Committee chairs provide critical leadership for the Association. They help to recruit and motivate committee members, set the committee agenda, and communicate the committee’s work and priorities to AAPA officers and directors.
Chair Responsibilities
Committee chairs are expected to preside over committee meetings during the year as called. They put resolutions to committee vote prior to the Annual Convention. Committee chairs are also often called upon to discuss their area of expertise at AAPA’s seminars, held each year at different locations.
Workshop/Seminar Planning
The committee chairs, with the assistance of their committee members and the AAPA staff liaison, take primary responsibility for developing the workshop and seminar programs – crafting an agenda, assigning moderators and working with moderators and committee members to obtain speakers. Committee chairs are among those who give welcoming remarks on the first day of the seminar. He or she may also participate as a speaker and/or moderator. Generally, moderators are corporate members.
Annual Leadership Summit
Committee chairs are also expected to attend the annual AAPA Leadership Summit, which is designed as the forum in which the new Chair of the Board shares his/her vision with technical committee leaders. The Summit also provides opportunities to enhance coordination between the technical committee chairs and the new Chair of the Board. The summit provides an opportunity to discuss goals for the upcoming activity year and review policies and procedures.
Length of Term
Technical committee chairs should turn over on a regular basis and generally have terms of two to three years (ideally beginning a term at the end of an Annual Convention). Chairs of policy committees often serve longer terms to provide the Association long-term, consistent leadership in policy areas.
Vice Chair/Secretary or Second Vice Chair
Each committee is strongly encouraged to select a vice chair and, ideally, a secretary or second vice chair, usually by appointment or vote of the members. The committee selection process should consider diversity in leadership, geography, type and size of port, etc. Election or appointment of leadership successors (1) designates leaders in the event that the chair is unable to attend a meeting, and (2) allows the committee to groom candidates to seek appointment to the chairmanship. Committee vice chairs and secretaries/second vice chairs are expected to participate along with the chairs in the Annual AAPA Leadership Summit.
