How Committees Work

Introduction

AGC's committees are the primary means by which all members work to meet the needs of the industry, and the needs of the membership as a whole. The committees provide grassroots contact with emerging issues, and a forum for discussion of key construction industry concerns. It is through these discussions that AGC members exchange information and ideas, and provide the basis for policy change within the organization. Committee members are also provided with a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics which they utilize in their businesses and realize value–added return on their investment in AGC.

Participation in AGC's committees is not only encouraged, it is vital to the growth and success of our Association.

Committee Structure

AGC of America is served by over 50 General and Joint Committees and 5 Standing Committees. Currently over 1,200 member volunteers serve on committees.

Membership on most General and Joint Committees is open to all AGC Contractor, Specialty Contractor and Supplier/Service Providers. Membership on the 5 Standing Committees prescribed by the Bylaws is, however, limited to General Contractor members. The 5 Standing Committees are: Executive, Ethics, Finance, Membership Administrative and Rules.

Each committee is served by a Chair and a Staff Associate who is a member of the National Staff. The Staff Associate assists the committee in any manner deemed necessary to fulfill its function and mission. Staff Associates are encouraged to participate fully in committee deliberations and activities. The Chair is a member in good standing who is appointed by the President annually. Committee Chairs serve at the discretion of the President, and may be reappointed for terms of up to three years.

Committees report on policy or procedural matters within the scope of their responsibility either to the Board of Directors, or to the appropriate governing entity such as the Occupational Divisions, Councils, etc.

How Do I Join an AGC Committee?

Members of all committees are appointed by the President annually based upon the recommendation of their chapter, with final approval granted by the Board of Directors.

Committee Appointment information is supplied to Chapter Executives in November of each year, requesting names of individuals who wish to continue to serve, or would like to participate on national committees. Your first point of contact for expressing interest in committee service should be your Chapter Executive.

Once all recommendations are received, each recommendation is reviewed by AGC's Officers. Committee attendance is one of several factors reviewed to determine eligibility for reappointment to a committee. Committee service traditionally begins and ends at the National Convention which is usually held in March of each year; however, the President will generally entertain interim committee appointment requests from Chapters between Conventions. Notify your Chapter Executive if you desire an interim appointment so the recommendation may be forwarded.

Committee Work Procedures

Meeting Frequency
AGC's national committees meet at the call of the Chair. Convenient times and locations occur normally at the Convention and the Midyear Meeting. However, some committees choose to meet on an interim basis to conduct business, and again, convenient locations and times are always sought. Attendance at committee meetings is recorded both for internal revenue service review, and for reappointment purposes.

Reports
A report of the activities of each meeting is drafted by the Staff Associate for the Chair's review and approval. Reports contain any recommendations for AGC Policy change, actions recommended, requests for expenditure of funds, and other items of discussion and information that are pertinent and informative. If the recommendations and actions affect other AGC committees, the report will indicate referrals to those committees. Reports are addressed to the governing entity and forwarded to the Committee on Committee Reports (COCR) for review.

Committee on Committee Reports (COCR)
COCR is Chaired by AGC's Vice President and composed of the Vice Chairs of the four Occupational Divisions. COCR's responsibility is to review all committee reports prior to submission to the Executive Board. Reports are examined for completeness, variances with existing AGC Policy, funds requested, actions recommended, etc. COCR highlights important elements in the reports and prepares an executive summary to speed review and approval by AGC's Executive Board. In the event potential conflicts exist with current Policy, problems with funding levels requested, or other questions of report content, the committee Chair will be advised by the COCR Chair to initiate discussions to resolve questions. Upon occasion, the committee Chair may be invited to make a brief presentation to the Executive Board to clarify the report.

Report Approvals
Following COCR review, the Executive Board will review and approve the report.

This extensive review and approval process is particularly beneficial to AGC's many joint committees. These committees interact with public and private owners, other construction–related organizations, the engineering and architectural community, and international construction associations. Careful review by all parties ensures that recommendations, resolutions, and actions are fully consistent with each organization's policies.

Committee Evaluations
Each Chair is requested to perform a self–evaluation of the committee's functions, and its effectiveness at implementing actions that provide value–added service to our members. Further evaluations are conducted by the Occupational Division Chairs and AGC Officers to ensure the committees are providing effective service to the Association's membership.

Creation/Sunset of Committees

Creation of an AGC committee may only be accomplished with the recommendation of the President and approval of the Executive Board.

The decision to sunset a committee will normally follow the evaluation process. The Chair and members of the affected committee will be consulted, and their input sought. Following consensus that the committee's function can be eliminated or combined with another committee, the President will act to terminate it.

Conclusion

The work product of each AGC committee varies with its stated function and mission. Services provided range from providing a discussion forum for members to network with each other, to the development of product–line items designed to meet specific needs of the membership. In every case, AGC's committees consistently deliver value and quality to our members, and to the industry.

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