Organization Structure

The California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) is a 501 (c)(3) public charity organization governed by the Board of Directors since its inception in 1996: CHIA Bylaws

Over the years the organization has changed its structure in order to adapt to new practices and trends. The following information is from our current Board Manual, which was reviewed in May 2015. 

Board of Directors

CHIA's Board of Directors may have between 8 and 17 members, all of whom must be current members of the organization. Board service is voluntary and terms are two years. In Addition, two students currently enrolled in an HCI program in the state may be elected to serve one-year terms.

Board of Directors Job Description

Officer Positions

Officer positions as specified in the bylaws include the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. All officers, with the exception of the President, serve one-year terms at the pleasure of the Board and may be reelected with no limit on consecutive terms. The Board has developed additional practices to ensure smooth transitions from one President to another and to ensure that new leaders will be ready to assume organizational responsibilities. 

Committees

According with Article VI, Section 1 of CHIA's bylaws: The Board may, by resolution adopted by majority of the number of directors then in office,... create one or more committees,... to serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each committee is chaired or co-chaired by board members.

Effective January 1, 2012, the following shall be the standing committees:

1. Steering
2. Education
3. Conference

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee has the authority to act on behalf of the Board on all matters except: amendments to the bylaws, mission rewrite, incurring corporate indebtedness, and budget approval.

The President serves as chair or co-chair of the committee. The other members of the committee are the President-elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one other Board member chosen by the board.

The Finance Committee has been incorporated with the Steering, and Conference Committee in order to streamline processes.

Education Committee

The Education Committee is responsible for ensuring that there are regular trainings offered in different locations in the State throughout the calendar year. Presently called Regional Trainings (formerly chapter's meetings), these trainings have become second in importance to the annual conference and must remain a responsibility of this Committee to ensure their quality, frequency and overall benefit to the membership. 

Education Committee members should have experience or knowledge in the training of healthcare interpreters, either as an instructor, researcher, or language coach.

Conference Committee

The Conference Committee is charged with planning and coordinating all facets of the annual conference, ensuring that tasks are assigned and completed by deadlines. The President-Elect chairs or co-chairs the Conference Committee.