Membership
The Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon HIV Health Services Planning Council seeks individuals who will assist the Planning Council in fulfilling its mission, support its purpose, and works towards accomplishing its goals. Further, the Planning Council is committed to effective involvement of persons living with HIV/AIDS in all Planning Council activities. A minimum of 33% of the members must be consumers.
In order to become a member of the Planning Council, persons must attend a minimum of three consecutive Planning Council meetings before they become eligible for membership. Additional requirements are as follows:
a. Active Participation
Members are required to attend and actively participate in monthly Planning Council meetings, as well as serve actively on one of the six Planning Council standing committees. Planning Council meetings are generally held on the first Wednesday of every month and last approximately two hours. Occasionally, when special work products or decisions are required, special meetings of the Planning Council or committees may be called.
b. Conflict of Interest
No member of the Planning Council, his/her immediate family, or the member's or member's family business, firm, organization, or group shall derive monetary gain as a result of the member's activity on the Planning Council. Each member shall be subject to the policy on Conflict of Interest adopted by the Planning Council.
c. Disclosure of HIV Serostatus
Disclosure of HIV serostatus is not required; however, Planning Councils must comply with the federal requirement to sustain minimally % HIV+ members among the total Planning Council membership. Therefore the Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon HIV Health Services Planning Council is seeking individuals who are willing to self-disclose their HIV seropositive status and are willing to represent the HIV+ communities in the EMA. The application for membership provides an opportunity for applicants who wish to self-disclose.
d. Compliance With Mandated Categories
Members are selected first to represent the federally mandated membership categories, listed previously. Members who do not represent one of these categories may be added to Planning Council membership after these categories are fulfilled.
e. Representation of HIV Epidemic in the TGA
Members are selected who are representative of the demographics of the HIV epidemic in the TGA. The epidemiology of HIV/AIDS is changing, and the Planning Council addresses corresponding changes of the epidemic in the TGA by reviewing Planning Council membership each year.
Membership terms of office are for three years, with a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms. No one shall serve more than two consecutive terms. After serving two consecutive terms, no person shall be reappointed until one year has elapsed.
For a membership application, please click New Member Application