HOD Member Fact Sheet:
ADA Goverance 101

The more you know...

The word governance comes from an ancient Greek word, Kebernon, which means to steer. In current usage, to govern means to steer, to control, and to influence from a position of authority.  Governance deals with the legitimate distribution of authority through a system, whether a country or an organization.

Q: Who governs ADA?

A: The Board of Directors (BOD) governs the organization and the House of Delegates (HOD) governs the profession.

Q: What does the ADA Board of Directors do to govern the organization?

A: To govern the organization, the BOD,

• sets and monitors strategic direction,
• oversees fiscal planning,
• provides leadership for professional initiatives,
• selects, supports and assesses the chief executive officer and conducts an annual performance appraisal,
• appoints persons to represent the Association,
• establishes guidelines and policies for appeals, publications, awards and honors,
• administers and enforces the professional Code of Ethics in conjunction with CDR and HOD, and
• exercises such powers and performs all lawful acts permitted or required under the Illinois Not for Profit Corporation Act.
  

Q: Who makes up the ADA Board of Directors?

A: The ADA BOD consists of the

• President (1-year term),
• President-elect, elected by the general membership (1-year term),
• Past-President (1-year term),
• Treasurer (2-year term),
• Treasurer-elect, elected by the general membership (1-year term),
• 3 Directors at Large, elected by the general membership (3-year term),
• 6 HOD Directors, including the Speaker and Speaker-elect and are elected by the general membership (2-year term),
• 2 Public Members, appointed by the Board of Directors (2-year term),
• ADA Foundation Chair, elected by the Foundation (1-year term), and
• ADA CEO (non-voting).

Q: What is the ADA House of Delegates?

A: The deliberative bodyacting as the voice of members, which governs the profession and develops policy on major professional issues.  To govern the profession, the HOD,

• monitors and evaluates trends affecting the profession,
• monitors member issues and mega issues, and the resulting actions,
• approves standards of education and standards of practice,
• reviews, debates, and approves professional standards,
• establishes the size and structure of the House,
• adopts and revises with the Commission on Dietetic Registration a code of ethics for dietetics practitioners, disciplinary procedures for unethical conduct, and reinstatement conditions,
• makes recommendations on standards, qualifications, and other issues related to credentialing to the Commission on Dietetic Registration,
• makes recommendations on accreditation, approval and related issues to the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education,
• provides direction for quality management in dietetics practice,
• identifies and develops position statements,
• provides oversight to ADA and affiliate bylaws and,
• assists with recruitment and retention efforts related to leadership development.

Q: Who makes up the House of Delegates (HOD)?

A: The HOD includes (total number of delegates = 98 as of June 1, 2007):

• 64 Affiliate Delegates are elected by members of the 53 affiliate dietetic associations,
• 18 Professional Issues Delegates, are elected by the general ADA membership and represent the broad areas of practice (education, research, clinical, community, consultation & business practice and management) and are linked with the 29 dietetics practice groups (DPGs),
• 10 At-Large Delegates: one delegate representing CADE (appointed by CADE), one delegate representing CDR (appointed by CDR), one delegate representing student members (elected by the Student Council Advisory Committee), two delegates representing DTRs (elected nationally), one delegate representing retired members (elected by HOD), one delegate representing members under 30 years of age (elected by HOD) and three delegates representing the broad membership (elected by the HOD),
• 6 HOD Directors comprise the House Leadership Team (HLT), including the Speaker and Speaker-elect, elected by the membership.  They are members of the ADA Board of Directors.

Q: Who represents the ADA member, the BOD or the HOD?

A: Both the BOD and the HOD represent all ADA members.  To compare ADA’s structure to the structure of governance of the United States, the BOD acts as the ‘Executive Branch.’ The BOD sets and monitors the strategic direction of the Association, establishes policy within the organization, directs the Association’s budgeting and finance activities, and monitors operational performance of the CEO.  In contrast, the HOD, acts as the ‘Legislative Branch,’ representing ADA members by serving as a “representative of” on issues within the profession of dietetics.  The HOD assumes that all view points are included in the decision-making process of what is needed to move the profession of dietetics forward.

Although there are ‘checks & balances’ between the groups (the HOD is represented on the BOD by 6 Directors who are the HOD Leadership Team), the groups work in collaboration to ensure members of the American Dietetic Association are the leading source of food and nutrition services.

To find more information on ADA and the work of the HOD and BOD, visit the ADA Web site at www.eatright.org/governance.  

 

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