Road Adventures 2008-2009

On October 4, 2008, Debbi Ricks addressed the CMA House of Delegates:

Mr. Speaker, CMA Officers, members of the House of Delegates, Alliance members, family and friends...” It is an honor to be the President of the California Medical Association Alliance and to have the privilege of speaking to you. 

Last year before Barack and John began the presidential politics, I beat them to the punch and chose "Change… Keeping the Alliance Relevant in the 21st Century" as the theme for my term as president. Last year we  asked ourselves, "What is the Alliance and how can we keep it relevant?"

The organization was founded in California in the 1920's as the Women's Auxiliary to the California Medical Association.  Then, a group of doctor's wives, the Auxiliary was a strong force for legislative advocacy and health issues.  In California today, in keeping with the changing face of medicine, and unlike some other areas of the country, the Alliance is an INCLUSIVE group consisting of physicians, spouses, partners, family members, medical students and friends, all volunteering our time in support of the medical profession and health-related issues.

For the Alliance to be relevant in the future, we must be a group that the medical community can rely on for support and advocacy.  It's hard for anyone outside the family of medicine to understand the challenges doctors face. Things have changed.  Medicine is embattled.  Doctors are faced with more expectations and less professional autonomy. Medicine needs all of the friends it can get right now.  Doctors need partners to help advocate for quality medicine and we in the Alliance are a built-in advocacy group.  We are those you work with and live with.

The CMA  Alliance is currently engaged in Strategic Planning to be most effective in the future.  The new mission and vision statements, will guide us to a strong future. An Alliance task force has been working with CMA CEO Joe Dunn and CMA VP of Membership Rachel Smith on collaborative ideas for strengthening both organizations. The Alliance and the Association are membership organizations, both relying on dues income.  While membership participation is important, membership recruitment and member satisfaction is crucial to the future effectiveness of the CMA and the CMA Alliance. Membership in both groups spans a wide age group covering four generations.  Keeping relevant to all members, especially the youngest group is essential for a strong future. 

I was recently reminded that working together can have tangible benefits.  Two weekends ago the Alliance held its 79th Annual Fall Leadership Conference in my hometown of Los Gatos. Over 90 members and friends participated in the conference along with CMA staff and our CMA President, Dr. Richard Frankenstein whom we are proud to say is an Alliance member.  Dr. Bill Plested, past CMA and AMA president, was also there with us and is a long time Alliance member.  20 other physicians from all over the state, including many of the current leadership of the Santa Clara County Medical Association, were active participants.  Many of these physicians in addition to being Association members are also active Alliance members. The CMA members who attended saw the strength of the Alliance and what we can accomplish together.

We need to engage in… encounters such as these as we go back into our counties and confront current realities together as a team. Some county medical associations have strong relevant Alliances in place with staff support provided for the Alliance.  Other associations have never had an Alliance, yet the concept is appealing and there is interest in joining us.  Some formerly active counties have expressed that they miss the built-in support that was there in the past when their county Alliance was active and vital.  Our real challenges, however,  come in the larger metropolitan regions where the sense of community is much harder to achieve. We have to ask the physicians and the evaporating pool of Alliance volunteers in our largest areas, "How can our organizations be relevant and be attractive enough to increase membership and participation?" We have to ask each of the county associations throughout the state, "Is it worth the time, effort and staff support to help grow and maintain an Alliance in the county?"  The challenge I put forth to you is to seriously consider the valuable volunteer force you have surrounding you.  Yes, we in the Alliance, do good works, raise money, have successful projects etc., but we are also ready to work with you to advocate for quality health care and a restoration of the respect the medical profession deserves.

When my grandmother, Mrs. Hubert T. Wilken,  was the president of the Los Angeles County Medical Auxiliary in 1946 she is quoted as saying that LACMA Auxiliary had "too many members to handle." Gone are those days when people joined the Association and the Alliance because it was the thing to do. Those might have been the good old days but they are gone.  We have a new day and with it comes new opportunities.  I invite you, your family and friends to join us as Alliance members to help strengthen  the valuable volunteer force supporting you and your profession.  The AMA's slogan comes to mind…"Together We are Stronger."  I'm looking forward to working with you to make that slogan a reality.  Thank you.

County Connection Routes .... Debbi's Summer Travels

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Above: Debbi attends CMA Foundation Dinner, November 2008

Click here to view CMAA's picture album, which now includes photos from Annual Session and the Napa Installation.

--Debbi Ricks

 

Return to: Meet the President | Ricks' Recommended Reading

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