Officers and board members gain new leadership skills throughout their service. Each board member serves as a liaison to various volunteer groups such as committees and task forces.  The board focuses on governance, direction and vision. Board members conduct ongoing assessment of vision, progress and opportunities while the academy staff manages day-to-day operations within the context of the board’s direction.

Implementation of the strategic plan most often involves recruiting volunteers who may be committee chairs, task force chairs, editors, and project directors, to name a few. The board develops task forces to work on key initiatives or charges committees to conduct specific work that supports the strategic plan. Board liaisons periodically check in with their assigned committees to communicate what is going on in the organization, how it affects the committee or group, and to give direction, guidance, and support to the group.

The board’s role is to set direction for the organization through strategic thinking, or a strategic plan to meet the changing landscape of the physical therapy profession and industry. It is also responsible for making sure that the goals and action strategies of the plan are implemented in partnership with volunteers and staff. While the board is not responsible for doing the actual implementation, it is responsible for establishing a mechanism to get the work accomplished and for monitoring progress.