Charter National Council Chief Executive Officers

Refer to: OD

1. PURPOSE.  The purpose of the National Council of Chief Executive Officers (NCCEO) is to ensure that Indian Health Service (IHS) Chief Executive Officers (CEO), Tribal Health Program Directors, and Urban Indian Health Program Directors effectively participate in the establishment and implementation of an Agency strategy to achieve the IHS mission.
2. MEMBERSHIP.
   1. General Membership.  The NCCEO membership includes all IHS CEOs, Tribal Health Program Directors, and Urban Indian Health Program Directors.  General members receive updates and information from the NCCEO Executive Council on a monthly basis.  General members may attend meetings, volunteer time, and serve functions within the NCCEO as requested or appointed, but have no chartered duties or responsibilities
   2. Executive Committee.  The NCCEO Executive Committee serves as an active body of elected and appointed representatives on behalf of the general membership.  The NCCEO Executive Committee includes the following:
      1. the NCCEO Chairperson;
      2. the NCCEO Vice Chairperson;
      3. the NCCEO Secretary;
      4. the Deputy Director of Management Operations for IHS; and
      5. up to thirty-six Area representatives, three from each of the IHS Areas.
   3. Area Representatives on the Executive Committee.  Three Area representatives are designated by each Area Director, with generally one CEO appointed to represent IHS programs; one CEO or Health Director appointed to represent Tribal programs; and one CEO or Health Director appointed to represent Urban Indian Health Programs.  However, representative designation in Areas that lack an IHS, Tribal, or Urban (I/T/U) program is left to the discretion of the Area Director(s) to appoint Area representatives in a manner that ensures fair and inclusive involvement on the NCCEO.
   4. Elections for NCCEO Officer Positions.
      1. The NCCEO Chairperson is an officer elected every 2 years by a simple majority vote of the NCCEO membership.  The Chairperson's term of service is 2 years.  To promote continuity in the council, the election and term of the NCCEO Chairperson is alternated with that of the NCCEO Vice Chairperson.
      2. The NCCEO Vice Chairperson is an officer elected every 2 years by a simple majority vote of the NCCEO membership.  The Vice Chairperson serves a term of two years.  To promote continuity in the council, the election and term of the NCCEO Vice Chairperson is alternated with that of the NCCEO Chairperson.
      3. The NCCEO Secretary is an officer elected annually by a simple majority vote of the NCCEO membership and serves a term of one year.
   5. Vacancies in NCCEO Officer Positions.  If an NCCEO Officer position is vacated during the year, the NCCEO Executive Committee will call for nominations and vote for another Executive Committee member to fill the vacant office throughout the remainder of the unexpired term.  It is the responsibility of the highest ranking Executive Committee member remaining to call for nominations and oversee a vote for replacement within forty-five days of a vacated position.
   6. Absence.  Area representatives may designate an alternate representative by providing written notification to an active NCCEO Officer to vote on NCCEO issues in their absence.
   7. Quorum Business.
      1. Quorum.  A quorum is a simple majority of the Executive Committee.  However, in the absence of a quorum, NCCEO business may be conducted if a minimum of twelve Area Representatives are available to vote AND a simple majority of the IHS Areas is represented.
      2. Vote on Motions.  With the exception of the NCCEO Chairperson, each Executive Committee member may cast one vote on each duly recognized motion.  A simple majority of votes will determine the acceptance or rejection of a given motion.  In the event of a tie vote, the NCCEO Chairperson will cast a vote for the motion to proceed.
3. RELATIONSHIPS.
   1. To the IHS Director.  The NCCEO Chairperson (or designated alternate) will serve as the formal council representative to the IHS Director and communicate concerns and recommendations as directed by the NCCEO Executive Committee.
   2. To other Chartered National IHS Professional Councils.  The NCCEO will coordinate and communicate with the Council of Chief Medical Officers (CCMO), the Executive Committee of the National Council of Clinical Directors (NCCD), the Executive Committee of the National Nurse Leadership Council (NNLC), and the National Council of Executive Officers on program issues, action items, or policies of mutual concern.
   3. To Other Established I/T/U Entities and Groups.  The NCCEO may be asked to participate with other councils, Tribal and Urban Indian Health Program boards, Headquarters Offices, or workgroups as directed by the IHS Director or as needed to fulfill NCCEO obligations.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES.
   1. Executive Committee.  It is the responsibility of the NCCEO Executive Committee members to:
      1. attend and participate in monthly, national, and combined council meetings;
      2. participate in setting the Agency's strategic action agenda;
      3. ensure that NCCEO members understand the mission of the IHS as well as the current national strategy(s) for achieving that mission;
      4. promote common understanding and implementation of the current Agency priorities, initiatives, and direction at a local level;
      5. recommend policy proposals to the IHS Director in matters that directly affect I/T/U's;
      6. contribute to the development of agendas for general, annual, and special meetings of the NCCEO;
      7. advocate and act on specific concerns of its membership in a professional and appropriate manner;
      8. support and promote all of the President's, Department's, and IHS's initiatives;
      9. develop and maintain an up-to-date list of all I/T/U CEO/Health Directors in their respective Areas and communicate this list to the NCCEO Secretary;
      10. schedule and hold regular monthly communication with their Area constituencies and the Executive Committee;
      11. contribute to the development, support and advocacy of ongoing systems for recruitment, training and development, retention, succession planning, and recognition of professional CEO/Health Directors;
      12. promote performance improvement and organizational development through effective leadership and management in support of health services delivery; and
      13. promote activities and services that are culturally appropriate in raising the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people.
   2. Chairperson.  It is the critical responsibility of the NCCEO Chairperson to:
      1. ensure the NCCEO has appropriate access to the IHS Director and key management staff;
      2. keep the NCCEO informed of decisions on NCCEO concerns made by the IHS Director;
      3. preside over monthly conference calls;
      4. preside over any meetings held in person, by telephone, or through video conference;
      5. establish and activate ad hoc committees to research and report on specific NCCEO concerns;
      6. be responsible for assigning tasks to and the coordinating reports for members of the Executive Committee;
      7. develop and present position statements and recommendations to the Executive Committee for approval;
      8. represent the position(s) of the NCCEO at IHS Leadership meetings or other meetings as required.
   3. Vice Chairperson.  It is the critical responsibility of the NCCEO Vice Chairperson to:
      1. assume the duties of the NCCEO Chairperson in the event of his or her absence.
      2. serve in any capacity as directed by the NCCEO Chairperson or the Executive Committee.
   4. Secretary.  It is the critical responsibility of the NCCEO Secretary to:
      1. assume the duties of the NCCEO Chairperson in the event of his or her absence and the absence of the NCCEO Vice Chairperson.
      2. coordinate the preparation of monthly meeting agendas and communicate information to the NCCEO Executive Committee.
      3. record, maintain, and distribute meeting minutes to the NCCEO Executive Committee.
      4. serve as directed by the NCCEO Chairperson, NCCEO Vice Chairperson, or the Executive Committee.
5. MEETINGS.
   1. Annual Meeting.  The NCCEO Executive Committee will hold an annual general meeting and other meetings as necessary.
   2. Concurrent Meeting.  One NCCEO Executive Committee meeting each year will be concurrent with the Combined Council meeting.
6. SUPERSEDURE.  This circular supersedes IHS Circular No. 2005-10, "National Council of Chief Executive Officers-Charter," dated December 20, 2005.
7. EFFECTIVE DATE.  This charter revision becomes effective on the date of signature.