ETA Boards (updated January 2012)

The Executive Committee (EC) has established ten Boards to assist in the organisation and management of the ETA in order to reach the goals delineated in the statutes. The EC has set general rules for the Boards (available at the ETA website). In short, Boards are composed of two up to five members. The chairperson and a current member of the EC (who may or may not act as chairperson) are directly appointed by the EC. Nominations of other members are subject to approval by the EC. The term of office of Board members is three years except for the EC representative whose term coincides with his or her term as EC member. Members are eligible for a second term of three years only once, as proposed and approved by the EC. Board members will meet in person at least once yearly, e.g. just before the annual ETA meeting; communication between Board members will be mostly by letters, e-mail and phone. Board meetings can be attended by the President and/or Secretary and/or Treasurer. Boards will function in principle without financial assistance of the ETA, although in particular cases the EC may allocate a modest budget. Boards report in writing biannually to the EC, and give a short summary of their activities at the General Assembly of the ETA.

1. Archives Board

Members:

Peter Smyth (Chair), Luigi Bartalena (ex officio), Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen, Enio Martino, Jacques Orgiazzi, Kris Poppe, Wilmar Wiersinga,

Aims:

To record the history of the ETA. To contribute historical vignettes to the ETA newsletter and website.

2. Educational Board

Members:

Theo Visser (Chair, ex officio), Luigi Bartalena (ex officio), George Kahaly (ex officio), Ana Aranda, Leonidas Duntas, Valentin Fadeyev, Endre Nagy, Robin Peeters, Maria Stella Zannini
The Educational Board replaces the former Regional Activities Board.

Aims:

its aims are in a broader way to initiate and organize educational activities in the field of thyroidology in various European and non-European countries, promoting the activities of the ETA and attracting new members. It is recommended that members of the Educational Board take the initiative to propose to the Executive Committee the organization of at least one educational course per year (approval by EC)

3. ETA Guidelines Board

Members:

Theo Visser (Chair, ex officio), Peter Laurberg, (Co-chair), Luigi Bartalena (ex officio), Barbara Jarzab, John Lazarus, Laurence Leenhardt, Jacques Orgiazzi, Paolo Vitti, Wilmar Wiersinga

Duties of the Guidelines Committee are:

- to generate and prioritize new proposals for guidelines
- to identify the need to update existing guidelines
- to make proposals to the ExCom concerning a short list of ETA members who will participate in each specific guideline task force. The Committee should also propose the Chair of each task force.
- to evaluate guidelines prepared by other international societies and make recommendations to the ExCom for or against their endorsement.

4. Publications Board (established 2012)

Members:

Theo Visser (Chair, ex officio), Wilmar Wiersinga (ETJ Editor-in-Chief, ex officio), Clara Alvarez, Luigi Bartalena (ex officio), Dagmar Führer, Josef Köhrle, Furio Pacini, Luca Persani

5. Public Health Board

Members:

Peter Laurberg (Chair), Barbara Demeneix, Leonidas Duntas, Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen, Josef Köhrle, Aldo Pinchera, Kris Poppe (ex officio), Michael Zimmermann
The Educational Board replaces the former Regional Activities Board.

Aims:

To evaluate and advise on thyroid-related issues which are of concern to public health (such as iodine deficiency, radioactive fallout, endocrine disruptors, screening programs).

The Board should serve as a stand-by emergency board; The Board should be asked to come up with an action plan for the next 2-3 years, in particular since the 5th Framework EU programme has now expired. The group should consider consequences of iodine excess and deficiency as well as issues of iron supply and endocrine disruptors. The Board needs to propose working groups and should be encouraged to co-opt other ETA members for specific tasks.

6. Website Board

Members:

George J. Kahaly (Chair, ex officio), Maria Alevizaki, Barbara Jarzab, Laurence Leenhardt Claudio Marcocci, Simon Pearce, Agnieszka Piekielko-Witkowska (ex officio), Sandra Crutchley, deltacity.NET

Aims:

To redesign and update the ETA website once more. To establish new areas within the website, including an internet area for ETA members which among others will allow scientific exchange between members. To provide a 'shop-window' for the ETA to attract new members and sponsors. Members ex officio to be replaced at the end of their office.