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A Look Inside APAP
By Patrick Knott, PA-C, Ph.D.
APAP President
There is a lot going on within APAP right now! We have
had many successful projects within the last year, both new and ongoing,
that have contributed to the progress of our organization. Many times,
the board members or faculty chairs get to report on the outcomes
and thereby receive recognition for their hard work. But too often,
we forget the silent partners, the APAP staff, who are so instrumental
in getting the work done. I’d like to give you an inside look
into APAP by telling you how the staff helps us to be successful.
As you know, there are many different leadership styles,
and a variety is vital to an organization’s success. Some people
have a capacity for strategic thinking, long-term visioning, and conceptual
problem-solving. These people may not be as good at actualizing the
vision, detailed planning, and outcome analysis. I probably fit into
this category. Timi Agar Barwick, APAP’s executive director,
has a style complementary to mine. She does a great job of visioning
and translating it into a successful plan, delegating the work to
the people best suited to accomplish it, monitoring its progress,
and analyzing the results.
Another factor — key to our success
— is that while our board members change every year, our staff
remains an important constant for the organization. Ms. Agar
Barwick has held our “organizational memory” on many occasions
over the years. She has provided board members with the information
needed to understand where APAP has been and where the Association
said it was headed. Board members turn to her on a daily basis for
the background to make informed decisions. The long-term relationships
she forms with the leadership of other important organizations are
invaluable to APAP’s smooth functioning. In part it means that
they remember to call us with important issues, they know whom to
talk to, and they don’t have to remember who was elected president
this year.
Ms. Agar Barwick has also recruited a great team and
provides them with the leadership and direction they need to drive
our projects. I am sure that members of the CASPA Advisory Committee,
for example, would be the first to tell you that all their hard work
would be for nothing if it weren’t for the daily attention that
our staff give to this venture.
Their talents are multifaceted. Eileen Evans, for instance,
has great editing and writing skills. When I am certain that I have
written a flawless paper, she takes it and finds mistakes or details
that I’ve overlooked and improves it substantially. APAP’s
publications benefit from her work.
Geraldene Darden is especially talented in the area
of marketing and electronic media. It’s she who develops the
on-line forms for surveys and workshops. Geraldene has helped us improve
our products and increase their profitability. This translates into
better funded educational projects and less pressure to increase dues.
Yes, her work affects your budget!
Al Baggett has been instrumental in organizing and planning
APAP’s educational activities. He helps committees stay focused
and on schedule. When Al is involved, information is distributed effectively
and communication is clear, important contributions to any project’s
success.
Finally, we are just getting to know Paxton Styles,
but he seems to have just the personality and skills to put together
successful meetings for APAP. The Association’s annual conference
has grown considerably and has become a logistical challenge, so Paxton
has his work cut out for him. He is bright, energetic, and aggressive
in resolving problems, so the board has every confidence in him.
APAP is fortunate to have the support of this team,
and I hope that this glimpse inside headquarters helps you see some
of its inner workings. Get involved with the Association’s projects
or committees. Not only will you find it rewarding and gratifying,
but the staff will be there to offer assistance.
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