Candidate’s Views
Iwant to thank you, the APA members in Area 7 who trusted me and elected me to the Board of Trustees almost three years ago. In May of 2003 I will complete my term of office. I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue serving you, the members in Area 7, for a second term.
A first major goal that I set for myself during this term of office has been to improve the fiscal responsibility and oversight of the Board and to find ways of reducing costs while improving (not just maintaining) service to our members, our patients, and our communities. (To work toward this end, I also serve on the APA Finance and Budget Committee.)
A second, broader goal has been to represent the members of Area 7 at the Board. I have brought to the Board and national officers the perspective, concerns, and experience of members of district branches in the West, particularly smaller and more rural district branches. Over the years, relatively few members of the Board have come from smaller district branches.
Some of the fiscal, and organizational, issues I have been working on with the Board include the following:
Increased fiscal responsibility by the Board, especially the establishment of a financial oversight committee to assure that the annual budgets of APA remain in balance each year.
The Board has voted to reduce its size and its operating budget.
Developed a budget for next year that begins to replenish the depleted reserves of APA.
Hired a new medical director to start in 2003.
Developed and began implementation of the plan to move APA headquarters from the outdated facility in the District of Columbia to a more efficient and less expensive (over the next 20 years) facility in Rosslyn, Va.
Reorganized the APA component structure to allow for continued excellent work by our members and our components while reducing costs.
Revised the travel policy of APA to eliminate or reduce unnecessary or inappropriate travel expenses without impeding the work of APA.
Recommended that the current centralized membership pilot project continue only as a pilot project for another year to assure that district branch concerns are addressed.
If I am allowed to continue representing Area 7 on the Board for another three years, I will work to maintain and enhance the improved fiscal responsibility and cost reductions noted above. I will also continue to work with the Board to identify and implement further expense reductions, while maintaining the primary goals of APA to advocate for patients and members. In addition, I will work faithfully so that the concerns and needs of the members of Area 7 are vigorously represented to, and effectively understood by, our national officers, our Board, and our APA staff.
Primary Loci of Work and Sources of Income
Work:
100%—University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
Income:
30%—University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, N.M.
60%—Educational Employees’ Retirement Fund of New Mexico
10%—Magcare Inc.