The Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates (or the WSMA Annual
Meeting) is the WSMA's premiere policy-making event, when the
approximately 200 voting members of the WSMA House of Delegates gather
to debate and determine policy for the association, elect officers and
network with colleagues. All are welcome to attend the WSMA Annual
Meeting and take advantage of the educational offerings, network and
learn more about the association.
About the House of Delegates
The WSMA is governed by a House of Delegates comprising elected
delegates from each county medical society, qualified state specialty
societies, and members of the WSMA board of trustees. There is one
resident delegate, one student delegate, and one young physician
delegate. Each county society has one delegate for every 50 active
WSMA members.
Each medical specialty society is entitled to elect or appoint one
delegate and one alternate, provided that such specialty society has
as members at least 100 active members of the WSMA, or if the
specialty society has fewer than 100 members, 50% of its members must
belong to the WSMA.
Delegates are expected to be available for one year of service from
the beginning of the House of Delegates meeting until the House of
Delegates meeting the following year. Delegates shall be available to
provide input and information and guidance to the WSMA’s board of
trustees and executive committee as they administer and interpret
policy set by the House of Delegates, and as they make policy
decisions when the House of Delegates is not in session.
All legislative power of the WSMA—including the power to alter,
amend or repeal the bylaws—is vested in the House of Delegates.
All business of the House is conducted according to parliamentary
procedures as outlined in "The Standard Code of Parliamentary
Procedure." The speaker of the House serves as parliamentarian. The
speaker of the House is Matthew Grierson, MD, of Seattle. The vice
speaker of the House is Ray Hsiao, MD, of Seattle.
Policymaking at the meeting is primarily driven by resolutions. A
resolution is a proposal asking the WSMA to take a position or act on
an issue.
Learn more about resolutions and how they help create and guide WSMA
policy
.
How the House of Delegates operates
The House convenes its opening session on Saturday morning of the WSMA
Annual Meeting. At this time, guests are invited to speak to the
delegates and all reports and resolutions are referred to reference
committees. This is followed by meetings of the reference committees
on Saturday.
The House holds a second session on Sunday morning. The reference
committees present their reports for consideration by the House on
Sunday.
Learn more about the House of Delegates.
Reference committees
The in-person reference committees scheduled at the WSMA Annual
Meeting are the key to the deliberations of the House of Delegates.
Members of the House and individual members of the WSMA are invited
and encouraged to attend these meetings to discuss and debate reports
and resolutions due to be considered by the House for action.
Each reference committee is made of three members of the House
appointed by the speaker and vice speaker.
The chair of the reference committee has the prerogative to permit
non-members of the WSMA to present testimony. Committee meetings are
open to the press.
When offering testimony before the reference committee, or on the
floor of the House, please identify yourself and the society or
organization which you represent. It is helpful, unless raising a
point of order or asking a question, if you indicate you are speaking
in favor of, or in opposition to, the resolution or report under
discussion.
Remember, the reference committee is the most appropriate place for
you to express your opinions and those of your constituents.
Discussion on the floor of the House on Sunday is generally in
response to the recommendations made by the reference committee and is
not intended as a replay of more extensive testimony given at the
committee hearings.
Most reference committees complete their business in two to three
hours on Saturday. The committee reports are published under the
direction of the speaker and vice speaker and are available on the
WSMA website by Saturday evening and in hard copy by 7 a.m. on Sunday.