Healthy Ohio Business Council Articles of Operation amended January 20, 2009 Purpose of Council: The Healthy Ohio Business Council ( HOBC ) serves in an advisory role to the Director of the Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) in developing programs and plans to foster the development and maintenance of a healthy Ohio workforce. Article I A. Membership The HOBC maintains two levels of membership: 1. Executive Committee members: Membership on the Executive Committee is granted by the Director of ODH to selected organizations based upon criteria noted in Article I(A)(1)(a). The membership is granted to organizations rather than specific persons. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of each member organization shall determine the organization s representative. Each member of the Executive Committee shall be a voting member subject to Article III (B) (2). The Director of Healthy Ohio and/or his/her representatives shall also be a voting member. The Executive Committee, excluding the ODH representatives, shall not exceed 20 voting members and shall reflect a balanced composition of small, medium and large-size employers, type of business and geographic areas of the state. Non-voting members shall be comprised of all Regional Council Chairs and those organizations granted Emeritus status pursuant to Article I (A)(1)(d). a. Membership Criteria for Executive Committee Membership: Executive Committee members shall represent an Ohio employer (organization) with no fewer than 10 employees that shall have an established worksite wellness program in place for a minimum of two years prior to being considered for membership and shall have a history of active participation at the regional council level for at least one year. Potential members must be nominated by the Office of the Governor, a current Executive Committee member, regional council chair or the Director of ODH. b. Term Limits for Executive Committee Members: Executive Committee members shall serve no more than three consecutive two-year terms beginning January 2008. c. Term Limits for Grandfathered Executive Committee Members: Organizations that served as founding members of the predecessor Healthy Ohioans Business Council shall not be subject to the term limits of Article I (A)(1)(b) and shall be considered permanent members of the committee provided they meet the attendance requirement of Article III (B)(2). The founding members of the predecessor Healthy Ohioans Business Council are: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; YMCA of Central Ohio; Grange Insurance: Honda of America; LuK Inc.; Nationwide; OhioHealth; Abbott Nutrition, Abbott; TriHealth; and Worthington Industries Inc. d. Emeritus Membership Status: Organizations that no longer maintain active status on the HOBC but have made a significant contribution to the HOBC may be granted Emeritus Status and shall have no voting privileges. Emeritus Status shall be determined by a vote of the Executive Committee.
Article II Companies granted emeritus status shall be eligible for the Healthy Ohio- Healthy Worksite Award. 2. Regional Healthy Ohio Council Members: Membership is granted to organizations rather than specific persons. Members will represent specific geographic segments of Ohio or surrounding states and participate in that area s Regional Healthy Ohio Business Council ( Regional Council ). a. Membership Criteria for Regional Councils: Members are recommended for appointment by the Chair, Vice Chair or a member of the respective Regional Council. Criteria for membership in the Regional Council are based on a demonstrated interest in and ability to address worksite wellness issues. Different stages of program implementation at the worksite are acceptable (i.e., starting a program through having an established program). Members of the HOBC Executive Committee may also serve on a Regional Council. Regional Council members are not subject to term limits nor is there a size limit to any regional council. A. Structure of the Healthy Ohio Business Council Executive Committee Officers: Officers of the Executive Committee shall be, at a minimum, a Chair and a Vice Chair. The Executive Committee may have two persons serve as Co-Chairs of the Executive Committee, but a Vice Chair must also be selected. The Executive Committee may also appoint a Secretary to take minutes and keep all records of the Executive Committee. B. The Ohio Department of Health Representation: ODH shall maintain administrative oversight of the HOBC and shall be represented on the Executive Committee by the Director of ODH or his/her designee. C. Workgroups: HOBC workgroups may be established as needed by the Chair(s) of the HOBC subject to ODH approval. Each member of the Executive Committee is expected to lead and/or participate on HOBC workgroups as requested by the Chair(s) as a condition. D. Terms of Office/Officers: Officers shall serve two-year terms beginning in January of the calendar year. E. Election of Officers: Based on the recommendation of the current Chair and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee and with approval from the Director of ODH, a slate of officers shall be presented to the Executive Committee. A simple majority vote of those members of the Executive Committee present is required for approval of the slate of officers. F. Duties of the Healthy Ohio Business Council Executive Committee Officers: The Chair(s) shall assume leadership of the HOBC with the consent and approval of ODH. The Chair(s) shall be responsible for working with ODH to develop and implement the work plan of the HOBC. In the case of the existence of Co-Chairs, one Co-Chair shall assume leadership upon the absence of the other Co-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall assume leadership of the meeting and/or the HOBC in the absence of the Chair(s). G. Duties of the Regional Council Chairs: Regional Council Chairs shall attend meetings of the HOBC Executive Committee.
Article III Article IV H. Administrative Duties of ODH: ODH staff shall maintain copies of meeting notes and other documents in accordance with record retention policies, notify executive committee members of meeting dates and times, and perform other administrative duties as necessary. A. Purpose of the Executive Committee: 1. The Executive Committee shall formulate a plan and assist with implementation of strategies related to increasing and improving the worksite health and wellness initiatives of Ohio s businesses. Specifically, the Executive Committee provides direction for programs such as: The Healthy Ohio-Healthy Worksite Award Program The Healthy Ohio Fitness Challenge Annual work plan or business plan development for the Healthy Ohio Business Council New member recruitment, review and recommendation for the Healthy Ohio Business Council Regional Healthy Ohio Business Councils Annual Worksite Wellness Conference 2. No member of the executive committee or regional council shall endorse or support any program, plan or event in the name of Healthy Ohio or one of its entities without approval by the director of ODH or his representative, and a majority vote of the executive committee. 3. Executive Committee members shall also serve as liaisons to Regional Councils and provide technical and organizational expertise to benefit the Regional Councils work. 4. Executive Committee Members, with the consent and approval of ODH, serve as representatives of the HOBC for the purpose of promoting the work of the HOBC. B. Management of the Executive Committee: 1. Executive Committee members are voting members of the Healthy Ohio Business Council. Regional Council Chairs and representatives of members who have Emeritus status who sit on the Executive Committee are non-voting members of the HOBC. 2. To retain voting privileges, Executive Committee members must attend three of six consecutive meetings. If attendance is not maintained in this manner, membership is retained, but the member becomes a non-voting member until attendance requirements are met. Any member who remains out of compliance for a period of one year shall lose membership rights. 3. A simple majority of all voting members present is required to pass a motion. 4. Membership on the Executive Committee precludes that organization from being eligible to enter the Healthy Worksite Award Program. A. Executive Committee Meetings: Meetings shall be held at least four times per year. Time and location of meetings shall be determined at each prior meeting. Special meetings may be called on an as-needed basis by the Chair(s) with the approval of ODH. Members will be notified of special meetings by ODH. Time and location of special
Article V meetings shall be determined by the Chair(s) subject to ODH approval. Meetings shall be held in a central Ohio location unless otherwise specified by the Chair(s) or ODH. B. Agenda: Meeting agendas will be set by the Officers and ODH staff. A. Structure of the Regional Councils: Regional Councils shall be configured based on regions as established by the Executive Committee and approved by ODH. Membership is granted to organizations rather than specific persons and is open to any Ohio-based employer or one which employs Ohio residents as long as the company has a demonstrated commitment to or interest in worksite wellness. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of each member organization shall determine the organization s representative. Each member of the Regional Councils shall be a voting member. B. Officers of the Regional Councils: Officers of each Regional Council shall be at a minimum, a Chair and a Vice Chair. A Regional Council may have two persons serve as Co-Chairs of the Regional Council, but a Vice Chair must also be selected. The Regional Council may also appoint a Secretary to take minutes and keep all records of the Regional Council. All officers of each Regional Council shall be approved by the Executive Committee and ODH. C. Workgroups: Regional workgroups shall be determined as needed by the Chair(s) of the Regional Council with ODH approval. All members of the Regional Council are expected to lead and/or participate on the Regional workgroups as appointed by the Chair(s). D. Terms of Office/Officers: Officers shall serve two-year terms beginning in January of the calendar year, but shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. The Vice Chair shall succeed as Chair. E. Term Limits of Members: Regional Council membership is not term-limited. F. Duties of the Regional Healthy Ohio Business Council Officers: The Chair or Co- Chairs shall assume leadership of the Regional Council with the consent and approval of the HOBC Executive Committee and ODH. The Chair(s) shall be responsible for working with the Executive Committee and ODH to develop and implement the work plan of the Regional Council at the regional level. In the case of the existence of Co-Chairs, one Co- Chair shall assume leadership upon the absence of the other Co-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall assume leadership of the meeting and/or Regional Council in the absence of the Chair(s). G. Election of Officers/Members: Each Regional Council shall present a slate of officers or members to the Executive Committee, to ODH, and to its respective members. After approval by ODH and the Executive Committee, a simple majority vote of those members present is required for approval of the slate of officers or members. The Executive Committee and ODH reserve the right to review the proposed member organizations and officers H. Representation: Every effort will be made to maintain a diverse membership representative of the geographic area and varying business size. Organizations that are Healthy Ohio-Healthy Worksite Award recipients of any level are automatically eligible for Regional Council membership. Other organizations wishing to join a Regional Council may do so through the nomination or application processes.
Article VI Article VII A. Purpose of the Regional Council: The Regional Councils shall meet to build local expertise and capacity in worksite wellness. Members shall provide technical expertise and/or coaching to businesses in their area; may participate as an ad hoc member of HOBC workgroups as requested by the Executive Committee; and shall participate in new member recruitment by encouraging eligible companies to join a Regional Council through the award, nomination or application processes. A. Regional Council Meetings: Regional Councils shall meet quarterly or more frequently as agreed upon by their membership. Meeting notification shall be made by the officers of each regional council. Meeting sites may rotate among member organizations. The Executive Committee and the Regional Councils shall meet once a year at the Annual Worksite Wellness Conference. Other meetings shall be called on an as-needed basis by the Executive Committee Chair(s) with the approval of ODH or by ODH. B. Communication: Regular communication procedures shall be established between the Chair(s) of each Regional Council and the Executive Committee. Minutes of each Regional Council shall be sent directly to the Chair(s) of the Executive Committee and to designated ODH staff. A copy of all minutes shall be maintained by the respective regional councils and ODH.