|
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation's
Allied Support Group
In 1998, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) created an Allied Support Group consisting of newly created national ovarian cancer advocacy organizations to promote open dialogue and collaboration among the advocacy groups. The GCF agreed at that time to host semiannual meetings and to serve as the “administrator” of the Allied Support Group. Over the ensuing few years, the Allied Support Group expanded its membership to include other gynecologic cancer related advocacy and research organizations. As currently constituted, the group represents most national and some international organizations that have interest in women's gynecologic cancer health.
In addition to meeting semiannually to review the activities of their individual organizations, members of the Allied Support Group have collaborated on a variety of special educational, advocacy and research projects. A partial list of these projects follows:
- Educational presentation/slide kits for medical professionals and lay public
- Ovarian National Resource List
- Ovarian Cancer Product Guide
- Ovarian Cancer Survivor's Course
- WCN/WCN Wall of Hope/Survivor Section/Calendar of Events
- Newspaper supplements
- News/magazine articles
- Research grants (GCF has received funding from various allied support group members to support research grants)
- Speakers at each member's conferences
- Educational materials
- Exhibiting at member's conferences
- Government relations/congressional receptions
Further recognizing the importance of the Allied Support Group, in 2002 the GCF appointed Ronald Alvarez, MD, a member of the GCF Executive Committee, to a newly established position of Advocacy Chair. In this role, he serves as the liaison between SGO/GCF and the Allied Support Group members. He chairs the Allied Support Group meetings.
Mission Statement
At the February 2003 Allied Support Group meeting there was initial discussion among the members regarding a mission statement, operational issues, and special areas of emphasis. It was decided to have a session during the September 2003 meeting with Dr. Saralyn Mark of the Office of Women's Health acting as a facilitator to further discuss these areas in anticipation of creating general guidelines/policies manual for the group. The proposals below were approved at the March 2004 meeting and are listed below.
The mission of the GCF Allied Support Group is to facilitate synergy between organizations who share the goals of the prevention and early detection of gynecologic cancers, and of optimizing the care of women living with these malignancies.
Membership Criteria
Organizations eligible for membership in the GCF Allied Support Group will be those that have a national or international program that, at least in part, includes in their mission the goal of preventing and/or improving the outcome and lives of women affected by gynecologic cancers.
Organizations interested in membership in the GCF Allied Support Group shall contact the GCF Executive Director to determine eligibility. The GCF Executive Director will add this request for membership to the agenda of the upcoming Allied Support Group meeting. The organization may make a brief presentation to review the mission and activities and membership of their organization at this meeting. A simple majority vote of all voting members of the GCF Allied Support Group is required to elect new members.
Organizations may resign from the GCF Allied Support Group by submitting a letter of resignation to the GCF Executive Director. Of note, individuals involved in the formative meeting of the Allied Support Group remain as voting members of the Allied Support Group until they resign their membership.
Meeting Guidelines
In general, GCF Allied Support Group meeting will, be held semiannually usually in conjunction with the SGO Annual Meeting and with another national meeting of the group's choice. The GCF Advocacy Committee Chairman, the GCF Chairman, or their designees, will chair the meeting. Member organizations shall, in most instances, be represented by 1-2 designees of their choice with the understanding that these individuals are decision makers within the organization. Each member organization will be allowed one vote. Member organizations may send other representatives to observe proceedings of the GCF Allied Support Group Meeting pending approval by the GCF Advocacy Chairman. GCF will cover the cost of food and beverage at the Allied Support Group meetings.
The agenda for the meeting will be developed by the GCF Executive Director and Advocacy Chair, with input from member organizations. In general, the agenda will include consideration of new organizations for membership, a general information sharing session, and other action items regarding special projects, and administrative issues. Each member organization will have the opportunity to give a verbal report of key activities or projects; a 1-2 page written summary of other activities may be prepared by member organizations for distribution at the meeting as a means to supplement the verbal report. Minutes of the meeting will include new collaborative ideas and approved actions. The GCF office will continue to maintain a file of all meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and written reports from organizations (when submitted).
Benefits of Membership
The appointed representatives of member organizations in the Allied Support Group are invited to attend the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) Annual Meeting. Registration fees for the meeting are currently waived, thus allowing appointed representatives from member organizations to participate in all open scientific sessions. Appointed representatives may attend all open educational sessions (i.e., the Sunrise/Sunset Sessions and Post Graduate Courses) at the usual registration fee for these courses. All appointed representatives are responsible for their own travel and housing costs.
Allied Support Group member organizations are also invited to have a table top at the SGO Annual Meeting at no cost. All organizations that elect to have a table top at the SGO Annual Meeting must have a representative in attendance at the table during meeting/exhibit hours.
Communication Guidelines
Communication between the GCF and the Allied Support Group member organizations is an integral part of achieving our mutual goals. Sharing information regarding activities of the GCF Allied Support Group will occur via both specified and informal means. The GCF will maintain an e-mail list serve which will includes members of the Allied Support Group and contact information for their respective representatives. The GCF will maintain a web based calendar, which will list upcoming activities of all member organizations of the group. Other GCF or member organization informational issues will be communicated on an ad hoc basis among appropriate group representatives.
Guidelines for Special Projects
Special projects of mutual interest to all or selected member organizations will be identified and prioritized during semiannual meetings in either group or ad hoc group forums. Such special projects can be of an ongoing or limited nature. Progress regarding all previously initiated special projects will be reviewed at each Allied Support Group meeting.
|
