Public Outreach Committee

Mission

“The mission of the Public Outreach Committee is to develop and disseminate information for informing health professionals, members of the public, state and federal legislators/officials, and fellow scientists about the value and impact of alcohol research.  The target audiences will understand, through our efforts, how our leading-edge research is helping find solutions to the problems raised by alcohol overuse. Types of actions that our members may undertake include (a) lectures and other educational activities targeting our constituent groups, (b) meeting with legislators and members of charitable organizations to stress the importance of research to address individual and societal problems associated with alcohol consumption, (c) honoring journalists and writers who are effective, through their work, in communicating the importance of alcohol use and its disorders and the need to research its causes, prevention, and treatment, and (d) any other activities that foster the primary goals of education and advocacy. Increased public appreciation of alcohol’s damage and the promise held out by a vigorous program of research and development will broaden support for funding to study, prevent, and treat alcohol problems.”

Meet the Committee

ROTATION OF MEMBERS

1. Members of this Committee are expected to have an interest in educating legislators, outside interest groups and the public about alcohol research and important research findings. Each member will be expected to  a) contribute in a meaningful way to the Committee’s educational and legislative activities; b) perform activities that help the general public, students, health professionals, policy makers, and other constituencies understand the excitement and promise of alcohol research broadly, perhaps using their own research activities as examples; or c) be involved in both. To this end, the committee seeks members from all disciplines in the alcohol research field who are willing to give their time or talent to the activities of this Committee.
2. Members will be appointed for a 3-year term, with the option of one or more consecutive re-appointments for additional 3-year terms.
3. The Chair of the National Advocacy and Public Education Committee to identify committee members that represent the diversity of the RSA membership, with regard to research area, career level, underrepresented minority status, and gender. A Co-Chair will be appointed by the Chair from within the Committee. The Chair will initiate all official emails, meetings, conference calls, deadline reminders, etc. The Co-Chair will be the primary advisor to the Chair and will represent the Chair in the event of illness, unavailability due to travel, or in other unexpected circumstances. Under usual circumstances, the Co-Chair will succeed the Chair at the end of his/her 3-year term.
4. Committee size will be 13-14 members, including the Chair, comprised of a minimum of 6 regular RSA members and emeritus, student, and associate members (note: according to RSA rules, associate members may not vote). Members will rotate off the Committee at the end of their terms, unless they request in writing an interest to serve another 3-year term and this request is supported by the Chair, or unless they respond positively to a request by the Chair to continue for another term. While it will be unusual for a member to serve more than three terms, there is no limit on number of terms a member may serve, since the Committee benefits from a level of continuity and ongoing (often individual) trust relationships with target entities. The Co-Chair will succeed the Chair at the end of their 3-year term. However, the Chair and Co-Chair may serve an additional 3-year term in the Chair and Co-Chair positions for a maximum of two terms of total administrative service. They can then remain on the committee for additional terms, as described for other members of the committee.
5. To preserve continuity of the committee, rotations will be staggered so that no more than 3 members rotate off in a given year.

* Several committee members and I would like to point out the uniqueness of this committee, and the difficulty in proposing term limits on membership, while fully realizing the importance of having new members join the committee to replace other members.