AIHA® Board Candidates’ Forum
The Synergist asked this year’s candidates for the AIHA
Board of Directors to respond to the question, “The global
economy continues to affect AIHA and our members. As a
Board member, how will you guide the association to do
more with less while maintaining momentum toward key
strategic initiatives like international participation and
demonstrating the value of the profession?”
Officers and directors are elected by ballot of the voting
members. Directors serve a three-year term. The secretary-elect serves a one-year term followed by a two-year term as
secretary. The vice president automatically progresses to
president-elect, president and past president, for a four-year
commitment. Terms of office will begin May 27 at the close
of the business meeting held during AIHce 2010.
Vice President
Allan K. Fleeger,
CIH, CSP
Industrial Hygiene
Manager - Americas
ExxonMobil Corpora-
tion
Fairfax, Va.
I’m privileged to have spent the past six years on the AIHA Board, first as a director and now treasurer. This experience has pro- vided me with an invaluable knowledge base that I will leverage if elected as vice presi- dent.
How to Vote
The e-ballot for the AIHA Board election will be sent electronically on Monday, March 1. AIHA members who did not
specifically request a paper ballot will use their membership
identification number and last name to access the voting
system. If you are a voting member and do not receive an
electronic ballot via e-mail March 1, or if you requested a
paper ballot by the Feb. 27 deadline and have not received it,
please contact Judy Keithline at (703) 846-0702 or keithline
@ aiha.org. The election will remain open until 9 p.m. (ET)
Friday, March 19.
Bylaws Change Included in the 2010 Ballots
This year’s election ballot will include a proposed bylaws
change to decrease the number of directors on the Board
from nine to six over the next three years. The smaller Board
size will improve facilitation of meetings and allow the
Board to be more nimble, yet still maintain its diversity. If
the proposed bylaws amendments are approved concurrently
with the election of officers, only the top two candidates will
be considered elected as directors for 2010. This will bring
the number of directors to eight. In 2011 and 2012, three
board members will rotate off each year and the membership
will elect two new directors, bringing the number of directors to seven and then six, respectively. Beginning in 2013,
two directors will rotate off each year at the end of their
three-year term and two new directors will be elected, so
there will be a total of six directors on the Board in subsequent years.
We are all well aware of our current financial situation, both on a personal level and as an association. It has been challenging as treas- urer these past two years, but the good news is that we’ve reduced our operating expenses by over one million dollars while maintaining core services valued by you as members and remaining financially viable. Going forward, the Board’s number one priority must be to continue to provide a valued return for your dues and to dedicate our limited resources in areas that meet your needs.
The next priority is to carefully select oppor-
tunities that will grow and sustain our associ-
ation into the future. The Board must be
strategic in these decisions, and I will help
lead these efforts in the following areas:
• Internationally—increase membership,
grow lab programs, develop standards and
guidelines and continue mutually-beneficial
collaborations with other
organizations.
