Speaker Message #10: Proposed ADA Bylaws Amendments

Date: September 2, 2008
Message Priority: High
To:

House of Delegates

HOD Core Function: Governance (Processes for Governing the Profession)
From: Marsha Schofield, MS, RD, LD, Speaker
Subject: Speaker Message #10: Proposed ADA Bylaws Amendments

What Do You Need to Know? The member comment period on the two proposed ADA Bylaws amendments starts today and ends on October 15, 2008.
What Do You Need to Do? Encourage members to review the proposed amendments and provide feedback.
When Do You Need to Complete It? The 45-day member comment period is from September 2 to October 15, 2008.

Bylaws Amendment #1 Related to the Commission on Dietetic Registration

  • Below is the following information for review: current section of the ADA Bylaws that pertain to CDR, the proposed amendment to the section (words deleted are noted by a strikethrough and new words added are highlighted in gray) and the rationale for the amendment.

    Current ADA Bylaws Section Related to the Commission on Dietetic Registration

    ARTICLE VII. Standing Committees and Other Bodies
    Section 2. Commission on Dietetic Registration (“CDR”). Purpose Statement: CDR has sole and independent authority in all matters pertaining to certification, including but not limited to standard setting, establishment of fees, finances and administration. Mission Statement: CDR protects the public through credentialing processes of dietetics practitioners. Vision Statement: The public and other professionals rely on CDR’s optimal credentialing processes to identify knowledgeable and skilled dietetics practitioners. The CDR election shall be determined by a majority of votes cast.

    Proposed ADA Bylaws Amendment Related to the CDR
    ARTICLE VII. Standing Committees and Other Bodies
    Section 2. Commission on Dietetic Registration (“CDR”). Purpose Statement: CDR has sole and independent authority in all matters pertaining to certification, including but not limited to standard setting, establishment of fees, finances and administration. Mission Statement: CDR protects the public through credentialing processes of dietetics practitioners. CDR protects the public through credentialing and assessment processes that assure the competence of registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered. Vision Statement: The public and other professionals rely on CDR’s optimal credentialing processes to identify knowledgeable and skilled dietetics practitioners. The nation recognizes, seeks out and relies on competent CDR credentialed registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, for food and nutrition expertise. The CDR election shall be determined by a majority of votes cast.

Rationale for Proposed Bylaws Amendment

The rationale for the revision to the Mission Statement is:

  • The addition of the word “assessment” was seen as important to highlight as distinct from other types of credentialing activities.
  • CDR felt it was important to articulate the focus of “processes” which is to assure the public of competent credentialed practitioners (RDs and DTRs).
  • CDR felt that spelling out the two credentialed practitioners was more definitive than the generic use of the term “dietetics practitioners.”

The rationale for the revision to the Vision Statement is:

  • The term “nation” is a more definitive and inclusive term than the current language.
  • The term “seeks out” was seen as more active than just “relies on.”
  • CDR’s optimal credentialing processes were not identified as necessary to a vision statement.
  • CDR felt that spelling out the two types of credentialed practitioners was more definitive than using the generic term “dietetics practitioners.”

Bylaws Amendment #2 Related to the Member Interest Groups (MIGs)

  • Below is the following information for review: the proposed amendment to the section (words added are highlighted in gray) and the rationale for the amendment.
  • The ADA Bylaws do not acknowledge the Member Interest Groups (MIGs) at this time. The MIGs were established by the ADA Board of Directors in October 2005 and currently three (3) MIGs exist (Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition, LAHIDAN; National Organization of Men in Nutrition, NOMIN; and Chinese Americans in Dietetics and Nutrition, CADN). The following proposed amendment would create a new section within Article X to acknowledge the existence and importance of MIGs to ADA and the profession.

    Proposed ADA Bylaws Amendment Related to the Member Interest Groups (MIGs)
    ARTICLE X. Dietetic Practice Groups and Member Interest Groups
    Section 2. Member Interest Groups (MIGs): The Association shall recognize and support member interest groups meeting operational and administrative standards established by the Association. A member interest group will consist of members with common interests, issues and/or backgrounds, focusing on areas other than practice or geographic location, regardless of membership classification or employment status. A member interest group will engage in activities, which meet the needs of its members and are consistent with the mission and vision of the Association; develop guiding principles that are consistent with the Bylaws and policies of the Association; and establish its own dues structure.

Rationale for Proposed Bylaws Amendment
This proposed amendment is an addition to the current ADA Bylaws. There exists a need to include a section on MIGs in the ADA Bylaws based on the approval by the ADA Board of Directors for their establishment and the formation of three (3) MIGs to date. This proposed amendment is similar to the statement on the Dietetic Practice Groups currently found in the ADA Bylaws (Article X, Section 1).

Posting Messages to the HOD CoI

  • We are implementing the use of a new feature on the HOD CoI that may lighten the workload for you. This new feature relates to how you can post member feedback to the pre-meeting discussions for the Fall 2008 HOD Meeting. There are now two options for posting comments to the “Discussion” section of the HOD CoI.
  • Option #1: Send an e-mail directly to hod-bylawsamendments@eatright.communityzero.com. You may share these email addresses with your constituents. They are able to send their comments directly to the threaded discussion but will be unable to view them after they have been posted. Members of the House will be able to view the postings, and are encouraged to read the list of postings, by clicking on the “Discussions” tab and clicking on the link for each topic. Members who e-mail their comments but are not members of the HOD CoI will have their posting show as being sent by “Preview.” We would like you to let your constituents know that they need to include their name and state affiliate or practice area with each posting they send via e-mail.
  • Option #2: You can post comments directly to the threaded discussion by clicking on the “Discussions” tab and then clicking on the title of the appropriate topic (ADA Bylaws). Once in the threaded discussion, you click “Post” in the top left side of the screen. You can enter a “Subject” and type or copy/paste your comments in the small box you see at the top. If your posting needs to be formatted, you will need to use the larger box below to post your comments.
  • You will still be able to collect comments from your constituents and post them via email or by accessing the HOD CoI. We are simply presenting another option of having comments sent directly to the threaded discussion. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this new feature, please feel free to contact Nina Landrum (nlandrum@eatright.org or 800/877-1600, ext. 4892).

Timeline and Next Steps

  • The following timeline has been developed to assist you in understanding the various steps in the process. Please review and note the various dates and activities in order to participate in the dialogue, deliberation and vote.

    September 2: The 45-day member comment period starts.

    October 15: ADA member comment period ends.

    November 1: Motions for Fall HOD Meeting, ADA Bylaws amendments (CDR mission and vision; addition of MIGs) will be posted for review by HOD in the HOD CoI.

    November 3-7: Delegates review and discuss motions electronically (questions and general comments on each motion).

    November 10: HLT convenes via conference call to discuss comments posted related to motions and determine potential changes.

    November 12-14: Delegates post amendments to the motions.

    November 17-19: Delegates deliberate on the motions (and amendments).

    November 20-25: Delegates vote electronically on the motions.
    (Thanksgiving: November 27)

    December 1: HOD and membership notified of the outcome of the vote on the two motions.

For More Information or Assistance
Contact Marsha Schofield at mschofield@schd.org or 330/926-5661, or Harold Holler at hholler@eatright.org or 800/877-1600, ext. 4896.