AMA-YPS Assembly Meeting Service Opportunities

Before each Annual and Interim AMA-YPS Assembly meeting, the Governing Council solicits volunteers from the Assembly to serve on convention committees. Committee assignments are made by the Governing Council Chair in the weeks leading up to the meeting. Serving on a committee allows young physicians to contribute to the success of the Assembly meeting. Time commitments vary by committee, and are described below. If you have questions or wish to be considered for a committee assignment, please e-mail AMA-YPS.

Reference Committee
The AMA-YPS has just one reference committee, and much of its work is done prior to the Assembly meeting. The committee is composed of four AMA-YPS delegates, one of whom is appointed the chair. Responsibilities of the Reference Committee include:

• In advance of the Assembly meeting, the review of testimony submitted on AMA-YPS reports and resolutions, along with staff comments and a synopsis of relevant AMA policy;
• Participation in a pre-meeting committee conference call, scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 5, to recommend AMA-YPS action for each AMA-YPS report and resolution;
• Developing consensus as a committee to accept or not accept "late" resolutions received after the resolution deadline (May 2);
• Participation at a dinner meeting of the Reference Committee, scheduled for Thursday, June 12, to review and approve the committee's report; and
• Attendance at the AMA-YPS Business Meeting on Friday, June 13, during which the committee report is presented to the Assembly and the Assembly votes on AMA-YPS items of business.

Time Commitment:

• The time required to review testimony regarding AMA-YPS items of business will depend on the number of reports and resolutions submitted to the Assembly.
• The pre-meeting conference call on Thursday, June 5, during which preliminary committee recommendations will be formulated, is expected to last at least one hour.
• Committee members must attend a dinner meeting from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, to finalize the committee's report.
• Committee members must sit at the head table during discussion of the Reference Committee's report to the Assembly on Friday, June 13.

HOD Handbook Review Committee
AMA-YPS Handbook Review Committees are convened prior to each Annual and Interim Assembly meeting to review the entire HOD Handbook. A minimum of two AMA-YPS delegates and one Governing Council member are assigned to review items of business referred to each HOD reference committee. In advance of the Assembly meeting, committee members work with the AMA-YPS delegate and alternate delegate to:

• Review the AMA-HOD handbook, and identify items of business that are relevant to the AMA-YPS;
• For relevant items, propose an initial course of action for the AMA-YPS (active support, support, oppose, active oppose, neutral);
• In a pre-meeting committee conference call, scheduled for the evening of Sunday, June 8, develop consensus on recommended AMA-YPS action for relevant HOD items of business; and
• Chairs must attend a dinner meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 12 to finalize handbook review recommendations.

Time Commitment:

• The time commitment for handbook review can be significant, depending on the number of reports and resolutions referred to one's assigned HOD reference committee. Staff will try to ease the workload by developing handbook review grids for each committee's review.
• Items of business to be considered at the Annual Meeting will be posted to AMA Web site in May; comments on relevant items will be due to AMA-YPS staff within a few days after posting. Supplemental items may also be posted and can require quick turnaround times. Deadlines for submitting comments on reports and resolutions must be met so that grids can be updated quickly and posted on the AMA-YPS Web page.
• The pre-meeting conference call on Sunday, June 8 is expected to last at least an hour.

Credentials Committee
The Credentials Committee consists of up to four delegates, one of whom is appointed to chair the committee. Its main responsibilities are to:

• Check-in and credential delegates to the AMA-YPS Assembly;
• For individuals who have not pre-registered, determine their ability to be credentialed as voting delegates;
• Take vote counts during the Assembly meeting upon the request of the AMA-YPS Chair;
• Distribute, collect and count election ballots; and
• Collect meeting evaluation forms.

The committee chair also issues a verbal report on the number of credentialed delegates in attendance.

Time Commitment:

• Committee orientation is scheduled for 8 to 8:15 a.m. on Friday, June 13.
• Committee members must be available to credential delegates from 8:15 to 10:00 a.m. and from 1:15 to 1;45 p.m. on Friday, June 13.

Parliamentary Procedures Committee
Committee members should be familiar with the Sturgis Code for Parliamentary Procedure and must be available during the Assembly meeting to assist with procedural questions. The committee has no pre-meeting assignments.

Monitors for AMA House of Delegates Reference Committees
These key individuals "monitor" a specific AMA-HOD reference committee and bring back to the AMA-YPS caucus an analysis of selected items discussed during his/her assigned reference committee. This helps the AMA-YPS delegate and alternate delegate refine their testimony on pending issues. By identifying early opposition to forthcoming AMA-YPS resolutions, the Section has time to develop strategies for overcoming objections as well as to get support from other delegations. Caucus members also may be requested to testify on behalf of the AMA-YPS, in the absence of the AMA-YPS delegate and alternate. Typically several volunteers and a Governing Council member are assigned to each AMA-HOD Reference Committee.

Time Commitment:

• Must attend the AMA-YPS Caucus on Friday, June 13, immediately following adjournment of AMA-YPS Assembly meeting.
• Must attend HOD reference committee hearings on June 15 and 16.