m

from the AAP Department of Chapter and State Affairs

officers (chapter presidents and vicepresidents) and chapter executivedirectors. Now in its third installment,the survey helps to determine and pri-oritize the chapters' future needs andto evaluate current chapter services.Previous assessments took place in2000 and 1997. The 2003 studyyieldeda 65% response rate from U.S. andCanadian chapters.

The current findings suggest thatadvocacy continues as the cornerstoneofchapter focus and activities. Chaptergoal achievement is improving, andthe Academy's communication withchapters remains solid and strong.Areas in need of attention include

membership recruitment and reten-tion, and guidance and direction onfundraising initiatives.

Following are survey highlights:*The current preference for e-mailcommunications climbed 20%from 2000, when seven out of 10chapter officers named it theirpreferred method, and increased70% from 1997, when only one infive designated e-mail as theirfirst choice. Officers also favor e-mail for their own chapters-87% use it most often to commu-nicate with their members. Thechapter's newsletter runs a closesecond at 86%.*Eighty-eight percent ofchapter offi-cers visit theAAP'Web site to obtaininformation regarding Academyactivities. Once there, they surf thechapter, member services, practiceissues and state government affairspages of the Members OnlyChannel (www.aap.org/moc). Overhalf saytheyvisit theWeb site oncea week or more.

* Eight in 10 (82%) claim advocacyremains the primary focus of theirchapter's efforts, up from only 62%in 2000, and 74% in 1997. Nine outof 10 (91%) note they spend themost time on advocacy (similar towhat was reported in 2000, and upfrom 77% in 1997). Over half (54%)believe their chapters madeprogress in child health legislativeissues -10% higher than in 2000.However, only a third (32%) feeltheywere effective on issues relatedto the practice of pediatrics.

* Nine out of 10 respondents believethe Academy does a good to excel-lent job of keeping them informedabout changes in clinical practice,policy statements and AAP posi-tions. However, they feel they couldbe better informed about grantopportunities, with onlyhalf (51%)giving theAcademy a good to excel-lent rating in this area.

* Half of all chapter officers reportsuccess in meeting chapter goalsover the past year, up nearly 10%from 2000 when 41% felt the same.Notably, in 1997, only one in five(21%) believed they were effectivein achieving their goals. As to theprimary factor contributing tochapter success, respondents firstcite "excellent chapter staff," then"excellent chapter leadership'> and"strong member participation andcommitment."*A majority (54%) ofofficers identifyfundraising as the greatest area inwhich they need further assistance,followed by membership recruit-ment and retention at 38%.*Officers think they do a better joij ofretaining members than recruitingthem. While over half (56%)describe their chapter's member-ship retention as effective, onlyslightly more than a quarter (28%)feel the same about recruitment,

See Chapters, page 151

Navigating the Internet once provedunappealing for AAP chapter leader-ship. No longer, according to a recentchapter needs assessment. Nine out of10 chapter officers who responded nowsay e-mail is their most preferred formof communication from the Academy.TheAAP Department ofChapter and

State Affairs administers the chapterneeds assessment survey to chapter

150 AAP News www.aapnews.org March 2004

CHAPTER VIEWVS AN D NEWVS

Survey Advocacy is cornerstone of cAcapters' focus

I , , ,. . , .. , S ,

* AP News online: Perfect for today'svvvvvva nevs;o

Atechnical support e-mail address alsowill be provided.Those elected will take office in

November 2004 at the AAP NationalConference & Exhibition.

Formore information, contactCarolynMensching, AA4P Department ofCom-mitteesand Sections, at (800) 433-9016,ext. 4079, ore-mawilcmensching@aap.org.

Dr. Fierson is chairoftheAAP Councilon Sections.

andname lack ofperceived chaptervalue as their chapter's weak pointin delivering member value. But,more than any other reason, chap-ter officers say member participa-tion is what makes their chaptermost effective in its advocacy forchildren and pediatricians. Not sur-prisingly, 78% of officers identify"motivating others" as the area inwhich theywould mostlike to growindividually as a leader.*Over 90% report providing profes-sional education opportunities tomembers at least once a year, and87% grant continuing medical edu-cation credits to participants.

As with the 1997 and 2000 assess-ments, chapters answered questionson seven key areas: leadership and ori-entation; communications; member-ship recruitment and retention;advocacy; professional education;services for chapters provided by theAcademy; and overall suggestions.Question format and structure

remained similar to the former surveysto compare the difference in responsesover time. However, the most recentstudy contains new questions/topicsdeemed appropriate for 2003, such asdistinguishing between the types ofissues members are informed about,the effectiveness of membershiprecruitment/retention efforts and sev-eral questions addressing the Web-based Chapter Membership System.Survey findings will be used by the

AAP Department ofChapter and StateAffairs to address chapter needs moreefficiently.

For more information on chapterservices orfora copy ofthefinal report,contactBetsey Siska,AAPDepartmentof Chapter and State Affairs, at (800)433-9016, ext. 7860, or e-mailbsiska@aap.org.

by Walter M. Fierson, M.D., FAAP

_ ,; ~~~In2004, voting sec-_ _ ~~~tion members of the=4_, ~Academy will havel ~~~the opportunity toi ~~~vote for open pOSi-

tionsonsectionexec-utive committeesusing a new elec-

Dr. Fierson tronic ballot system.The online ballot,

as well as candidates' biographicalinformation, will be available be-ginning March 1 at www.aap.org/elections. Because not all membershave computer access or capability,and becausevoting is a right and a priv-ilege, paper ballots are available bycontacting the AAP Departmentof Committees and Sections at (800)433-9016, ext. 4079.

Ballots, whether paper or electronic,

ChaptersContinuedfrom page 150

must be received by the Academy nolater than Friday, April 30, 2004, inorder to be counted. If section mem-bers inadvertently vote both by paperballot and online, only the online bal-lot will be counted. It is hoped that theWeb-based ballot is found to be an effi-cient and enjoyable means bywhich tovoteforthe candidate(s) ofyourchoice.

For theWeb-based election, sectionmembers will receive an e-mail notifi-cation when the online ballot is avail-able, which will contain the link to the

ballot site.A letter will be sent to mem-berswho do nothave an e-mail addresson file. There will be a link to the ballotsite from the Members OnlyChannel oftheAAPWeb site (www.aap.org/moc).To access the ballot, section mem-

bers will need to enter the pre-assignedloginnumber and password, whichwMlbe provided on each member's e-mailnotification or letter. Those who areunable to locate their login numberand password can follow the instruc-tions provided on the electionWeb site.

.

.

READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.

March 2004 www.aapnews.org AAP News 'I51

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