Governance, Leadership and Learning
by
 Monika White |
We’re just heading into autumn and the season of falling leaves, but springtime and cherry blossoms are already on the minds of the HAN leadership and the ASA staff. It’s not because we’re eager to skip over the cold weather of winter; it’s because we’ve been caught up in the exciting work of putting all the plans in place for the 2008 NCOA-ASA conference, set for March 27-30 in Washington, D.C. The gathering will have a lively new name -- the Aging in America Conference -- and will offer a fresh approach in many other ways, too.
As you may know, ASA implemented a new online submission and review process for session proposals this past summer; the system is part of the larger effort to restructure the conference to provide a sharper focus on the key issues in aging and to streamline the program for greater ease of use. At the same time, the Aging in America Conference will continue to reflect what has long been the hallmark of our meetings: we’ll be bringing you the latest research, policy analysis and model programs -- all with a focus on skill-building and practical implications for professionals in the field of aging.
Special thanks to Lynne Anker-Unnever, immediate-past chair of the HAN Leadership Council, who is leading the review process for proposals reflecting many HAN-related keywords. In selecting the sessions, we hope to identify those reflecting key issues in healthcare and aging -- and emphasizing ways to address those issues in your community. Early trends indicate a strong interest in family and caregiving issues, end-of-life issues and service-delivery models. We extend sincere appreciation to all the session reviewers for their work to ensure that the conference offers a high-quality educational program.
Conference Events and Activities
Thanks, too, to HAN Leadership Council member Bunni Dybnis for agreeing to lead the development of a major session for HAN at the Aging in America Conference. We plan to present a two-hour program on current challenges and promising practices in healthcare that will appeal to the broad interests of HAN’s membership. With more than 1,300 members, our network is the largest of the ASA’s constituent groups, so we expect a significant turnout for what is sure to be a dynamic and informative program. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.
As you’re marking your calendar to save the dates for the Aging in America Conference, be sure to add one more day: As a prelude to the conference, on Wednesday, March 26, ASA will sponsor a special Capitol Hill visit to give our members a chance to meet with legislators and their staff about key issues in aging during the 2008 election year. Healthcare issues are sure to be at the top of the list for many of these meetings.
For more details on all the conference-related events and activities, watch your e-mail and snail-mail boxes later this autumn for the Aging in America announcement. Until then, you can find more information and the latest updates at www.agingconference.org.
Healthcare and Aging Awards
Another date to remember: the October 1 deadline for nominations for the Healthcare and Aging Awards. As the award program enters its 10th year in 2008, honors will be given to organizations that have developed high-quality, innovative programs to enhance the health-related quality of life for older adults. We are grateful to the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative for its ongoing support of this important recognition. Special thanks also go to HAN Leadership Council member and awards committee chair Terrie Raphael and to ASA’s Nancy Ceridwyn for leading this initiative.
We can all be proud of the HAN Awards, as they bring us firsthand examples of current practices in health promotion, education and care for elders, providing exemplary models worthy of replication. For descriptions of programs that have won the HAN Award in the past and that might be replicated in your community -- or to nominate your own or someone else’s program for the 2008 awards -- visit the HAN Awards home page.
Leadership, Governance and Growth
Members of the HAN Leadership Council also have been busy with another vital matter in recent months: Our governance working group will soon finalize our revised governance guidelines. The goal is to better define the roles and responsibilities of Leadership Council members and to look at term lengths. This includes identifying ways for longtime council members to remain active with HAN by serving as conference-session reviewers, newsletter contributors or award jurors.
We also are looking to recruit new and emerging healthcare professionals to join HAN, and perhaps the Leadership Council, to ensure the long-term growth and success of the network. This will be particularly important as longtime ASA members, many of whom have been in the field of aging for 25 to 30 years or more, look ahead to retiring or to reducing their work hours -- something I’m seriously considering for the not-too-distant future.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in HAN activities, contact the HAN staff liaison, Dominick Albano, at han@asaging.org. And if you’d like to invite colleagues to join HAN, encourage them to visit our membership information page.
Looking forward to seeing many of you in Washington, D.C., in March.
HAN Leadership Council chair Monika White is president and CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, Calif. Contact her at mwhite@centerforhealthyaging.org.
Photo: Courtesy Monika White
Copyright © 2007 American Society on Aging; all rights reserved. This article may not be duplicated or distributed in any form without written permission from the publisher: American Society on Aging, 71 Stevenson St., Suite 1450, San Francisco, CA 94105-2938; e-mail: permissions@asaging.org.
