The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) Bylaws Committee will be presenting the following bylaws change during the 2026 Virtual Membership Meeting on Thursday, August 6. The change was approved by the OAFP Board of Directors during its meeting on January 28. The proposed change requires approval from the OAFP membership.
The new language regarding composition and appointment of committee members is indicated below in bold text.
Current Bylaws Language:
CHAPTER XIII – Election of Officers and Directors
“The current president shall appoint four (4) members of the Board of Directors and three past presidents, who have indicated that they do not intend to run for an office in the current year, to serve on the Nominating Committee. The president will designate one (1) of the three (3) past presidents to serve as chair.”
Additional bylaws language to include:
Appointment of Members:
In appointing the four (4) Board members to the Nominating Committee, the following provisions shall apply: The President may appoint a student or resident member of the Board of Directors to fill one (1) of the four (4) Board member positions on the Nominating Committee. In the event there are insufficient eligible members of the Board of Directors available to serve, the President may appoint a member in good standing who is not a member of the Board of Directors to fill any vacancy on the Nominating Committee. Strong consideration will be given to members serving as OAFP Foundation trustees or members serving as chairs on OAFP’s committees and workgroups.
(Background: The OAFP Bylaws require that the Nominating Committee be composed of three past presidents and four current board members who are not seeking elected office. While well-intentioned, this narrowly defined structure limits flexibility and has created recurring challenges in assembling a full seven-member committee that meets the specified criteria. Over the past two years, the difficulty has been compounded by the number of board members pursuing elected positions, leaving too few eligible individuals to serve. The proposed bylaws language would broaden member eligibility for service on the Nominating Committee.)
Your feedback is important. Register today to participate in the Virtual Membership Meeting on Thursday, August 6, and let your voice be heard. Member questions can be directed to Executive Vice President Kate Mahler, CAE.