August 2022


Message from the President of the Texas Medical Association Alliance

What has been your favorite part of summer? Mine has been spending time with my family by packing in as much fun as possible. The adventures started in June with attending the American Medical Association Alliance annual meeting in Chicago and celebrating that organization’s centennial. I then headed up to the Northeast U.S. to hit 10 state capitols and do lots of sightseeing. My son Deklan had his first lobster roll in Boston and a cheesesteak sandwich in Philly. I had the opportunity of a lifetime to celebrate the July Fourth in our nation’s capital. Then we went to Baton Rouge, La., to help Deklan with one of his many activities. Next, we’ll visit Germany to stay with locals and sightsee with Deklan’s school friend. I am equally as excited to kick off my local Alliance and TMA Alliance year as I have been on my many fun trips this summer.

Get Your Membership Campaign Launched
If you need help organizing your membership data and getting ready to kick off your membership year, TMA Alliance can help. We want to help remove the barriers your county faces.

Lubbock has gained new members by simply following up. We can plan the best events ever, but then county societies have to check back with prospective members and existing members who haven’t attended in a while. This quote by Maya Angelou sums it up best: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Have you logged onto the TMAA website lately? Did you know every alliance in the state is listed under the tab “County Chapters”? Take a minute to check it out and confirm that your leadership information is current and that the calendar section highlights your events. I recently received a call from South Carolina’s medical alliance president about our website. She liked the fact that information on our county alliances is listed on the website, and South Carolina plans to follow our lead.

The TMA Fall Conference Sept. 15-17 is fast approaching. Please join us for our board meeting and Alliance Campfire Night. The nominating committee also will meet, so make sure to nominate shining stars today. We need people on the state board who bring the same enthusiasm to the state alliance that they have to your county chapter. That is how we will meet the needs of the TMA Alliance and grow our membership.

The County Leadership Listening Sessions will resume Sept. 20. They are usually held on the third Tuesday of the month from noon to 1 pm. Take a minute to listen to all the great ideas produced in these meetings and to get to know the movers and shakers in our state. Please add this to your calendar now.

This year, TMAA are hosting the Regional Conference in Amarillo October 14. We have been taking notes on what you want to learn and here are three ideas:
  • Learn how to use Mail Chimp for your local alliance emails and newsletters. It is free and makes your communications look professional.

  • Maximize your social media to reach more members and keep them informed.

  • Use Square for those times when you need to collect money.
We are listening and adding more of what you want to the agenda.

I am so thankful for each of you and can’t wait to see you in person as we welcome back our alliance year.

Libby White

 


Dr. Valerie Smith - St. Paul Children’s Clinic Pediatrician, assists children at Book Vending Machine launch event.

Texas BookShare: Start A Program Today
Texas BookShare allows TMA Alliance chapters to collaborate with their local physicians and medical clinics to "prescribe" health-related books to their young patients. Health literacy is a serious problem in Texas, and many children don’t have access to books. Organized medicine wants kids to own books on topics related to nutritious food, exercise, and healthy living.

Start a BookShare program in your county today. Simply fill out an application or contact Jose Melendez by email or at 512-370-1390. TMA Alliance will give your chapter $2,000 worth of books to start your own program, and chapters that renew get $1,000 worth of books for a donation of $500.

Read about the Texas BookShare program sponsored by the Smith County Medical Society Alliance, which dispenses books via a vending machine.

 

 

10 Steps to Organizing and Maintaining Your Alliance Chapter

Organizing and maintaining a successful and fun alliance chapter starts with planning. Here are 10 tips to help you kick off the process and implement meaningful activities.

1. Improve your funding: TMA Alliance gives each chapter $1,000 per year to underwrite membership recruitment and retention activities. Apply for a membership incentive today. Requests are vetted and approved within 48 hours.
2. Produce accurate data: Make sure your membership records (names, addresses, emails, etc.) match TMAA’s data. In September, TMA Alliance will launch its 2023 membership renewal campaign, and we need everyone’s current emails and addresses.
3. Keep leadership informed: Your current leadership will benefit from TMA Alliance leadership sessions, so make sure TMAA has an updated list of their names and contact information.
4. Attend TMAA’s monthly leadership listening sessions: Our monthly discussions are always informative. Attend our next session via Zoom at Noon Sept. 20.
5. Update your county webpage: Keep your information up to date there and on the TMAA website so others can learn from you.
6. Attend TMA Alliance’s Regional Conference: Join us in Amarillo October 14 for a fun-filled, educational conference open to all alliance members. Register here. More information will be posted soon on the TMAA website.
7. Use TMA Alliance’s marketing support: Did you know TMAA will design your marketing and outreach materials at no cost? The alliance can help your chapter produce invitations, postcards, membership directories, promotional flyers, and other important materials.
8. Use turnkey outreach programs: TMA and TMA Alliance offer outreach programs that are easy to do. You can choose from Hard Hats for Little Heads, Texas BookShare, Walk With a Doc, Vaccines Defend What Matters, and Turn It Off Today.
9. Promote your chapter: Let TMA Alliance know what you are doing so we can share your great ideas and fun on the TMAA Facebook page. Just send a photo and caption.
10. Invite the TMAA president: Libby wants to travel the state visiting different chapters. Invite her to your next event!

TMAA leadership and staff are available every step of the way. Contact Jose Melendez by email or at 512-370-1390 for more information.

 

Join Us at Fall Conference
It’s time to celebrate! TMA and TMA Alliance are hosting Fall Conference at the Hyatt Regency at Lost Pines, Sept. 15-17. The business meetings on Thursday, Sept. 15 will be followed a happy hour. Be sure to join us for the Alliance Campfire Night for smores and storytelling. For the full schedule of alliance events, visit our website. Register and book your hotel room today. We can’t wait to see you there!

 


Save the Date: 2022 TMAA Regional Conference

Join us for the 2022 Regional Conference on October 14 in Amarillo. Plan to arrive Oct. 13 for a fun welcoming reception and stay the next day for our informative program and networking opportunities. Register here. We’ll have more details soon.

 

County Roundup

The Dallas County Medical Society Alliance assisted North Dallas High School in providing physicals for student athletes and band members July 21.


The Nueces County Medical Society Alliance held its Summer Movie Mania July 23 for members and their families. The alliance chapter used that gathering as an opportunity to collect donations for a local elementary school.