Call for ASPEN Board Nominations

ASPEN members are invited to apply and/or nominate individuals to be considered by the Nominations Committee for election to the Board of Directors for terms beginning June 1, 2024.

The positions available are:

• Vice President, one-year term (2024-25), followed by one-year terms each as President-Elect (2025-26), President (2026-27) and Immediate Past President (2027-28).
  
• Director, two-year term (2024-2026). Five (5) Director positions are open.

Note: there are four (4) incumbents who are eligible to reapply for second terms.  

Nominations of individuals to apply should be submitted via this nomination form and are due on or before Friday, November 3, 2023.  

The application will be provided with the nomination confirmations and completed submissions will be due by Monday, December 18, 2023. 

Nominations process details

Competencies
Qualifications and Experience 
Time Commitment
Position Descriptions
ASPEN's Election Process
More Information

Competencies

The ASPEN Board of Directors uses a competency-based governance model. Under this model, the Nominations Committee uses a group of competencies to assist in selecting new Board members. It is not expected that all members of the Board of Directors will have all competencies, but rather that the Board as a body will have all of them. 

The identified competences are: 

• Clinical Practice: Conversant with clinical practice at a variety of levels.
• Research and/or Scholarship: Conversant with the research process and funding mechanisms; well respected in the academic community, with an established record of publications or innovations
• Education: Conversant with educational program planning and delivery mechanisms for educational activities.
• Public Policy: Conversant with public policy issues affecting ASPEN members and their parents.
  
• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership role within ASPEN or in other professional organizations.
• Finance: Experience in reading and interpreting financial reports.

The qualifications for all members of the Board of Directors are:

• Active member in ASPEN for at least 7 years
• Proven leadership skills
• Proven exemplary professional record
• Strong interpersonal communication and management skills

• Two years cumulative service as chair of an ASPEN committee or task force.
• Four years cumulative service as a member of an ASPEN committee or task force.
• Leadership experience in other organizations is highly desirable.
• Completion of at least one term as an ASPEN section chair or chapter president and a minimum of one year of service on an ASPEN committee or task force.
• Two years cumulative serves as a member on the editorial board or association editor of JPEN, NCP, or other indexed peer-reviewed journal(s).
• Formal recognition – by an organization, institution, and/or publication (national or international) – for exceptional research in the field of clinical nutrition and metabolism (e.g., Dudrick’s award, elected fellow).
• Additional qualification for VICE PRESIDENT: Current or recent service on the ASPEN Board of Directors is desirable. Must be willing to accept a 4-year commitment to the organization.

• Additional qualifications for ASSISTANT SECRETARY-TREASURER: Current or recent service on the ASPEN Board of Directors is desirable. Must be willing to accept a 3-year commitment to the organization.

Time Commitment

All members of the Board of Directors are expected to:

• Attend ASPEN Board of Directors' meetings at the ASPEN annual conference, and in the Washington DC Metro area in the fall.
• Participate on monthly Board conference call on the third Thursday of every month from 5:30-6:30 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Expectations of the Board of Directors as a Whole

• The ASPEN Board of Directors formulates policies that govern the activities of the association that are in the best interest of the membership and the field of practice.

PRESIDENT: The President is the principal spokesman for the Society, appoints the chairs and members of all standing committees and task forces, other than the Nominations Committee and Executive Committee, and presides at all meetings of the Society, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. The President performs all duties and has all powers customarily incident to the office of President and such other responsibilities and powers as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

PRESIDENT-ELECT: The President-Elect assists the President in the discharge of the duties of the President as the President may direct and performs such other responsibilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the President or the Board of Directors. The President-Elect will work directly with the Sections and will focus on identifying leadership and talent in the membership. In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability or refusal to act, the President-Elect (or in his absence or refusal to act, the Vice President) performs the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all of the duties and powers and be subject to all of the restrictions upon the President. The President-Elect automatically succeeds to the office of President.  

VICE PRESIDENT: The Vice President assists the President in the discharge of the duties of the President as the President may direct and performs such other responsibilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the President or the Board of Directors. The Vice President has responsibility for monitoring progress in implementation and updating of the Society’s strategic plan. In the absence of the President or the President-Elect or in the event of their inability or refusal to act, the Vice President performs the duties of the President, and when so acting, has all of the duties and powers and be subject to all of the restrictions upon the President. The Vice President automatically succeeds to the office of President-Elect.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: The Secretary/Treasurer oversees the following activities that are carried out by the national office staff: 

• keeps minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors in one or more books maintained for that purpose, 
• sees that all notices are duly given in accordance with the applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation, and the Bylaws, 
• is the custodian of the Society records and of the seal of the Society; 
• keeps a record of the mailing address of each Director and officer of the Society.  

The Secretary/Treasurer is also the principal financial officer of the Society and is in charge of and responsible for overseeing the fulfillment of the following responsibilities by the Chief Executive Officer:  

• the maintenance of adequate books of account for the Society; 
• custody of all funds and securities of the Society, and the receipt and disbursement thereof; 
• the deposit of all funds and securities of the Society in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected. 

The Secretary/Treasurer performs all duties and has all powers customarily incident to the offices of Secretary and of Treasurer and such other duties and powers as may be prescribed from time to time by the President or the Board of Directors. The Secretary/Treasurer has a two-year term.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY/TREASURER: The Assistant Secretary/Treasurer shadows the Secretary/Treasurer for one year in preparation for assuming the Secretary/Treasurer role as described above.

DIRECTORS: There are six directors, and their responsibilities vary in accordance with the priorities and activities of the Society. The Board of Directors Position Description will be provided with the Application Package.

ASPEN's Election Process 

• The Nominations Committee shall present to the membership by April 10, one nomination for each seat on the Board of Directors which is vacant or is about to expire and one nomination for the offices of Vice President.
• Ten (10) days shall be allowed for additional nominations from the membership. Any member may be nominated by petition of 2.5% of the voting membership.
• If there is only one nominee for any officer or director position, the Secretary/Treasurer shall cast a unanimous ballot for said officer or director.
• If there is more than one nominee for any officer or director position, a ballot shall be sent to the membership by April 30, listing all candidates for each position for which more than one candidate has been nominated.
• Voting must be completed by May 10, and the nominee receiving a plurality of votes cast shall be elected.