Are there problems you think the APA should address?  With a little effort, you can put your idea before the APA Assembly for consideration and possibly point the APA in that direction.  An Action Paper is the product of an idea about how the APA can work on behalf of its members.

Members of the Assembly, representing and informed by the members of their district branch (i.e. MPS members), formulate ideas into actionable tasks that the Assembly can review, debate, and vote on. The process for developing an Action Paper may first require determining what activities or policies are already underway at APA or have been in the past.  As the idea is developed, the Action Paper is honed and parsed into a subject, intent, problem, alternatives, recommendation, and implementation.

Once an Action Paper is submitted to the Rules Committee, it may be assigned to a Reference Committee or Area Council. The Reference Committee hears testimony about the paper and discusses it, potentially making changes. The paper is then brought to the floor of the Assembly at which time the Assembly may make additional changes. The Assembly then votes on it.

If the Action Paper is approved, it is then typically referred to the Joint Reference Committee. The Joint Reference Committee may then refer it to the Board of Trustees for consideration, or to the appropriate component for additional information and work, or for implementation.

To review the complete details on the APA website, please click HERE.  You need your member login to access the information.

The Action Paper deadline for the May 2019 Assembly is March 28. 

If you want to suggest an idea for APA action, please contact one or all of the MPS Assembly Representatives, Anne Hanson, M.D., Elias Shaya, M.D. and Brian Zimnitzky, M.D. by March 1 so that hopefully an Action Paper can be drafted for the May meeting.  The Assembly meets again in November if you need more time.