The two Director-at-Large positions on the AOSW Board of Directors oversee the State Representatives and the Special Interest Group (SIG) leaders to help with onboarding, development, planning and problem solving. We also serve on other AOSW committees and work on special Board projects. I thank the current Board members for their warm welcome to me when I began my term in January 2017. I am impressed with the expertise of my fellow Board members and their dedication to promoting and positioning our organization.

The AOSW State Representatives is a group of volunteer members who work to engage AOSW members in their state and act as an AOSW contact for members and nonmembers alike. This is a position that allows members to give a limited amount of time or contribute a more substantial amount depending on their personal interests and other obligations. You can find a listing of the AOSW State Representatives here.

The SIG leaders are also volunteer members who are seen as experts in their field and serve as a resource for fellow SIG members and the membership at large. They assist members with questions, concerns and discussions related to their specialty area. SIG leaders often present at the AOSW Annual Conference, but it is not required. At the Annual conference the SIGs have an opportunity to meet in person to network, share ideas and perhaps plan for future presentations. This year AOSW provided CEUs for the SIG meetings and leaders were given the option to submit an abstract.

In recent weeks, several AOSW members have inquired about starting new SIGs in other specialty areas. If you are interested in creating a new SIG, please visit the SIG web page and complete the application. If you would like to become a SIG leader for one of the existing SIGs, please feel free to contact me directly.

AOSW’s management company, Kellen, has created an opportunity for members to communicate directly with one another through AOSW Communities. Communities serve as a forum for SIGs and State Representatives to communicate directly with their groups, list resources and the latest information pertaining to their specialty area or state. Instructions on how to use the Communities are available online (member login required). The AOSW Board of Directors and Kellen are aware of some of the challenges in using the Communities and are working on resolving these issues to make them more user-friendly. Please feel free to share your concerns with me and I will relay them to the appropriate persons.

Lastly, please remember that volunteers are an integral part of AOSW. There are many amazing opportunities to get involved in AOSW as a SIG Leader, State Representative or committee member. To view current opportunities, please visit the AOSW Volunteer Center. Volunteering allows you to increase your professional network and enhance your professional skills and resume or CV with leadership and service experience. Plus, it assists AOSW in achieving its strategic goals.

It is an honor to serve AOSW in this volunteer leadership role and I welcome your valuable feedback and suggestions to help ensure that our nonprofit professional organization is responsive to members’ needs and exemplifies excellence in psychosocial oncology.