Editor's Note: Revised September 26

Actions or changes to Wisconsin Medical Society policy or organization are considered by the House of Delegates (HOD) during every annual meeting. Resolutions for action must be submitted in proper form by Monday, February 17, 2009, for consideration at the 2009 Annual Meeting, which begins Friday, April 17, 2009, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.

Although the February deadline is months away, the Society would also like to remind members that issues/resolutions can be submitted for consideration year round. For time sensitive issues, this may be a better avenue. Please use the Member Communication Form which available on the Society Web site.

Also, if desired, assistance will be provided to develop a resolution that reflects a policy change you are possibly seeking. Ideas presented via the Member Communication Form can be referred to the Board of Directors, a specific Council or the HOD for further study and/or recommendations.

Unanimous consent of the House of Delegates shall be required for the introduction of any late resolutions, except those that are submitted by the Board, a Board member or the Society’s constitutional officers. The Board of Directors will submit recommendations regarding the acceptance of late resolutions to the House at its opening session.

When drafting resolutions for submission, please note the following:

• The title of the resolution should appropriately reflect the action for which it calls.
• Information contained in the resolution should be checked for accuracy.
• The resolves should stand alone, since the House adopts only the resolves and the whereases do not appear in the proceedings.
• It is strongly encouraged, but not required, that all resolutions submitted to the House of Delegates for its consideration, contain a statement by the author as to existing Society policy on the topic, or that the Society does not have any current policy on the topic.
• Any resolution submitted to the House of Delegates for its consideration, which requests that the resolution be taken forward to the American Medical Association (AMA) for its consideration, should contain a statement by the author as to existing AMA policy on the topic, or that the AMA does not have any current policy on the topic.

Fiscal notes will be added to all resolutions whose implementation would require funds not normally included in the Society’s budget. For each resolution submitted, a sponsor should be in attendance at reference committee hearings to provide background information.

Resolutions may be sent to Susan L. Turney, MD, Executive Vice President/CEO, Wisconsin Medical Society, P.O. Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701 or via e-mail to Noreen Krueger. For further information, contact Noreen Krueger at 608.442.3904, toll free 608.442.3800, ext. 3904.