Organizations and Consolidation
Chris
Description
Collection
Title:
Organizations and Consolidation
Creator:
Chris
Date:
2/24/2004
Text:
List members,
I was reading and tossing some old articles relating to the
consolidation efforts that were overwhelmingly voted down a few years
ago. I don't remember the gory details because I was in the midst of a
residency and studying for ABC exams. I'm just wondering if I could
start a lively discussion about why the past consolidation efforts were
voted down by a field who seems to be very in favor of another
consolidation, that being the current ABC / BOC talks. (by the way,
anyone care to share what's going on?)
All I keep reading and hearing is how the field will be stronger with
one group, governed by one body, with one strong legislative voice,
pooling resources etc. etc. Well, would the past consolidation efforts
have accomplish some of those same strengthening goals had we voted to
consolidate? Why was that so bad? And why is this merger so good?
This brings me to a second line of questioning. I'm hoping that various
members of all of our various organizations could sound off on this one.
As a new small practice owner I'm constantly looking for return on
investment whether it be products, marketing, office staff.. etc. We
have been overwhelmed with the number of organizations who have
contacted us to be members. Everyone from discount buying groups, the
chamber of commerce, the better business bureau, to professional
organizations and societies have contacted us attempting to get us to
join. Some we have joined others we have had to say maybe next year.
ABC practitioner dues $$, ABC says get your facility certified $$, NCOPE
residency approved site $$, AOPA $$, The Academy $$, the Michigan O&P
chapter $$, the Midwest O and P chapter$$, Ohio O and P chapter $$. You
can see where this is going, and that's a very small list off the top of
my head at midnight tonight.
When talking to several of my peers and many elders in the field, I
constantly get the answer of, Well, it's just sort of your professional
duty to join these organizations. Frankly, that line of reasoning is
getting rather old. I have to look at return on investment. I
certainly don't want to sound greedy and I do appreciate everything the
pioneers of the field have done. I would like to ask the question that
I think many are afraid to ask. What have you done for me lately?
Could some of the leaders of the various organizations and chapters
respond? As a small business owner with one other partner, we cannot
attend every meeting under the sun and leave the office empty. I will
never make up the dues by way of the discounts that are advertised for
members vs. non-members. I want to meet with and learn from my
colleagues, but it is rather redundant don't you agree? Look at the
list of speakers and topics from meeting to meeting and you'll see a
carbon copy from meeting to meeting year after year. If you tell me
where the next meeting is, I bet I can name at least 5 speakers without
seeing the agenda.
As long as consolidation is such a hot topic amongst ABC / BOC, let's
consolidate the whole shebang. ABC, NCOPE, AOPA, Academy, BOC etc. etc.
hell throw Canada in too! We can pool all of the resources and cut
costs. We'd have one strong voice, one set of standards, one governing
body, one big meeting, and one fricking set of dues.
Chris Fairman CPO
Great Lakes Prosthetics & Orthotics
3075 Clark Rd. Suite 100
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734-528-5200
I was reading and tossing some old articles relating to the
consolidation efforts that were overwhelmingly voted down a few years
ago. I don't remember the gory details because I was in the midst of a
residency and studying for ABC exams. I'm just wondering if I could
start a lively discussion about why the past consolidation efforts were
voted down by a field who seems to be very in favor of another
consolidation, that being the current ABC / BOC talks. (by the way,
anyone care to share what's going on?)
All I keep reading and hearing is how the field will be stronger with
one group, governed by one body, with one strong legislative voice,
pooling resources etc. etc. Well, would the past consolidation efforts
have accomplish some of those same strengthening goals had we voted to
consolidate? Why was that so bad? And why is this merger so good?
This brings me to a second line of questioning. I'm hoping that various
members of all of our various organizations could sound off on this one.
As a new small practice owner I'm constantly looking for return on
investment whether it be products, marketing, office staff.. etc. We
have been overwhelmed with the number of organizations who have
contacted us to be members. Everyone from discount buying groups, the
chamber of commerce, the better business bureau, to professional
organizations and societies have contacted us attempting to get us to
join. Some we have joined others we have had to say maybe next year.
ABC practitioner dues $$, ABC says get your facility certified $$, NCOPE
residency approved site $$, AOPA $$, The Academy $$, the Michigan O&P
chapter $$, the Midwest O and P chapter$$, Ohio O and P chapter $$. You
can see where this is going, and that's a very small list off the top of
my head at midnight tonight.
When talking to several of my peers and many elders in the field, I
constantly get the answer of, Well, it's just sort of your professional
duty to join these organizations. Frankly, that line of reasoning is
getting rather old. I have to look at return on investment. I
certainly don't want to sound greedy and I do appreciate everything the
pioneers of the field have done. I would like to ask the question that
I think many are afraid to ask. What have you done for me lately?
Could some of the leaders of the various organizations and chapters
respond? As a small business owner with one other partner, we cannot
attend every meeting under the sun and leave the office empty. I will
never make up the dues by way of the discounts that are advertised for
members vs. non-members. I want to meet with and learn from my
colleagues, but it is rather redundant don't you agree? Look at the
list of speakers and topics from meeting to meeting and you'll see a
carbon copy from meeting to meeting year after year. If you tell me
where the next meeting is, I bet I can name at least 5 speakers without
seeing the agenda.
As long as consolidation is such a hot topic amongst ABC / BOC, let's
consolidate the whole shebang. ABC, NCOPE, AOPA, Academy, BOC etc. etc.
hell throw Canada in too! We can pool all of the resources and cut
costs. We'd have one strong voice, one set of standards, one governing
body, one big meeting, and one fricking set of dues.
Chris Fairman CPO
Great Lakes Prosthetics & Orthotics
3075 Clark Rd. Suite 100
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734-528-5200
Citation
Chris, “Organizations and Consolidation,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222494.
