HOW YOUR APA WORKS FOR YOU

promote the common professional interests of its members;

improve the treatment, rehabilitation, and care of persons with mental disorders (including mental retardation and substance-related disorders);

advance the standards of all psychiatric services and facilities;

promote research, professional education in psychiatry and allied fields, and the prevention of psychiatric disabilities;

foster the cooperation of all who are concerned with the medical, psychological, social, and legal aspects of mental health and illness;

make psychiatric knowledge available to practitioners of medicine, to scientists, and to the public;

promote the best interests of patients and those actually or potentially making use of mental health services; and

advocate for its members.

President

President-elect

Vice president

Secretary-treasurer

Seven Area trustees, representing each of APA's seven geographic Areas

Two trustees-at-large

One early career psychiatrist (ECP) trustee-at-large

Member-in-training trustee (MITT)

Three immediate past presidents

Speaker of the Assembly

Speaker-elect of the Assembly

President/President-Elect—The president-elect chosen in the 2009 election will serve as president-elect from the close of the 2009 annual meeting through the close of the 2010 annual meeting and as president through the close of the 2011 annual meeting.

The president-elect chairs the Joint Reference Committee and carries out any duties assigned by the president that are specifically designed to familiarize him or her with the duties to be assumed as president.

If the president is unable to function because of absence or illness, the president-elect shall act for the president. If the president dies or resigns, the president-elect becomes president for the remainder of the term.

The president prepares the agenda for and chairs all meetings of the Board and general meetings of the Association. The president (after election as president-elect) appoints the personnel of nearly all components except the Joint Reference Committee.

Vice President—The vice president, who serves a two-year term, performs the duties assigned by the president. He or she may represent the president at official functions of APA, such as district branch meetings, national conferences, and other meetings.

Secretary-Treasurer—The secretary-treasurer, who serves a two-year term, and his or her authorized agents are bonded in an amount determined by the Board. He or she receives, disburses, accounts for, and manages all monies of APA under the general direction of the Board. The secretary-treasurer submits financial statements each year to the Board and to the Assembly at the annual meeting. He or she also submits financial statements to the auditors, sends out annual dues bills, notifies members who are in arrears, and is responsible for investment of Association funds with the help of the Investment Oversight Committee and the medical director. The secretary-treasurer, by reason of office, is a voting member of the Finance and Budget Committee. The secretary-treasurer also keeps the records of the Association; receives petitions for nominating candidates or for referenda or to amend the Bylaws or for recall of officers or trustees and submits the recall ballot to the membership; certifies minutes of Board meetings; certifies the editions of the Bylaws; and chairs the Ethics Appeals Board.

Member-in-Training Trustee (MITT) and Trustee-Elect (MITTE)—Each year an MITTE is elected and serves on the Board for one year without a vote and then advances to the MITT position for one year with a vote. The MITTE is elected by members-in-training only, instead of by the membership at large.

Other Trustees—Other members of the Board are two trustees-at-large, one ECP trustee-at-large, trustees from each of the seven Areas, and the three immediate past presidents, all of whom serve three-year terms.