I am sure that by now many of you are aware that AOPA is presenting revised
Bylaws to the membership for adoption at the National Assembly in September.
The Bylaws were mailed last week to all AOPA members.
The proposed Bylaws are designed to implement the work of the Structure
Commission which has worked over the last year to find ways to address the
representation and service needs of both small and large companies. Under the
new AOPA Bylaws, large companies would have limited representation at the
Board table. Large companies could have no more than two representatives on
the Board unless the smaller companies (who will retain about 99 percent of
the votes) voted them into office. There is no way that the two large
companies could gain control of the Board, even if the smaller companies voted
them into all of the officer positions. At the same time, the larger
companies will have a voice that is valuable to them and to AOPA. We need the
perspectives of the entire AOPA field when we deliberate on matters that
affect the future of O&P businesses and the profession.
It is extremely important that we hold the O&P industry together. We are on
the verge of significant breakthroughs in legislation. If we stick together,
we will can achieve our legislative and regulatory goals. If not, we will
succeed only in further splintering the field.
If any AOPA member have questions about the Bylaws, please feel free to post
them to me and I will respond as best I know how.
Thank you for all of the good work you do. I am proud to be a small part of
this important field.
Best regards,
Bob
Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
Executive Director
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
1650 King Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703/836-7116
Fax: 703/836-0838
Email: [email protected]
