“Volunteering for the AHRP has introduced me to lifelong friends and colleagues all over the country and around the world.
“Every committee chair, member and microvolunteer makes critical contributions to the organization, which keep us moving forward.
“I’m amazed at the ideas generated and quality of work done in collaboration among these groups. It is through these experiences I am able to make the most current and up-to-date information available to patients, caregivers and fellow colleagues.
“Although rheumatology has challenges, I see opportunity in so many places. It is an exciting time to be engaged and involved. I will always be grateful for the many friends and colleagues I’ve met along this journey with ACR/ARHP. As a Tennessean, I find the term, ‘Go Vols!’ carries even more meaning these days.”
Call for Service
Currently, the College has more than 700 volunteers actively working to Advance Rheumatology! For 2015 the ACR, ARHP and Rheumatology Research Foundation have more than 60 volunteer positions open for the Board of Directors, Standing Committees and Councils. These appointments are for three years and are initiated each year in conjunction with the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. In 2015, as part of its Strategic Plan to Reshape Volunteering, the College is implementing microvolunteering opportunities that will allow members who are unable to make a commitment to a three-year term on a standard committee or board to contribute as a volunteer in other ways. Microvolunteering will be structured to create options for volunteering that require less travel and can be completed in relatively short lengths of time. We are excited that these new microvolunteering opportunities will allow us to expand our volunteer pool to include members of the ACR and ARHP from across the globe.
The ACR is also convening a Leadership Development Task Force, led by David Daikh, MD, ACR/Foundation secretary. The goal of this group is to design a leadership program for the ACR that will develop a sustainable pool of volunteer leaders for the future. We would like to engage young and busy members in volunteer activities for the College, while providing new tools to enhance their career development and leadership skills.
Volunteer nominations are currently being accepted for the ACR and Foundation Board of Directors, as well as ACR, ARHP and Foundation committees and councils. We would like all members interested in serving the College as a volunteer to complete the volunteer nomination survey, which is located at www.rheumatology.org. For mentors who think they know someone who would benefit from becoming an ACR volunteer, we would ask you to nominate them for a volunteer opportunity. The deadline for submission is June 1. After all the nominations are submitted, they are then reviewed by the Committee on Nominations and Appointments for review and selection before going to the Board of Directors for approval. All nominees will be informed of the Committee and Board decisions.
