Name
The name of the organization shall be the Massachusetts Pain Initiative (MassPI)

Purpose
The MassPI is an interdisciplinary, voluntary, grass roots organization composed of individuals and groups interested in making optimal pain relief available to people in Massachusetts. MassPI’s mission is to dedicate itself to ending needless suffering from persistent and acute pain and to improve quality of life for all people affected by pain.
Strategies to achieve MassPI”s mission include facilitating optimal pain management for all people with pain in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by removing existing barriers, providing education for health care providers, people with pain, their families and the public, and advocating for effective policy, regulations and legislation related to pain management. MassPI strives to foster liaisons and collaborations with organizations and initiatives whose mission is consistent with the MassPI

Membership
Membership in MassPI is open to any individual or group interested in achieving MassPI’s mission

Dues
There will not be dues levied for membership to the MassPI. However, donations are welcomed and appreciated in order to support the mission of MassPI or special projects.

Officers And Liaisons
Officers and liaisons are members of the Steering Council and are as follows:

Consulting Chairperson – This volunteer position will be elected when there is a senior professional with appropriate expertise willing to give a defined amount of time to MassPI. This position is appropriate at time of reorganization and may or may not be important in later years.

Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons – This volunteer(s) will be responsible for overseeing the Steering Council agenda and facilitating meetings. The chairperson will meet regularly with MassPI staff coordinator and consulting chairperson (if position filled) to guide Steering Council’s agenda.

Secretary – This volunteer will be responsible for the minutes at each council meeting. Additionally, this person will oversee effective communication among the Steering Council and the MassPI initiative at large, working closely with media volunteers and staff coordinator.

Treasurer – MassPI falls under American Cancer Society guidelines and will have support of ACS major gifts staff and finance office. Therefore, the role of treasurer is to oversee donations to MassPI on their own spreadsheet and work collaboratively with ACS on strategy to meet the financial needs of this initiative.

Liaisons
Steering Council liaisons are appointed as needed to provide a link between the Steering Council and other working councils of MassPI and/or other organizations collaborating with MassPI. The Liaison function is to provide communication between the councils and coordinated work to achieve MassPI’s goals. These titles may change as the goals of MassPI do.

Public Awareness Liaison – This volunteer will work closely with the Media chair to coordinate the plan of work for the Media and Communications Council.

Education Liaison – This volunteer will work closely with the Education chair to coordinate the plan of work for the Education Council.

Legislative Liaison – This volunteer will work closely with the Legislative chair to coordinate the plan of work for the Legislative Council.

Terms Of Office
Terms shall be for a two year period. Officers and liaisons may repeat terms if there are no other willing volunteers to elect.

Meetings
The number of general meetings and Steering Council meetings will be determined annually based on the current work and needs of the MassPI. For the year 2003, general meetings will be scheduled periodically throughout
the year and Steering Council meetings will be held at least quarterly and
more often as needed.

Councils
The MassPI structure includes an appointed Steering Council and additional Councils as determined annually in the strategic plan for MassPI as needed to accomplish MassPI’s work. For the year 2003, the following Councils exist:

A. Steering Council

B. The Steering Council is an interdisciplinary, voluntary appointed group with the responsibility to oversee the work of the MassPI. The Council works collaboratively with the Massachusetts Pain Initiative Coordinator, a staff person for the Initiative based at the American Cancer Society offices in Natick, MA., to coordinate the work of the MassPI.

Terms of volunteer duty: Steering Council
After the intial three year re-organization of MassPI (2003-2006), Council members will serve for a two year period, with staggered rotation of members. From 2003-2006, some members may serve longer than 2 years in order to begin an orderly rotation of members on the Council

C. Council on Professional and Public Education
The Council on Professional and Public Education is responsible for fulfilling the strategic plan of MassPI in the areas of professional and public education.

D. Council on Legislative Issues and Access to Care
The Council on Legislative Issues and Access to Care is responsible for fulfilling the strategic plan of MassPI in the areas of legislative issues and issues concerning access to care.

E. Council on Public Awareness
The Council on Media and Communications is responsible for fulfilling the strategic plan of MassPI in the areas of media and communications.

Work Plan

The work of the MassPI is determined annually based on a written strategic plan developed by the Steering Council and adapted as needed in order to achieve the mission of MassPI. The plan will be reviewed semi-annually by the Steering Council in order to adapt to a quickly changing environment.

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