ABRF EBrief
July 2024
ABRF is pleased to share a summary of the recent Executive Board meeting:
- FASEB Reorganization
ABRF's FASEB Board representative Nick Ambulos provided an update on the ongoing efforts to consider a new structure for FASEB. Work is continuing to create a new organization which would function as a collaborative among FASEB and participating societies. Working groups have been established to develop proposals for the Operations, Publishing, and Meetings functions within this new organization. Nick will provide updates to the Executive Board as this work develops, to inform their evaluation of ABRF's future participation in FASEB.
- Statements on scheduling ABRF Annual Meeting
The Executive Board reviewed the draft statement on mishandling of the announcement of the 2025 annual meeting dates and approved distributing the statement to ABRF members and posting it to the 2025 annual meeting web site.
The Board also agreed to ask the DEIB Council to prepare an additional statement to address how ABRF will improve inclusion in the scheduling of future annual meetings.
- Updating ABRF Finance Committees and Business Skills Workshop Proposal
The Board reviewed recommendations to revise ABRF's Finance Committee to add an Audit Committee and a Business Development Committee. These new groups would provide improved focus on compliance, financial planning, and fiscal sustainability.
Draft versions of the Committee charters will be shared with the Board for review and comment.
The Executive Board also reviewed a proposal to engage with an instructional design group to help review the current Business Skills workshop program materials, group activities, and presentation content. The group will also organize a facilitators' workshop for current and potential instructors to begin to develop standardized content and delivery models for the workshop. Plans are underway to present workshop content at upcoming Chapter meetings and host institutions. The Board approved the proposal at an estimated cost of $7000 for 2024.
- Updating ABRF Investment Account
The Board was notified that ABRF's Investment Account with Vanguard is required to be updated to an Organizational Brokerage account. This new account will not include any costs for ABRF or modify the range of investment options but will add access to professional investment advice. The Board approved moving forward with this change and authorizes AMR and the Executive Director to complete the necessary application and related forms to affect the change.
- 2024 ABRF Executive Board Election
The Board reviewed their discussions with the Nominating Committee during the June meeting, as well as follow-up conversions by email, to determine whether incumbent Board members who were completing their first term of service are required to stand for re-election by the general membership or could be approved directly by the Executive Board. ABRF will follow up with those members to determine the result of the poll and next steps for the 2024 election.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions for the Executive Board.
Thank you for your continued support for ABRF.
Regards,
Thayumanasamy Somasundaram (Soma)
ABRF President
president@abrf.org