The success of FDAAA depends entirely upon the willingness of its members to volunteer to serve in a number of important jobs: as committee members and chairs, as members and chair of the Board of Directors, and as officers of the Association. A normal progression in volunteer activities for those interested in serving as a director of FDAAA would be service as a committee member, chairing a committee, and then election to the Board of Directors.

It is in the best interests of the Association to provide continuing opportunities for interested members to serve in Board positions.

In providing these opportunities, the Association must balance the need for new ideas and new energy with the need for operational stability and institutional knowledge.

Further, the Association must assure that its governing structure provides the same gender, racial, ethnic, etc. diversity that characterizes FDA's employees.

The Board of Directors believes that, in order to facilitate the above, Board members should ordinarily serve no more than three consecutive three-year terms.

Special circumstances may arise in the future that will lead to the desire for specific individuals to serve more than two terms, or the Board may wish to grandfather current members who would not be in compliance with this policy.

Therefore, exceptions to the policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Board.

Approved by the FDAAA Board of Directors: October 15, 2009