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Academy News: June 2005

RSL Update

Optimizing the state society experience
By Hugh H. Windom, MD, FAAAAI, 2005-2006 Chair

The RSL societies consist of 45 state organizations and 15 local societies. Each society is assigned to one of seven geographic regions represented by a member of the RSL Board of Governors. The governors’ main objective is to provide assistance to societies in order for them to be able to offer the greatest possible benefit to their individual members.

Average state society
A recent survey of state societies showed that 32 of the 45 have bylaws in place. Annual dues range from $0-$250, with most approximately $25-$100. Membership varies from three to 218, with most having 25-60 physician members. Activities may include a few educational dinner meetings a year or possibly an annual weekend meeting.

Ideal state society
The ideal state society would be an organization that provides tangible value to its membership in the areas of Continuing Medical Education (CME), networking with colleagues, elevating the image of our specialty, cultivating interaction between the practicing allergist and A/I training programs in the state, building leadership skills for those members interested in assuming roles at the national level and fighting for equitable patient care reimbursement. This is being accomplished in a number of our most active societies.

Their activities include holding an annual weekend meeting where fellows-in-training are invited to attend, lobbying state legislators, conducting asthma camps, publishing regional allergen guides for patients, presenting “what an allergist has to offer” to primary care residents at a annual weekend conference, programs offering allied health asthma education, and tackling insurance reimbursement issues by opening communication with third party payers’ regional medical directors.

We’re here to help
The RSL Board of Governors is truly interested in giving each and every allergist the opportunity to be part of a vibrant and self-sustaining local and/or state asthma, allergy and immunology society. We strive to share the successes of one organization with all the others, whether it is a novel project or a solution to a nagging socioeconomic problem.

Since 2004, we have held Regional Leadership Forums in each of the seven regions wherein state leaders gather to discuss issues important to their members. An e-mail list serve for each region has been created to facilitate communication between the Governors and their state leadership.

We are willing and eager to answer your concerns that arise throughout the year, utilizing our close relationships with the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (JCAAI) and other components of the AAAAI, including the Board of Directors where we have three at-large representatives from the RSL. Through these efforts we are confident that the state society experience will be rewarding and indispensable for all allergists.

The 2005 RSL Regional Leadership Forums have been scheduled. Please note the following dates and locations.

Region 5
August 19-20, Houston, TX

Region 2
September 16-17, Washington, DC

Region 1
September 23-24, Cambridge, MA

Region 3
October 1-2, Jacksonville, FL

Region 4
October 7-8, Milwaukee, WI

The RSL Leadership Forums are sponsored through a grant from Schering-Plough.

 

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