Core Activities and Role for 2006
Mission
The Action Board serves as one of APHA’s main channels of generating action by the sections and affiliates on the association’s priority policy issues. The Action Board serves as APHA’s “grasstops,” or the Association’s advocate leaders, to assist the staff and association leadership in activating our grassroots network including the sections, affiliates and general membership. Members of the Action Board serve as the key liaison for the sections, affiliates and the membership at large on matters related to advocacy.
Goal for 2006
To help APHA deliver a strong message on Capitol Hill, to the media, and to partner organizations about APHA's top policy priority issues.
Tasks for 2006
Serve as a liaison to help activate the appropriate membership that you are representing on the Action Board when action is needed on legislation pending in Congress. The Government Relations staff at APHA will provide you with the information needed to get the sections, affiliates and other APHA units ready to Take Action.
Communicate APHA priority issues to APHA affiliates and be able to make the case why they should adopt the same or similar issues.
Liaison with other APHA groups who are working on the priority areas to see how their activities on APHA's priority issues can be linked.
Help coordinate visits to Capitol Hill (when your section/affiliate members are in DC) or involvement in legislators’ local meetings and activities with APHA staff. Use section newsletters and other communication tools to encourage participation in visits with members of Congress.
Encourage sections/affiliates to place APHA “Take Action” button on their websites.
Provide written updates for section/affiliate grassroots activities at least once a year in your section/affiliate newsletters.
Help to identify a list of key partners and their current activities related to the priority areas. For example, what groups are already working on these priority issues? What is their focus? What coalitions might APHA participate in? Is there a gap?
Policy Development
The Action Board is also a key player in the policy archiving and development process. The Board will help to identify topics in need of review and advise sections, affiliates and other APHA units about policy gaps.
Priority Area Workgroups
Action Board members are expected to join workgroups based on the priority areas to assist with the creation of fact sheets, websites and to help identify opportunities for APHA to promote its policy priorities.
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