Member ParticipationOne of the things that makes Group Health successful is our tradition of member governance and participation. Our members receive care from our system, but also help shape and guide it. You can get involved by helping govern Group Health, by signing up for our newsletters and blogs, or by volunteering or joining a focus group, or by getting involved in Senior Caucus or a Medical Center Advisory Council. Help Govern Group HealthIn 1947, our founding members were dedicated to creating a responsive, viable health care delivery system for their community. Voting members have had a direct voice since the beginning. That includes you! Become a voting memberVoting members elect our Board of Trustees, the governing body that hires the chief executive officer and makes major policy decisions, and vote on changes to our bylaws. Log in to MyGroupHealth to access the voting membership registration form. Members who are aged 18 years and older are eligible to vote. The registration deadline is Aug. 24, 2010 to vote in the Board of Trustees elections and at the Oct. 23, 2010 annual membership meeting. If you register after Aug. 24, you will be eligible to vote in 2011. For more information or to register by phone, call 206-448-2888 or 1-800-252-3305. Attend a Board meetingPublic Board meetings begin with an open microphone session during which any Group Health member can address the Board directly on all matters except those related to personal health care. For notices of public board meetings, see Classes & Events. You also may contact the Board of Trustees Office at 206-448-5790 or 1-800-252-3305, ext. 11, or governance@ghc.org. Serve on the Board of TrusteesGroup Health Cooperative's 11-member consumer Board of Trustees hires the organization's chief executive officer and sets the strategy, policy, and direction for a nonprofit organization. Every year, a small number of positions come open for election. The application process begins early in the year, with candidates selected for election by June prior to the annual meeting in October. The application deadline for the 2010 Board of Trustees has passed. See Group Health Board of Trustees for information about the current Board. Attend the annual membership meetingAll members can attend our annual membership meeting, Oct. 23, 2010. Voting for Board members and bylaw amendments takes place at the annual meeting, as well as by mail. Also see: Annual Membership Meeting Sign Up for Our NewslettersWe provide eNews, our e-mail newsletter, for people who care about Group Health. eNews offers an inside look at the important work of Group Health Cooperative. For more information and to subscribe, see Group Health eNews. You also can follow Group Health via our news blog, which covers events, community involvement, and research. Subscribe to our news blog. Be Involved Throughout the YearBesides voting, there are plenty of ways to get involved and have a say in how we operate, such as participating in focus groups, volunteering, and joining the Senior Caucus or a Medical Center Advisory Committee. Join a focus groupWe seek member input in a variety of ways, including focus groups for new or existing programs and services, advisory and special interest groups, and usability testing for our Web site. The time commitment can vary from a single hour to regular meetings a few times per year. Sign up online. VolunteerGroup Health offers many volunteer opportunities, from transportation assistance to staffing our Resource Line. Participate in Senior CaucusGroup Health Senior Caucus is consumer participation in action — the hallmark of Group Health's unique approach to patient-centered health care. Senior Caucus membership is open to all adults who receive their health care at Group Health, but it is particularly relevant to those aged 60 years and older. Those who care for an aging parent may also find Caucus membership valuable. There are no fees or dues associated with membership. Senior Caucus has regular chapter meetings in the Puget Sound region and Spokane, which usually include educational programming on topics of interest to seniors. Standing committees meet monthly. And the Caucus also sponsors an annual forum to meet Board of Trustees candidates prior to the annual membership meeting. See Classes and Events for meeting announcements. Senior Caucus provides editorial guidance for Vitality, Group Health's healthy aging newsletter, which is mailed to all Group Health individual or group Medicare Advantage members. Members who have their Group Health benefits coordinated with original Medicare can pick up a copy at any Group Health medical center. These are just a few examples of what Senior Caucus offers. If you'd like to learn more about the Senior Caucus, consider attending a chapter meeting. To join or to ask questions, e-mail governance@ghc.org or call 206-448-2080 or 1-800-252-3305, ext. 13. Join a Medical Center Advisory CouncilSome of our medical centers have volunteer-led Medical Center Advisory Councils (MCACs). The councils and medical center staff work together to improve the care and wellness of members and their communities. Each council meets at least four times per year. The MCACs are open to all members who reside near or receive care at a respective medical center. Some medical centers share an MCAC. Our MCACs include:
Members who live outside our medical center service areas can join district advisory councils or network services advisory groups. For more information about joining an MCAC or advisory council, e-mail governance@ghc.org or call 206-448-2080. Why I Vote"I vote because it is our responsibility as consumers in a consumer-governed organization to have a voice in the way Group Health operates. It is our responsibility to make sure that our needs are heard."
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