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The key to the success of any organization is for
its members to feel as though they derive value from their membership.
Although the world is constantly changing and value is a relative term,
nonetheles, I feel the value of a SPA membership continues to increase.
One form of value that SPA members derive
from membership is its three yearly newsletters. The Society through its
newsletter editor, Rita Agarwal, produces three hard copy issues per year.
These three issues, with their articles, reviews, and Point/Counterpoint
discussions are only the tip of an informational iceberg. The content
of these newsletters are further amplified in the SPA website. Thus, the
newsletters serve as an educational teaser for its members.
As SPA advances into the 21st
Century, use of the SPA website has become an integral component of our
society's communication. The SPA website (www.pedsanesthesia.org)
attracts about 1000 hits a day. The website contains a directory of pediatric
anesthesia fellowship programs, a members' directory and listing of job
postings. The SPA website also serves as an informational resource. Recently
Quentin Fisher and members of the society's international committee completed
a listing of different international programs that are available for medical
volunteers.
Another aspect of SPA value comes through
SPA's commitment in providing two educational meetings a year. For the
past two years the annual meeting has been organized by Frank Kern of
Duke University, while the 3 day winter/spring meeting has been organized
by Jim Steven of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Both Frank and Jim
in conjunction with members of the education committee have continued
the tradition of developing outstanding educational programs. Feedback
of these meetings from the attendees has been instrumental in the planning
and programming of subsequent programs. Thus member input is the driving
factor in the success and by definition value that these meetings deliver.
Although the quality of these meetings has never been better, these meetings
run at a financial loss. Over the years, these deficits have been offset
by corporate sponsorship. But as mergers and acquisitions occur in the
pharmaceutical world, these business decisions have had a trickle-down
effect on SPA. Corporate sponsors are no longer as numerous or as generous
as they have been in the past. Therefore, SPA must look at new ways to
remain fiscally responsible. The SPA Board, in an effort to maintain meeting
and program quality as well as membership value, is evaluating different
ways to be fiscally responsible to its membership.
Fiscal responsibility involves evaluating
both the expense and the revenue sides of the society's financial ledger.
On the expense side it was noted that the printing costs of the syllabus
for two meetings is enormous. In an effort to control expenses, the SPA
board has decided to place the contents of the both the fall and winter/spring
meeting syllabus on computer disks and on the SPA website. Thus, the SPA
meeting syllabus will now be available before the meetings. Members who
are registered for the meeting will be able to access the syllabus prior
to the meetings. In addition, disks of the syllabus will be distributed
at the meetings. As for the revenue side of the ledger, SPA dues have
not been raised in over 10 years. As with any organization, membership
dues are an integral component of the Society's financial bottom line.
Society dues have remained unchanged over the past 10 years. According
to the consumer price index, what cost $100 in 1991 would cost $127 in
2000. Thus, in an effort to maintain the value of SPA, (and the dollar
value of your 1991 dues!) the SPA Board unanimously decided to increase
dues to $125 for the coming year. We sincerely hope that members will
view this $25 increase as a necessary step in maintaining the mission
and value of SPA.
Finally, last but by no means least, is
that the real value of SPA membership comes from its sense of community,
namely its members. This is an organization, that through its members,
provides educational opportunities and social introductions. It is an
organization whose members are satisfied with their career choices and
whose members value the thoughts and opinions of others. SPA is an organization
whose members volunteer their time, money and resources to keep the society's
mission on course. It is the special quality of SPA members that creates
value to the organization as well gives value to its members.
Peter J. Davis, MD
SPA President
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