ASHP has several advisory committees that deal with specific subjects. One of these is the Pharmacy Technician Advisory Group. This Advisory Group is charged with advising ASHP's staff and Board of Directors about ASHP actions, products, and services pertaining to pharmacy technicians.
The members of the 2008-2009 Advisory Group are:
- Peggy Toms (Chair)
- Lezlie Cohn-Oswald
- Madeline Jensen Granel
- Barbara Lacher
- Jeannie Pappas
- Susan Schneider
- Liesl Smith
- Winona Thomas
- Katherine Warren
Correspondence to these individuals should be directed to Diana Gonzales, Secretary to the Pharmacy Technician Advisory Group, at dgonzales@ashp.org. Diana will then direct the request to the most appropriate individual on the advisory group.
The committee members are appointed by the ASHP President for a term of one year (June through May). Subsequent ASHP Presidents sometimes extend the appointments in their year of service; so a given individual may possibly serve on the Advisory Group for more than one year. As with all Presidential appointments, the key to being considered for a committee appointment is for the President to know about you and your interest. Every year, members are invited via the ASHP NewsLinks to express interest in the various committee-appointment possibilities. Annually, ASHP also invites the state societies to suggest individuals to the President who might be good appointees for various committees.
If you want to be considered, develop a resume that describes your current and past work. Attach it to a letter expressing your interest, and mail it to Henri R. Manasse, Jr., Ph.D., Sc.D., ASHP Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer at evp@ashp.org. Your letter and resume will be shared with the incoming ASHP President for consideration in the next round of appointments. You are requested to submit names by December 31 of each calendar year, or sooner if possible. In making appointments, the ASHP President Elect will consider the individual's qualifications, experience, expertise and area of interest, and previous involvement in ASHP including involvement at the chapter level.
Appointment Process
What stands out about individuals for potential Presidental appointments and other potential involvements?
- A record of several years of pharmacy technician experience.
- A record of participation in other committees and association activities (for example in state society activities).
- A record of being honored by others - - for example receiving awards or being honored by a state society as "technician of the year" (or something similar).
- A record of speaking and publishing. (This is a plus, but not at all a requirement. Do not be deterred from expressing interest if you have not done much of this.)
- A record indicating an awareness of the current issues and challenges facing pharmacy and pharmacy technicians.
A reality about speaking up and indicating interest in further involvement, including potential committee appointments, is that often many more people volunteer than can be accommodated at a given time. But, even if selection is not possible immediately, ASHP staff members hold onto the resumes and expressions of interest and often find opportunities later for involving those who have spoken up. You also can re-express your interest from year to year for the attention of the changing Presidents of ASHP if you wish.