(n): The organization and structure of authority and collaboration to allocate resources and coordinate activity. 

ACC’s governance structure includes the Board of Trustees (BOT), national Committees and Workgroups, and the Board of Governors (BOG). 

Chapter governance includes the Council/Committee/Workgroup structure. 

How information flows up and down these chains determines the quality of decision making and, ultimately, the quality of the organization itself.  As a Governor, you are the leader of the organization.  The word governance derives from the Greek verb κυβερνάω which means to steer and was used for the first time in a metaphorical sense by Plato. You steer your Chapter and your state to success. 



Characteristics of good governance

1. Participation: Participation by all members is a key cornerstone of good governance.  Participation could be either direct or through representatives.  Participation needs to be informed and organized.

2. Rule of law: Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially.  Impartial enforcement of rules and privileges requires a Council with independent judgment and fairness.

3. Transparency: Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement.

4. Responsiveness: Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

5. Consensus oriented: There are several actors and as many view points in a given organization. Good governance requires mediation of those differences to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the whole organization and how this can be achieved.  It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable development and how to achieve the goals of such development. Listening to the “loud voices” of an organization is necessary, but should not be privileged.  Good governance requires seeking other opinions. 

6. Equity and inclusiveness: An organization’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream.

7. Effectiveness and efficiency: Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of the organization while making the best use of resources at their disposal.
8. Accountability: Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Who is accountable to whom varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution. In general an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.

When/where are the BOG Meetings, and do Governors have to attend?

Governors must attend all three BOG meetings:

ACC Leadership Forum:
Leadership Forum for BOG leadership is held the last weekend in January at Heart House in Washington, D.C.  ACC National pays for travel expenses for Governors, Governors-elect and Chapter Executives to attend this meeting. 

ACC Annual Scientific Session:
The Chapter Executive Workshop is a day-long event held during the Scientific Session. This meeting falls in March with rotating locations.  A BOG meeting is also held during this educational conference and Chapter Executives are encouraged to attend this meeting as well.  Chapter Executives and/or Chapters are responsible for expenses to this meeting.

ACC Legislative Conference:
The BOG meeting and the Legislative Conference are held in conjunction during September in Washington, D.C.  ACC National pays for travel expenses for Governors, Governors-elect and Chapter Executives to attend this meeting.  The BOG meeting precedes the Legislative Conference which includes training on legislative issues affecting healthcare before Congress and Congressional visits to respective Senators and Congressmen by state delegations.

What are the responsibilities of a Governor?

• Represent the needs and opinions of the members within their area
• Implement ACC national initiatives on the state level where appropriate
• Actively participate in the Board of Governors, advising the College of the opinions of the membership within their designated state, region or area and informing members of the policies and actions of the College
• Ensure the sustained interest and active participation of the affairs of the College by the membership from the state, region or area
• Identify and encourage development of Chapter members with leadership potential
• Assist with review of problematic applications for ACC membership from their area as requested by ACC staff
• Be the prime contact for members in the state, area or region by answering 1) phone calls, 2) faxes, and 3) e-mails on a timely basis and forwarding pertinent concerns to ACC staff
• Serve as key legislative contact for state and federal lobbying efforts
• Act as liaison with Advocacy staff on Chapter specific grassroots and PAC initiatives
• As members of the leadership supporting the College in its mission, Board of Governor members should consider ACC as his or her priority for financial donations to any annual giving program, capital campaign, PAC fund or other fundraising efforts essential to the work of the College.
• File your disclosures with ACC via the online disclosure tool at www.acc.org/disclosure

Specific Duties

• Attend three yearly meetings and accurately represent views from your state or area
  March—held in conjunction with the ACC Annual Scientific Session (day prior to opening of meeting)
  September—held in conjunction with the ACC Legislative Conference (mid-Sept, Heart House)
  January—held in conjunction with the ACC Leadership Forum (Last weekend in January, Heart House) Governors are required to attend all BOG Meetings. Any voting member of the Board who fails to attend two consecutive regular meetings without valid written excuse shall be automatically dropped from the Board of Governors.
•  ACC covers travel expenses for the September and January meetings in accordance with the ACC Travel Policy.  See members.acc.org/caextranet for exact dates of upcoming meetings.
• Monitor and contribute to the ACC BOG Listserv (bog@lists.acc.org) for discussions of important issues
• Respond in a timely manner to requests from ACC National staff
• Appoint chapter/state members to state and regional boards as needed; respond to requests from ACC staff for appointments to national service groups
• Ensure that a state representative participates in the ACC Carrier Advisory Committee
• Recommend state members for ACC national service and awards
• Serve on an ACC national committee
• Serve as chair of the Governor Selection Committee to solicit for Governor-elect nominees
• Participate in ACC convocation ceremonies at the ACC Annual Scientific Session

What are the responsibilities of Chapter Presidents?

• Serve as the leader of the Chapter
• Ensure that a group of leaders have been elected to serve on a council (outlined in individual chapter by-laws) and hold regular council meetings (via conference call or in person)
• Work with the council to develop a chapter strategic plan encompassing leadership, advocacy, education and quality of care
• Work effectively with chapter executives by responding to requests in a timely manner, participating in advance planning of activities, monitoring progress of the strategic plan
• Monitor fiscal health of the chapter
• Appoint members of the chapter to chapter committees; work with committee chairs to ensure their committees provide meaningful forums for members to contribute their talents
• Review chapter benefits and services to ensure chapter members are satisfied
• Recommend active chapter members to the ACC President-elect to serve on national committees
• Recommend active chapter members to ACC National for awards recognizing contributions to cv quality patient care

What are the expectations for Chapters?

• Provide a forum for state members to grow and maintain local cardiology contacts
• Provide benefits and services that reflect the needs of chapter members
• Serve as the grassroots of the College by activating the chapter membership around issues that affect the practice of cardiology on a state and federal level
• Provide representation on state medical advisory committees
• Provide an avenue for chapter members to contribute their talents and express their opinions
• Encourage contributions to the ACC-PAC and the ACC Foundation
• Create and attain reasonable and measurable goals to advance the Chapter and its value to members.

What are Chapter Executive roles?

• Assist Chapter President in setting and accomplishing goals
• Maintain all necessary operational and legal compliance
• Provide ACC national with copies of all requested operational, legal and financial documents
• Provide two-way communication between the Chapter and ACC national
• Monitor and contribute to the ACC Chapter Executives Listserv (chapters@lists.acc.org)
• Attend Chapter functions
• Proactively reach out to Chapter leadership with suggestions for programs, activities and member benefits
• Keep Chapter leadership informed of the fiscal health of the Chapter
• Respond to ACC Chapter needs in a timely and professional manner
• Competently perform duties of an association management professional including reviewing personal performance and Chapter effectiveness with leadership and ACC staff
• Meet with ACC leadership and staff as requested

Chapter Executives are governed by a contract with the Chapter (not with ACC national) which specifies their duties. Examples include:

- Administration

􀂉 Managing Database of current and past officers/committee chairs

􀂉 Tracking Chapter leadership participation history

􀂉 Contracting

􀂉 Managing strategic plan

- Donor and Grant Database

􀂉 Developing donor and sponsor activity

􀂉 Recording Industry attendees and invited attendees to Chapter function

􀂉 Tracking photographs, roster of Awards Winners, and calendar of Awards Programs

- Meeting Files

􀂉 Creating, distributing and tracking Program Books for all Past Annual Meetings

􀂉 Managing Meeting Binders/files

􀂉 Contracting with venues – hotels, vendors, convention centers -- and Abstract Service Providers

􀂉 Managing databases of all attendees, exhibitors and industry sponsors of the past Annual Meetings

- Website and Newsletter

- Financial Records

􀂉 Tracking bank statements, audited financial statements, and Federal, State and Local Tax filings and status letters

􀂉 Managing contracts and records pertaining to financial obligations, and current annual budget

- Legal

􀂉 Managing key legal documents (Articles of Incorporation, Corporate seal, Bylaws and all amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and/or Bylaws)

􀂉 Managing minutes of all the Board and Committee Meetings

􀂉 Managing Insurance policies - General liability, workmen’s compensation, directors and officers, others

􀂉 Managing grant applications and obligations

Please visit the Chapter Executive section of the site for information about contracting, annual Chapter Executive Review and Chapter Executive recruitment.