The 2004 Congress of Delegates will act on two proposed amendments to the AAFP Bylaws when it meets Oct. 11 - 13 in Orlando, Fla. These amendments implement changes called for by the 2003 Congress:
• The first amendment proposes to change how certain constituency groups are represented in the Congress. Specifically, two delegates and two alternates would be seated in the Congress to represent the new physicians constituency, with no sunset date. Six delegates and six alternates would be seated to represent the other constituencies (not including new physicians) represented at the National Conference of Special Constituencies. Of these latter seats, no more than two delegates and two alternates could be elected from a single special constituency. These seats would sunset at the close of the 2010 Congress.
All special constituency representatives would be elected for two-year terms, with those elected serving their first year as alternate delegates and their second year as delegates. Special constituency representatives could serve a second two-year term, but no individual could serve more than four years total as a special constituency alternate and delegate.
• The second proposed amendment calls for changes to current Bylaws language pertaining to the specialty's name. In one instance, the term family practice of medicine and surgery would be changed to practice of family medicine; in all remaining instances, the words family practice would be replaced with family medicine.
According to the Bylaws Workgroup, which developed the proposed amendments, it should be noted that deleting the words and surgery from the first of these terms should help avoid misperceptions that the specialty of family medicine does not include surgery within its scope.
To view the proposed amendments, go to http://www.aafp.org/congress.xml and click on "Proposed Amendments to Bylaws of the 2004 Congress of Delegates." You'll need to log in using your member ID to access them.
And if you really want to get a jump on what delegates at this year's Congress will be considering, visit http://members.aafp.org/members/x10518.xml to check out resolutions submitted to date for consideration at the annual meeting. The Congress also will act on reports and recommendations from the Board of Directors, commissions and committees.
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