Austin Area AORN

POLICY

DELEGATES / ALTERNATE DELEGATES

Criteria:

        1.  Delegates and alternates to the annual Congress are elected by the membership during the October Meeting.

        2.  Individuals on the ballot must have met the delegate criteria:

                A.  Active membership status for the year preceding their election, e.g. to be eligible for 2005 Congress,
                     one must be a member from August 2003 – August 2004..

                B.  Attendance of at least 7 regular meetings in the previous year between August and June, e.g., for Congress 2005,
                     attend meetings from August 2003 through June 2004.
                     1)  To be eligible, one must sign in and be at the business meeting no later than fifteen minutes after the start of the meeting.
                     2)  Attendance at the educational part is not considered for delegate eligibility.
                     3)  The sign-in sheet is to be picked up fifteen minutes after the beginning of the business meeting.
                     4)  The July newsletter will have a list of the number of meetings attended by members; a reminder list will be published
                           in the January newsletter.
                     5)  If an individual wishes to contest the number of meetings listed that they attended, the person is to contact the Board.
                     6)  The Board will review the attendance list at the transition meeting.

                C.  Serve on a chapter committee, or in an office, the year preceding their election, e.g., for 2005 Congress, serve from
                     August 2003 through June 2004.
                     1)  When documenting having served on a committee, the name of the committee and the name of the committee chair
                           must be given.

        3.  The President will automatically be a delegate to Congress unless he/she has not met the delegate criteria.

Responsibilities

        1.  When selected as a delegate / alternate provide in writing to the chapter President the following information:
                Name
                Address
                Home phone number
                Work phone number
                Membership number
                Date membership is renewed

        2.  The President will serve as chairman of the delegation, if attending Congress,  otherwise a chairman is elected.

        3.  Be familiar with all content in the delegate/alternate packet and instructions in the pre-Congress Journals.

        4.  The delegation chairman will select a time and site for the meeting prior to election day.  Delegates and alternates will contact the chairman to confirm the meeting time and place.

        5.  The delegates and alternate delegates will meet prior to the election of candidates for national office to discuss and review the chapter's voting voting commitments, and for finalizing  the remaining choice of candidates.

        6.  Delegates are required to sit in the "Texas section" for all House of Delegates sessions.  Alternates are to report to the Austin delegate chairman and sit as close to the "Texas section" as possible.

        7.  Report your presence to the Austin delegate chair at all Congress forums.  If your presence is not reported or the chair does not see you, you will be recorded as not attending.  (Delegates/alternates may choose to meet in a specific area for the forums and any special called House of Delegates.)

        8.  Vote for national candidates at the specified time and place.  Ballots are to be cast as instructed by the chapter membership and choices not made by the membership are them decided in the delegate/alternate meeting at Congress.

        9.  The delegates and alternates will present names of potential candidates for election to national office.  The names and a short synopsis of qualifications will be presented to the local chapter at the May chapter meeting following Congress, and to be submitted to the national nominating committee.

        10.  The delegates and alternates are expected to retain active membership, attend AORN meetings, serve on committees, encourage all OR nurses to participate in AORN, by example.

        11.  Delegates and alternates will write a synoposis of one educational session attended at Congress.  This synopsis will be given to the delegation chair by the first meeting following Congress, to be published in the newsletter.

Revised:  2-89, 4-2002,11-2003

Original:  11-87