Real Benefits and Rewards of Participating in NVACP Leadership

NVACP provides many opportunities for personal and professional growth. Examples: Serve on a NVACP Board, chair or join a NVACP committee, represent NVACP on the VACP Health Care Benefits Committee, write an article for the Newsletter Journal, present a CE program.

You can meet and get to know dedicated and interesting colleagues. It is fun and gratifying to work with others to support our peers, accomplish worthwhile projects that enhance worklife quality, and provide services to the public.

You can develop skills in numerous areas such as leadership, management, being a change agent, legislative advocacy, communicating to groups and to the public, writing, creating policy, among many others. You can add variety to your work experience, and add to your fund of knowledge, especially issues and organizational process.

When you get involved you are helping to shape the style and substance of NVACP in ways that add to its appeal and relevance. Get involved and grow!

For more information on the leadership positions listed below, contact the chairperson listed on the Executive Board menu option under the About Us tab.

NVACP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

President

With NVACP Board members, develops policy and service initiatives, manages and supports organizational services and products, presides over NVACP Board meetings, coordinates meeting agenda, recruits committee chairs, hosts or delegates hosting of CE and other NVACP events, and serves as NVACP representative on the VACP Executive Council.

Vice-President

Works closely with the president to share the duties of president and stands in for the president in her/his absence. Precedent has been for the vice-president to serve as Chairperson of the Continuing Education Committee.

Secretary

Mainly records minutes of board meetings and distributes them to board members in preparation of board meetings. As needed prepares or relays information to members, VACP or VPA from the Board, as may be necessary and sends out correspondence from the Board.

Treasurer

Collects fees, makes deposits and pays for expenses, prepares financial reports for board meetings; balances checkbook and advises the Board on financial matters.

At-Large Board Members (2 members)

Though the bylaws do not require it, each At-Large Board member usually assumes some committee leadership positions such as the Legislative Advocacy and Community & Media Relations Committees.

Advocacy Committee (1 or more members)

Chairperson, identifies advocacy opportunities, interfaces with VACP Federal Advocacy Network Coordinator, VACP Legislative and VACP legislative counsel, advises the Board about advocacy matters, proposes positions for Board approval, and solicits advocacy interventions from members via NVACP Message Board, NVACP Newsletter Journal and website when latter functionality is established. Serves as the NVACP representative on the VACP Legislative Committee.

Continuing Education Committee

Chairperson (typically, the NVACP Vice-President), with other committee members, surveys members regarding CE interests, arranges NVACP-sponsored CE programs and luncheons, facilitates CE accreditation, reviews evaluation sheets, and introduces the presenter. CE Program Registrar receives registration forms, collects fees, mails CE forms to VPA. Communications Manager develops and mails CE announcement flyers.

Website (Multiple members)

Chairperson manages website operations, policies and procedures, and hires and supervises work of web designers and webhosting services. Recommends to the Board enhancements and additional functionalities and services. Enters or arranges to enter web content and handles inquiries about website.

NVACP Message Board Committee

Moderator (Chairperson) manages policies and procedures, facilitates sign-up process and provides general supervision to maintain courtesy and adherence to guidelines.

Community and Media Relations Committee (1 or more members)

Chairperson manages the community and media relations, identifies opportunities to educate the public about our profession or organization through media, community events (e.g., health fairs), and community organizations, and drafts or coordinates letters-to-editor, press releases and promotional materials. Manages the NVACP Speaker’s Bureau, collects member interests and competencies as speaker and conducting community education program or training for an organization. Handles inquiries and matches requests with resource. Assists in arranging for members to submit articles for Consumer Information section of the website.

Membership Development Committee (1 or more members)

Chairperson, develops strategies and manages membership recruitment, serves as contact person for prospective and new members and handles inquiries, and collects information from new members for online membership database and printed directory. Serves as NVACP representative on VACP Membership and Bylaws Committee.

Mentorship Committee (Multiple members)

Chairperson develops policies and procedures, recruits mentors, serves as contact person for members (often but not exclusively early career and the newly located into the area) and students seeking mentoring services and matches needs with resources. Maintains privacy and confidentiality.

Publications Committee (multiple members)

• Editor-in-Chief (combined, multiple or separate editors) of print and online editions of NVACP Newsletter Journal.
• Feature Editor solicits, coordinates, advises regarding publication style and edits article submissions.
• Distribution Manager arranges for printing and mailing.
• Advertising Manager handles inquiries, assists with ad and collects fees.
• Copy Editor (one or more) reviews and corrects publication for errors.
• Lay-out Editor using desktop publishing software (e.g., MS Publisher) designs, selects and arranges the placement of copy and graphics.
• Columnists write regular or occasional features such as book reviews, essays, articles on clinical topics, inform members about useful resources, psychological reviews of film, theatre, movie, art and fiction, etc.

Student Member Representative

Attends, provides input, and assists with board meetings and organizational functions.

Membership Directory Task Force (1 or more members)

Chairperson coordinates the periodic publishing and design of the printed Membership Directory booklet and arranges for its printing and distribution.

NVACP Representative to VACP Health Care Benefits Committee

Serves on this important VACP committee that receives and addresses NVACP/VACP member problems and concerns regarding insurance and managed-care companies. When appropriate, investigates and advocates for members with the insurers and managed-care companies. Reports to the NVACP Board and membership via NVACP Message Board and NVACP Newsletter Journal.

NVACP Representative to other VPA/VACP Committees includes

• Business Relations/Psychological Healthy Workplace Award Program Committee
• Prescription Privileges Task Force
• Convention Programming