Re: US POLITICS - please address my question!!!!!!

Re: US POLITICS - please address my question!!!!!!

In a message dated 3/17/99 6:04:52 PM Eastern Standard Time,
<Email Address Redacted> writes:

>
> I hope I don't sound too frustrated in this post, BUT I pay about $ 200 per
> month to be a member of these fine organizations... I would like to know
> where my money goes, and I believe that I and my colleagues do have a right
> to
> know.... If the financial solvency of any of these organizations is
> questionable, I WANT TO BE KEPT ABREAST... as I am sure the majority of
the
> members do.
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wade;

I certainly can't give you all the answers you would like nor can I give you
all the answers you need. But as a steering committee member I can tell you
that over the years there have been many leaders as frustrated as you, if not
more so. Past leadership entities have attempted to clean house, reduce
staff, increase programs that generate income to help us face challenges to
our credentials, our profession and our industry. However, the frustration
continues. I recall one strategic planning meeting where Mike Schuch, CPO,
FAAOP, then President of the Academy, challenged the Academy Board to look at
every program we had and eliminate any that were not necessary or vital or
were not producing or generating the income we needed. After 2 days of
deliberations the board was unable to eliminate any of the programs we looked
at (because we felt all programs served a necessary purpose or should be
considered an investment in the future). In fact plans were made to create
additional programs such as the certificate programs we enjoy today.

This frustration, I think, is the fundamental impetus behind, this particular
group of, your leaders' willingness to seriously consider the KPMG
recommendation to consolidate.

Others may tell you the KPMG recommended dramatic changes in the operations of
the national office, and they did (many of these changes have occurred or are
in the process of implementation). However, their primary recommendation was
for the ABC family of organizations to consolidate. Specifically, they
stressed the need for AOPA and the Academy to consolidate or merge if you
prefer. The Academy board, in Chicago, agreed to implementing the national
office operational changes while in pursuit of consolidation, but ONLY if ABC
were a part of the consolidated organization. Ironically, AOPA also stated a
willingness to consolidate, but, again, ONLY if ABC were a part of the
consolidated organization. All boards (the Academy, AOPA, ABC and NCOPE),
then, agreed to proceed with a timeline toward giving the members an
opportunity to vote on consolidation. That timeline was prepared by the EMT
(Bob Van Hook) and presented by, then, National Office Board Chairman Don
Holmes, CPO for adoption by the 4 boards.

The frustration you speak of permeates through every issue that requires
action and support of 2 or more of the current boards of directors. In the
climate we currently operate our O&P community needs to be fast acting, it
needs to use its limited and precious financial resources wisely and
sparingly.

How is your money spent? I can't say specifically, but I can tell you the
frustration we feel when we see two or more organizations spending money and
precious time on similar issues with minimal results, when we know a targeted
effort with more money may have made the difference in accomplishing our
combined goals. And, some may say, why don't you just work closer together
and pool your rescues so you can accomplish these kinds of things? That is a
Band-Aid on gaping wound. That solution will create a scenario that results
in fluctuating relationships depending on the personalities of the various
boards of directors. At the present time the 4 organizations work as closely
together as ever in the history of our mutual organizations. However, the
frustrations grows as the speed of the world in which we all operate moves
faster than the structure we have created can.

Emotions are high right now, but believe me when I tell you those who favor
consolidation do so because we feel it is the best possible solution for our
patients, customers, clients, consumers (patients). Because we believe our
profession will be better able to advocate on behalf of our patients and the
highest quality education standards. Because we see a governance structure
which puts the future, of the entire profession, in the hands of the
professional. Because in my experience, when a decision is needed, the
professional will always side with what is best for the patient. And because
we know we are doing our best to create opportunities for everyone to relieve
their emotions, take a deep breath and contribute their particular desires
into our new organizations revised draft bylaws before voting occurs.

I hope this answer satisfies your concerns about frustration and where the
money goes. As for the future viability of any or all of the organizations no
one can answer that with the specificity, I know, you seek. What I can say
is, if consolidation is rejected costs will rise more rapidly than they would
in a consolidated organization. The Academy, specifically, faces challenges
to its domain as the primary source for continuing education. We are doing
something about these challenges through the EDC and the Education Taskforce
assembled last year to look at this problem and recommend solutions. We have
know idea if the solutions we attempt will work. If not costs will rise,
services will be curtailed or other solutions will need to be devised.

Thank you all for your passion and your desire to seek and hear all you can
before what will be the most important vote of your professional career.

Bob Brown, CPO, FAAOP
Consolidation Steering Committee