History

August 17, 2011

The Boards of Directors of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA) are excitedto announce their mutual support for the concept of merging the two organizations. Both boards are entering into a period of final due diligence, outlined in further detail below.

Members of both organizations were notified by their respective boards in March, 2011 of the formation of the CLMA/ASCLS Strategic Alliance (CASA) taskforce. The 10 member task force, 5 from ASCLS and 5 from CLMA, studied how such a combined organization might operate – including areas such as (but not limited to) programs, services, governance, culture, and mission. CASA delivered their final report to the boards of ASCLS and CLMA on June 24.

The CLMA Board voted unanimously, on June 27, to accept the findings of The CASA Report. During the week of July 25th the ASCLS Board of Directors and the House of Delegates voted unanimously to accept the findings of the CASA Report.

As indicated above, both boards have entered into individual final due diligence efforts. These efforts include a detailed review of financials and a review and consideration of a legal opinion on how to best effectuate a merger.

Should the final due diligence yield favorable information, both boards will likely vote on a proposition to merge the associations into a new or combined organization – it is presumed that final due diligence will require approximately 3-4 months.

Membership, local leaders, sponsors/supporters, partners, and all stakeholders are being notified of the recent ‘official’ decisions by each board. Based on the CASA report, there is a presumption that the news will be received VERY favorably by all. Both boards are fully committed to maintaining an open and transparent dialogue with membership and stakeholders as discussions progress.

Specific statements and issues from The CASA Report:

ASCLS and CLMA share a vision that the combined organization will be the premier resource for medical laboratory professionals and laboratory leadership to maintain and enhance their knowledge of medical laboratory science and best practices. Its mission will be to promote the practice of excellence in medical laboratorymedicine through education, advocacy, and networking.

Thecombined organizationwould remain international in scope, with a national governing board, and have local representation. There would besignificant opportunities for member engagement via committees, task forces, volunteer involvement and advocacy. Membership would be open to: scientific and technical personnel; laboratory managers and administrators; students; educators; and all those who support medical laboratories and medical laboratory professionals.

The mission and goals of the new combined organization would also include publications such as a peer-reviewed journal, regularly scheduled newsletters, weekly e-newsletters, the Body of Knowledge for Clinical Laboratory Professionals and the Body of Knowledge for Medical Laboratory Management. It would also be the intent to convene a general annual meeting and specialty meetings such as a Legislative Symposium, a Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference, a Clinical Laboratory Administrators and Managers Meeting, and Chapter Constituent Society and Regional Meetings with ample opportunities for vendor exhibits.

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