically. If you have experience of working on a board, that is great and makes the transition to being a Board member easier, but it is not essential. There is no monetary compensation for being a Board member, but each member is entitled to a small grant to assist with travel to the Annual Meeting or Breastfeeding Summit each year.
Please talk to me or another Board member if you are interested in finding out more. You can contact us through the ABM office (