The ASA Resident Component, added 10 years ago, now numbers around 4,300 and has been very active. The medical student membership, which is less than a year old, is already more than 100. This bodes very well for the future of the specialty. The work of ASA is done primarily by its committees, appointed by the President-Elect after reflecting on communication from members indicating their willingness to serve and recommendations from officers of state societies and others. Terms are for three years and renewable.
Committees consist of six members, but often adjunct members with special expertise are added.
Currently, there are 68 committees with more than 600 members from all states and a mixture of both more experienced members and younger members. A five-year review of all committees allows the HOD to make decisions on continuing, dissolving or creating new committees, either permanent or ad hoc, to meet newly identified needs. Under consideration is publishing all committee reports on ASA's Web site to acquaint members more readily with what ASA is doing. Many publications are available to the membership, which can be obtained either on the Web site or by contacting the Publications Department at the ASA Executive Office. Thus, we rely heavily on the staff in the headquarters office in Park Ridge, Illinois.