Have you ever wondered who is responsible for ensuring that AADE continues to meet its strategic goals, mission, vision and values? Well, those individuals are the Board of Directors which includes the president, president-elect, immediate past president, treasurer and the directors.  How are these individuals selected? Every year, AADE members have the privilege to vote for the qualified members who move the organization forward. 

If you are interested in running for office but don’t know how to get started, let me give you some tips. First, navigate the website to learn everything AADE has to offer. Second, attend the Annual Meeting. The networking is invaluable and you get to learn what the current and future hot topics are. Third, volunteer your time and expertise. AADE is comprised of individuals from differing disciplines and settings. Fourth, submit an application for the position you feel you are most qualified for when elections open every year.

By now, you should have received an email reminding you to vote. Voting started May 15th and ends June 15th. You decide the future governance of AADE. Make sure to review the candidate bios because each candidate comes from a different background and brings different areas of expertise.  Current positions on the slate include president-elect, treasurer, board of directors and nominating committee. 

AADE members need to exercise their right to vote for their 2013 leaders.Don’t miss this opportunity! We need to ensure our leaders act in the best interest of the organization and keep it moving forward to meet the strategic goals, which include advocating for policies that improve access to self-management education, setting the scope and direction of self-management education, and providing opportunities to advance skills and career goals of their members.