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Professional Advisory Groups

BASPAG By Laws

  1. Mission
  2. Objectives
  3. Membership
  4. BASPAG Leadership
  5. Operations and Procedures
  6. By-laws Update and Approval
    Article I

    Mission

    The Basic and Applied Science Advisory Group (BASPAG) of the Health Services Professional Advisory Committee (HS PAC) shall provide advice and consultation to the Surgeon General through the HS PAC and Chief Health Service Officer on issues relating to the professional practice and personnel activities of Commissioned Health Services Officers working in Basic and Applied Science (BAS) Disciplines.

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    Article III

    Objectives

    The BASPAG serves in a resource and advisory capacity in the development, coordination, and evaluation of activities related to the basic applied science professional discipline among Health Services Officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) with the specific objectives:

    1. To identify and facilitate the resolution of issues as they relate to the needs of the BAS Disciplines.
       
    2. To identify personnel needs of the USPHS and to assist in meeting those needs through activities such as recruitment, retention, training, utilization, and proper recognition of BAS Officers.
       
    3. To develop position papers, statistical reports and/or guidelines where appropriate, in order to advise and comment on both personnel and professional development issues involving the Basic and Applied Science disciplines.
       
    4. To promote continuing education and acquisition of advanced degrees (e.g. MPH, PhD) in order to provide opportunities for employment in all USPHS Operating Divisions and other health related programs (e.g. other federal/state agencies and international organizations.)
       
    5. To review and provide recommendations concerning proposed or needed changes to appointment standards and billet descriptions in order to broaden the opportunities for BAS Officers.
       
    6. To assist in the development of orientation materials for newly-commissioned BAS Officers and provide advice/recommendations concerning orientation programs.
       
    7. To encourage individual membership and involvement with professional organizations and societies, and provide a vehicle for networking.
       
    8. To promote cooperation and communication among and between other public health professional disciplines.
       
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    Article III

    Membership

    1. Eligibility: Members shall be Commissioned Corps BAS Officers in the Health Services Category.
       
    2. Size: The BASPAG shall have between 12 and 14 voting members (members herein). This is an effort to maximize quorum during meetings in order to enhance the voting process. If a member has two or more unexcused absences, his/her voting member status and privileges may be revoked. An official email or letter will be distributed to those officers who do not comply; and the Executive Committee will ask to them step down, giving the opportunity to other officers to join. Any Voting Member replacement(s) will be appointed by the Chair for the remainder of that officer’s term, and will be approved a majority vote of the Voting Membership.
       
    3. Terms: Each of the elected members shall serve a term of two years on staggered rotations.
       
    4. Other Considerations:
      • Organizational representation: Participation shall be promoted from each of the DHHS Operating Divisions to provide the range of experiences and perspectives necessary to address issues before the BASPAG. Efforts will be made to have the broadest representation possible among all other Agencies where Commissioned Corps BAS Officers from the Health Services Category are employed.
         
      • Geographic consideration: Participation shall be promoted from members whose regular duty station is geographically removed from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Members will be actively solicited and provisions such as teleconferencing will be made so that Commissioned Corps BAS Officers stationed outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area can participate in meetings.
         
      • Diversity among officers of different cultures, race, ethnicity and gender shall be respected and participation welcomed. Efforts will be made to ensure that participants in the BASPAG represent the ethnic and gender diversity of its officers
         
    5. Individuals are welcome to serve as volunteers on BASPAG subcommittees at the discretion of the BASPAG Chair. Volunteers have no voting rights.
       
    6. Meetings are open to all Health Services Officers.
       
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    Article IV

    Leadership

    The BASPAG Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chairperson (Chair), a Chairperson-Elect (Chair-Elect), and Executive Secretary. The Executive Committee shall facilitate the execution of the vision, mission, and objectives developed by the BASPAG membership. Each officer shall be elected by the members of the BASPAG prior to the end of the calendar year, for a term of office, as defined in the bylaws, beginning on January 1. Only BASPAG voting members shall be eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee.

    Duties of the officers are as follows:

    1. Chair: The BASPAG Chair facilitates, organizes, and maintains order in meetings of the Group and meetings of the Executive Committee. The Chair is expected to attend the HS-PAC meetings and serve as the BASPAG liaison to the HS-PAC. The Chair may choose to delegate another Executive Committee member to participate as BASPAG liaison to any internal or external professional advisory group or committee. The Chair shall cast a vote only in the event of a tie within the Group. The Chair shall appoint replacement Officers to fill vacancies within the Voting Membership.

      Term of the Chair: The Chair will serve a 1-year term with the option to extend one additional year, only if agreeable to all Executive Committee members.
       
    2. Chair-Elect: The role of the Chair-elect includes acting as Chair when necessary and acting as the official liaison to professional advisory groups and/or committees and other groups as assigned by the Chair. In the absence of the Chair, the Chair-Elect shall exercise all the rights and responsibilities that are granted to the Chair by the BASPAG Bylaws.

      Term of the Chair-Elect: The Chair-Elect serves a 1-year term, then assumes the role of Chair.
       
    3. Secretary: The responsibilities of the Executive Secretary include: informing the BASPAG membership (via listserv or email) of physical meeting locations and conference line information, establishment of an agenda in collaboration with the Chair and distribution of the agenda to members, preparation and distribution of minutes (a copy of approved minutes to the Chief HSO and HS-PAC Chair), and maintenance of reports, attendance, and official documents.

      Term of the Secretary: The Secretary serves a 1-year term with an option to extend for 1 year, only if agreeable to all Executive Committee members

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      Article V

      Operations and Procedures

      The BASPAG operations and procedures shall include the following:

      1. Operational Year: Calendar year January 1 - December 31
         
      2. Frequency of Meeting: At least once per quarter. The Chair may call additional meetings as needed. BASPAG subcommittees may meet more often, as needed.
         
      3. Agenda: A meeting agenda and appropriate background material will be made available to BASPAG members.
         
      4. Recording and Reporting: Minutes of each BASPAG meeting will be recorded and approved by the BASPAG. The BASPAG Secretary will maintain a permanent file of official minutes and reports.
         
      5. Voting: For official BASPAG meetings, fifty percent of the voting membership must be present in person or via teleconference to establish a quorum.
         
      6. Operating subcommittees: The BASPAG may have operating subcommittees to accomplish its objectives. These subcommittees will be organized and conduct business in a manner consistent with the BASPAG. The Chair of the BASPAG will appoint a Chair of each subcommittee who must be a voting member of the BASPAG. The operating subcommittees may include but are not limited to:
         
        1. mentoring,
        2. deployment roles and skill sets,
        3. recruitment/retention,
        4. career opportunities,
        5. professional development and networking,
        6. membership, and
        7. awards.
           
        Ad-hoc committees may be formed as needed.
         
      7. Membership: A Membership Committee shall be assembled each year to receive nominations for voting membership, evaluate the nominations, and appoint new voting members. The Chair, Chair-Elect, and Secretary will be elected by the voting membership.
         
        1. Solicitation: Annually, the BASPAG shall solicit applicants for voting membership through the HS PAC or BASPAG listserv, and other appropriate means.
           
        2. Mechanism for Nomination: Prospective BASPAG nominees may self-nominate or may be nominated by another BASPAG or HS PAC member. Preference of membership shall be given to officers who have proven to be active non-voting participants in BASPAG committees and official meetings. In addition, all active duty voting members shall meet the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) Basic Readiness qualifications.

          Prospective nominees shall provide to the BASPAG Membership Committee the following information:

          1. a current Curriculum Vitae, and
          2. a letter of interest / intent.
             
          The Membership Committee shall provide a list of the selected nominees to the BASPAG Chair. All application packets, regardless of nomination mechanism, must be postmarked on or before October 30 of the term year.
           
        3. Participation: The BASPAG membership shall meet either in person or via teleconference on a quarterly basis, at minimum. The Chair may call more frequent meetings as necessary. Each time a BASPAG member cannot be present to participate, he/she must appoint an alternate who shall represent that officer and be given proxy voting rights. Failure to attend or appoint an alternate for two consecutive meetings is grounds for dismissal from the membership. A replacement will be appointed by the Chair for the remainder of that officer’s term.
           
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      Article VI

      By-laws Update and Approval

      The BASPAG shall review its bylaws every three years and recommend revisions to update its bylaws as needed. Any revisions to the bylaws must be reviewed and approved by the HS-PAC. If in question, the BASPAG bylaws will be superseded by, and not conflict with the HS-PAC charter and bylaws. Amendments will be proposed by a simple majority vote of the BASPAG members present, and must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive and Voting Committee members. Issues requiring a vote, but not reaching a quorum (50% of the Voting members) shall be brought to the HS-PAC for resolution.

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      December 2006