REGION REALIGNMENT
Board Approves Restructure of ACNM Regions
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by Lynne Himmelreich, CNM, MPH, FACNM, ACNM Region V Representative
he ACNM Board of Directors has approved a realignment of the ACNM regions. Recent review of the current region structure showed an unequal distribution of members between regions, ranging from 717 members to 1498 members in the most populous region. There is an even more dramatic imbalance in geographic and ACNM affiliate representation, with a low of 5 and a high of 16 affiliates per region. ACNM and its members have made a substantial commitment to the development of an organized and active network of affiliates across the nation. Regional representatives to the Board of Directors support the leadership of these still-maturing organizations, aiding their development into effective
Current Regions
Region VI Region V
entities that both provide value to their members and work locally to increase access to midwifery care for the women and newborns within their jurisdictions. It is a critical time in the gestation of ACNM’s affiliates; the regional structure must reflect a balanced workload and manageable geographic and affiliate representation assigned to each regional representative in order for them to operate most effectively. With that in mind, the Board of Directors has approved a new region structure that will add a seventh region and another regional representative to the board. The realignment will divide the affiliates represented within each region equally, and in a geographically friendly way. Each region representative will support the leadership of 7 or 8 ACNM affiliates, correcting the current structure’s wide
range. Some variation in the total number of members per region will remain, but no more so than under the current structure.
Impact on Upcoming Elections
Region I Region II Region IV
Region III
New Regions Effective May 2014
Region VII Region VI Region V Region IV Region I Region II
We will transition to the new structure at the ACNM 59th Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Denver. The redistribution of some affiliate organizations will affect the upcoming 2014 election cycle in the following ways: • REGION I: The current Region I representative’s term of office ends in 2014. The current Region II representative, Annie Gibeau, CNM, is from an affiliate that will move into Region I during this transition. She will serve out the balance of her term as the Region I representative. • REGION II: The current Region IV representative is from an affiliate that will transition to Region II and will serve out her term as Region II representative. • REGION IV: The current Region IV representative is from an affiliate that will transition to Region II, so Region IV will elect a new representative during the upcoming elections. • REGION VI: The current Region VI representative’s term of office ends in 2014. This region will hold elections in the upcoming cycle as regularly scheduled. • REGION VII: This newly created region will choose a representative in the upcoming 2014 elections. • REGIONS III AND V: Representation of Regions III and V will not be affected by the proposed transition and will remain on their normal election schedule. Therefore, Regions IV, VI, and VII will elect a new representative in the upcoming 2014 election cycle. Nominating Committee members are in the process of identifying candidates for these offices, as well as for the office of ACNM vice president, also to be elected in the upcoming cycle.?
Region III
[email protected]. 29
Quickening Summer 2013