First-Ever Teleconference Signals Changes are Coming

As the 2004 ASME Congress draws near, I want to share with you what your elected officers have been doing to maintain the momentum for the Continuity and Change (C&C) Initiative since the Summer Annual Meeting.

For the first time ever, the Board of Governors conducted a meeting, on Sept. 10th, via teleconference. There was a sense of excitement in the discussions that focused on the C&C Initiative, particularly the need to modify the Nominating Committee (NC) process to reflect changes in the ASME organization in time for the next scheduled officer nominations in June 2005.

After much discussion, over several weeks among dozens of Society officers, the BOG approved some interim actions related to the NC process. These actions are intended to serve the redesigned ASME operating structure in which the volunteer/staff operating units are referred to as Sectors.

The BOG approved the following:

• President and governors will continue to be nominated by the NC.

• Sectors will select the senior vice presidents.

• Sectors will select NC delegates.

• Sectors will establish the selection process for their respective vice presidents, identify their choices for vice president — one or more for each office — and place them before the NC for final nomination action.

• 2004–05 NC members will be those elected at the 2004 Summer Annual Meeting.

• The number and distribution of 2005–06 NC members and first alternates will be determined by the ASME Board of Governors prior to the 2005 Summer Annual Meeting.

Here's a brief follow-up on what we'll be doing as a result of the BOG's action on the recommendations for the nomination process.

Working with the Committee on Organization and Rules, staff and our attorney will analyze and prepare changes to the bylaws so that Sectors can identify their choices for vice president, and place them before the Nominations Committee for final nomination.

Our teleconference actions will enable the Nominations Committee, and the Project Management Task Force, to continue their work, and to focus on the remaining issues necessary for successful implementation of Continuity and Change.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to discuss and explore options for the future size and composition of the Nominating Committee, which will be brought before the BOG for decision by SAM 2005.

The NC changes will be phased in over the next several months, giving us time to carefully examine the officer and board member nomination process and to identify any further changes that will be required.

I, and the rest of the ASME leadership, ask for and look forward to your comments and suggestions on how we can best proceed. Your input will help shape the direction we will take. Your continued support will make the transition successful.

— Harry Armen
ASME President

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