In 2004, the American Legacy Foundation® provided seed funding to launch the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC).
After two years of building core programs and services, NAQC incorporated as an independent 501©(3) nonprofit organization, and began independent operations on July 1, 2006.  NAQC would like to thank its funders, board of directors, members and partners for their support and many contributions—this milestone would not have been possible without their generosity.

NAQC Secures Funding in 2006 to Help Fulfill Mission
In the last half of 2006, NAQC raised more than $1.1 million in new organizational funding.  Funding organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Legacy Foundation, American Cancer Society, and ClearWay MinnesotaSM help ensure that NAQC can continue to support the quitline community of North America.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & National Cancer Institute
In October 2006, NAQC was awarded a contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, for program activities to improve the quality and utilization of quitline services; communicate quitline research and news with network members and other professionals; and provide a forum for networking, training and technical assistance.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
In December of 2006, NAQC received a two-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to strengthen the linkages of quitlines and other tobacco control policy efforts, by adding a policy component to its work to engage in both cessation-relevant policy efforts of the broader tobacco control community, and more NAQC-specific policy issues in direct support of its mission.

American Legacy Foundation
In July of 2006, NAQC was awarded a one-year grant from the American Legacy Foundation to support the development of NAQC infrastructure. The funds support meetings of the board of directors, staff support, website enhancement, and participation in national conferences and activities.


American Cancer Society
In September of 2007, NAQC was awarded a one-year grant from the American Cancer Society for operational and administrative activities, including meetings of the board of directors and advisory council.

ClearWay MinnesotaSM
In November 2006, ClearWay MinnesotaS contributed funds to help cover expenses for the board of directors’ meeting.

The following organizations involved in tobacco control, tobacco cessation, and health care services delivery have provided valuable support to NAQC's mission:

American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (www.astho.org)

Canadian Cancer Society (www.cancer.ca)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health (www.cdc.gov/tobacco)

Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/tobacco)

National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (www.nci.nih.gov)

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org)

As an independent nonprofit organization since July 1, 2006, NAQC has established a board of directors that is committed to the organization’s advancement and sustainability. Each director serves a three-year term and officers are elected annually.  The board governs the organization under the Carver Policy Governance model. The current NAQC Board of Directors includes:

David Willoughby, MA, Chair
Chief Executive Officer
ClearWay Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN, USA

Donna Warner, MBA, MA, Vice Chair
Director of Cessation Policy and Program Development
Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program
Boston, MA, USA

Tim McAfee, MD, MPH, Secretary
Chief Medical Officer
Free & Clear
Seattle, WA, USA

Matthew G. Madonna, MPA, Treasurer
Principal
MGM Associates
Phoenix, AZ, USA

Amber Hardy Thornton, MPH, CHES, Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Executive Vice President for Program Development
American Legacy Foundation
Washington, D.C., USA

Carolyn M. Dresler, MD, MPA
Branch Chief, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation
Arkansas Department of Health
Little Rock, AR, USA

Corinne Husten, MD, MPH
Vice President for Policy Development
Partnership for Prevention
Washington, D.C., USA

Paul Lapierre
Group Director for Public Affairs and Cancer Control
Canadian Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute of Canada
Toronto, ON, Canada

Terry Music
Chief Mission Officer
American Cancer Society
Atlanta, GA, USA

Becky Roberson, CPA
Senior Vice President
Information and Quality Healthcare
Ridgeland, MS, USA

Penny E. Thomsen
CEO (retired)
Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division
North Saanich, BC, Canada

Thank you for your interest in being a part of an organization striving to move quitlines forward through community, collaboration and commitment. The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) is a membership-based nonprofit organization that seeks to promote evidence based quitline services across diverse communities in North America.

Currently, NAQC offers four organizational membership categories (each organizational membership comes with a set number of complementary individual memberships) and one individual membership.

We invite you to renew your membership to NAQC or join for the first time!

Please take a look at the NAQC Membership Brochure to learn more about membership to NAQC.
-Membership Brochure (pdf format)

APPLY TO NAQC
Once you have reviewed the NAQC Membership Brochure, please select either the “Organizational Application for Membership” or the “Individual Application for Membership” and apply.

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page (also accessible as a pdf to download, see bottom of page) as many common membership-related questions can be found there.

For additional questions regarding NAQC membership, please email membership@naquitline.org.

Membership Information & Communications
-NAQC Membership Dues Conference Calls, Materials - June 2008
-Membership Structure and Dues Levels Call Presentation (pdf format)
-Membership Brochure (pdf format)
-Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (pdf format)
-Organizational Membership Application (pdf format for viewing only)
-Individual Membership Application (pdf format for viewing only)
-Membership Dues Conference Call Summary (pdf format)

NAQC Membership Dues Conference Calls, Register Now! - June 2008
NAQC Membership Dues Conference Calls - May 2008
Update on Plans for NAQC Membership - Feb. 2008

The Advisory Council is a leadership group that provides guidance and advice on programmatic issues to NAQC’s CEO and staff. The Council meets fours times a year.

MEMBERS
Christopher Anderson, B.A.
Program Director
California Smokers’ Helpline
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA, USA

Matthew Barry, M.P.A.
Vice President
Edelman
Washington DC, USA

Karen S. Brown, MPA
Public Health Consultant
Michigan Department of Community Health Tobacco Section
Lansing, MI, USA

Sharon Campbell, Ph.D.
Director, Evaluation Studies
Centre for Behavioural Research and Program Evaluation
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON, Canada

Donna Czukar
Director, Cancer Information and Support
Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division
Hamilton, ON, Canada

K. Michael Cummings, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Chairman, Department of Health Behavior
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, NY, USA

Lowell C. Dale, M.D.
Associate Director, Education Program
Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN, USA

Niki Legge, B.S.W., R.S.W., B.A.
Director, Cessation Initiatives and Tobacco Control
The Newfoundland & Labrador Lung Association
Smokers' Helpline (SHL)
St. John’s, NL, Canada

Scott J. Leischow, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Strategic Partnerships and Policy
Dept. of Family and Community Medicine
Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, AZ, USA

Judy Martin, M.S.
Program Manager, Tobacco Free Nebraska
Nebraska Health and Human Services System
Lincoln, NE, USA

Stephen Michael, M.S.
Director
Arizona Smokers' Helpline
Tucson, AZ, USA

Deborah Ossip-Klein, Ph.D.
Chief, Division of Social and Behavioral Medicine
Director, Smoking Research Program
Department of Community and Preventive Medicine
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY, USA

Michael Renner, B.S., J.D.
Consultant
Columbus, OH, USA

Connie Revell, M.A.
Deputy Director
Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA, USA

Mary Kate Salley, B.A.
Senior Vice President Client Services
Free & Clear, Inc.
Seattle, WA, USA

Barbara Schillo, Ph.D.
Director of Research Programs
Clearway Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN, USA

Colleen Stevens, MSW
Chief, Media Campaign Unit
Tobacco Control Section
California Department of Health Services
Sacramento, CA, USA

Dawn Elise Wiatrek, Ph.D.
Quitline Director
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Information Center
Austin, TX, USA

Susan Woods, MD, MPH
Medical Informantics Fellow (VA)
Department of Medical Informantics & Clinical Epidemiology
Oregon Health & Sciences University (BICC)
Portland, OR, USA

LIAISONS
Mary Anne Bright, R.N., M.N.
Associate Director, Office of Cancer Information Service
Office of Communications, National Cancer Institute
Rockville, MD, USA

Ann M. Malarcher, PhD, MSPH
Senior Scientific Advisor, Epidemiology Branch
Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia USA

What is a tobacco quitline?
Who is NAQC?
Why is NAQC implementing a membership dues structure?
How was the development of the current dues structure informed?
What are the benefits of NAQC membership?
What are my responsibilities as a member? How can I get the most from my NAQC membership?
How many different types of membership will be offered?
Can I join under any membership category?
How do I apply for NAQC membership?
What is an "Organizational" Contact?
Why are Organizational Members excluded from serving on NAQC's Board of Directors and Advisory Council?
What is the process for being considered for NAQC's Board of Directors?
What members are eligible to vote for the NAQC Board of Directors?
What might "other issues" include for members to vote upon?
How much does it cost to join NAQC?
Once I apply, how and when will I be notified about my membership status? What information will be sent to me once I become a member?
How will I access the NAQC "members only" Web site?
Once I'm a member of NAQC, how will I update my "Profile Information"?
What happens if I forget my "username" and "password" to access the "members only" Web site?
How can I take part in NAQC's member Listserv?
Will I be notified of my membership expiration?
Can the membership be transferable?
Can the membership be cancelled?
Can NAQC membership be suspended?
How can I refer someone to join NAQC?
What is NAQC's policy on relationship with the tobacco industry?
What is NAQC's position on eligibility for pharmaceutical companies and their employees with regard to joining NAQC?

What is a tobacco quitline?
A tobacco quitline, as defined for NAQC membership, is a telephone-based cessation service that helps tobacco users quit through counseling, information and self-help materials, and, in some instances approved cessation medications.

Who is NAQC?
NAQC is a nonprofit organization that strives to promote evidence-based quitline services across diverse communities in North America. By bringing quitline partners together, including state and provincial quitline administrators, quitline service providers, researchers and national organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, NAQC helps facilitate shared learning and encourages a better understanding of quitline operations, promotions and effectiveness to improve quitline services.

Why is NAQC implementing a membership dues structure?
As we continue our work, NAQC recognizes the importance of launching a membership dues structure that:
1) Demonstrates the commitment of NAQC members to help sustain the organization, and;
2) Provides unrestricted funding for membership benefits and projects.

How was the development of the current dues structure informed?
To prepare for launching membership dues, NAQC engaged a consulting firm (McKinley Marketing) to conduct interviews and focus groups with current members and to propose a dues structure. The findings from the focus groups and interviews encouraged NAQC to move forward. Current members expressed enthusiasm about NAQC and our work together. Also, the majority of members understood the importance of dues and indicated a willingness to pay dues. Members also shared exciting new ideas for the kinds of benefits they would like NAQC to provide.

What are the benefits of NAQC membership?
All members will have access to NAQC information and resources as well as ability to attend conference calls and the annual meeting. However, some benefits, such as voting for the Board of Directors and access to data, vary and are determined based on membership type and category. Please see the “Membership Benefits” for detailed membership benefits based on membership type and category. NAQC will continually work to enhance membership benefits based on member needs.

What are my responsibilities as a member? How can I get the most from my NAQC membership?
NAQC members will be responsible for working collaboratively to evolve and strengthen quitlines, the quitline community and broader cessation work through building evidence-based services, quality standards and fostering shared learning and better understanding of quitline operations, promotions and effectiveness. Key activities to this end will include participation in surveys; sharing information and knowledge on best practices for quitlines; participating, as time allows, in work groups, committees and other meetings; and declaring existing conflicts and interests when participating in work group, other meetings and/or and presentations.

To get the most value from your membership, please take part in opportunities to share resources, ask questions and dialogue with other members through NAQC’s Listserv, conference calls, annual meeting and various workgroups and committees. Participating in these activities will add to your membership and help us continue to build a robust community of practice. We also encourage you to read NAQC publications—including regular NAQC communications as well as special communications such as reports, case studies and fact sheets—to help keep you abreast of activities impacting quitlines, cessation and tobacco control. We also welcome your submissions to NAQC Connections, our bi-weekly e-newsletter as a tool to help you post jobs and/or share new resources, materials and activities within your organization.

How many different types of membership will be offered?
NAQC offers four organizational membership categories (each organizational membership comes with a set number of individual memberships) and one individual membership category. Each organizational member will designate a single organizational contact to represent the organization (and to vote on its behalf). Please see the membership brochure at http://www.naquitline.org/index.asp?dbid=5&dbsection=about for a full explanation of NAQC Membership Categories.

Can I join under any membership category?
No. You must join under the category for which you or your organization fit best. For example, if you are the primary funder and administrator for the state, provincial or national tobacco cessation quitline within North America, you must join as a “funder” under organizational membership. 

How do I apply for NAQC membership?
Once you have determined under which membership category you fit, please go to the membership section of NAQC’s Web site to access the membership application form and apply for membership. When completing the form, please provide responses to all information requested unless noted as optional. At the end of the form, you will be asked to provide your payment preference (invoice, check, online credit card payment or credit card payment by phone). While this information is required at the time of your membership application, we will not process any payments until your membership application has been reviewed, approved and you have been notified.

What is an “Organizational Contact”?
The “organizational contact” wears two hats: “organizational contact” and “individual member”. This individual has the authority to vote on behalf of the organization. In addition, this individual determines who can receive the complementary individual memberships that come with an organizational membership. The “organizational contact” is also an individual member and is entitled to all the benefits of individual membership.

Why are organizational members excluded from serving on NAQC’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council?
To avoid conflict of interest, members of the NAQC Board of Directors and Advisory Council serve in their individual capacity and do not represent the employer organization.

What is the process for being considered for NAQC’s Board of Directors?
The NAQC Nominating Committee is responsible for the development of the nomination slate for the NAQC Board of Directors. For the past two years, the Nomination Committee has invited NAQC members to provide suggestions for the slate of nominees. This will continue. Once the Nominating Committee considers the recommendations and finalizes the slate, it will then be presented to NAQC membership for a vote.

Once I apply, when and how will I be notified about my membership status? What information will be sent to me once I become a member?
As soon as you submit your membership application, you will be notified by email that your application has been received and is in process. Please allow two business days for us to review your application. Once reviewed and approved, you will be notified of your membership status, and your payment will be processed or an invoice issued (payment method will depend on the option you selected in your application). Once payment is received and processed, NAQC will send you a membership welcome email with details about membership, including how to login to the “member’s only” Web site. You will also receive a membership card by mail that contains your membership information, including your username and membership expiration date.

How will I access the NAQC “member’s only” Web site?
Once your membership application has been reviewed, approved and payment received and processed, you will receive a welcome email, which includes your username (the email supplied in your membership application) and a generic password. For security, you will be asked to change your password the first time you visit the NAQC “member’s only” Web site. You will also receive a NAQC membership card by mail.

Once I’m a member of NAQC, how will I update my member profile?
If you need to change your NAQC profile information, please send an email to membership@naquitline.org with the changes you’d like to make.

What happens if I forget my username and password to access the “member’s only” Web site?
If you have forgotten your password, please click on the “Login” button in the upper-right hand corner of the NAQC home page. You will then be directed to the “Member Login” page where you can click “Lost Password.” You will need to enter the email address you used during NAQC membership registration and your password will be sent to you via email. If you have any challenges, please contact us at membership@naqc.org.

How can I take part in NAQC’s member Listserv?
Please view the following NAQC Information e-Bulletin for specific instructions on the rules and regulations for the NAQC Listserv and how you, as a member, can participate.

When will I be notified of my membership expiration?
You will receive a renewal notice two months prior to expiration.

Can the membership be transferable?
The membership can only be transferable if you are an organization contact in the case of roles shifting within your organization.

Can the membership be cancelled?
Yes, you can cancel at anytime. Please contact us at membership@naquitline.org for more information.

Can NAQC membership be suspended?
Yes. NAQC has a process for suspension and expulsion of members for “just cause”.  “Just cause” is defined as (a) representation of personal views or opinions to the media or to the public as the official position or policies of NAQC in the absence of explicit authorization from the CEO; (b) conduct that contravenes the stated mission of NAQC; and (c) evidence of misrepresentation of information on the application form. Suspension or expulsion will require a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors. A 20-day notice will be provided to the member before a vote can be taken, and the member is allowed to attend the meeting to refute the charges, if desired.

How can I refer someone to join NAQC?
Please have the person who are you referring visit NAQC’s Web site to learn more about NAQC. They should also become familiar with the membership categories and criteria for each category to determine where they best fit. They can then complete the membership application to join NAQC, citing you as a reference.

What is NAQC’s policy on relationship with the tobacco industry?
To qualify for NAQC membership, organizations and individuals are prohibited from engaging in a business relationship with the tobacco industry, with exception of the provisions of health services, including quitline services, to employees of the tobacco industry.

What is NAQC’s position on eligibility for pharmaceutical companies and their employees with regard to joining NAQC?
At this time pharmaceutical companies and their employees are excluded from membership to NAQC. In fiscal year 2009, NAQC’s Board of Directors plans to dialogue with NAQC members to discern their position on the issue.