February 2022
TMAA President’s Message
For my 50th birthday three years ago, I decided to avoid the awkwardness of a big party by announcing that I wanted to take a one-on-one personalized trip with each of our children and with my husband. It took over a year to make the trips happen, but my intention was to create memories with each of them at a time when they were becoming young adults and could contribute to the experience. The next-to-last trip I took was with our youngest – to the Grand Canyon in March 2020 – just days before our country began to lock down in response to COVID-19. The river cruise my husband and I had planned for the next month was canceled.
I didn’t realize as I planned those one-on-one trips that I was seeking what Charles Vogl, author of The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging, describes as a “campfire experience.” Charles spoke to the Texas Medical Association Alliance during TMA’s virtual Winter Conference Jan. 29. He expanded on concepts described in the book with insightful suggestions for developing a sense of belonging in the alliance.
As Charles pointed out, our larger gatherings for celebrating, fundraising, and welcoming new and returning members are important rituals and traditions. However, to create true belonging within the group, we need to intentionally create “campfire experiences.” If you have ever sat around a campfire with a small group, you can picture the concept easily. Charles identified three elements that are essential:
- The gathering allows for intimate conversation.
- The people involved have permission to talk about whatever they want to talk about.
- Distractions need to be removed.
Examples of campfire experiences that alliance members share include small groups going for a walk; stuffing envelopes to send invitations; and working side-by-side at vaccination events. A campfire experience can be embedded in a larger gathering when people allow time for breakout chats at the beginning. This ensures individuals make intimate, meaningful connections that aren’t possible when everyone is rushed to be seated for a formal presentation.
Charles also stressed the importance of using name tags at gatherings and wearing them where they can be seen easily. Nothing creates more a sense of belonging than hearing your name spoken aloud and being formally acknowledged. I feel certain that many of our county chapters use name tags for larger events, but perhaps we should incorporate them for smaller gatherings as well.
I hope you feel as inspired by Charles’ observations and suggestions as I do! Let’s commit to create belonging within our organization this year as we knit together the Family of Medicine out of mutual concern for one another.
My best,
Jennifer
Save the Date: 2022 ALLMed
For the first time since 2019, the TMA Alliance is planning to meet in person! The 2022 ALLMed – our annual conference – is scheduled for April 28-29 in Houston.
The planning committee has a great program lined up. It will start with the annual business meeting April 28 and be followed by an informal happy hour and dine-arounds in Houston’s best restaurants.
On April 29, we will start with two excellent speakers, Lori Boies and Robert Wicks. They will be followed by the TMA Alliance Awards luncheon, a fun teambuilding scavenger hunt, another informal happy hour, and the TMA Foundation Gala. Look for more details at texmedalliance.org.
Please remember the 2022 ALLMed is for all TMA Alliance members. In fact, we encourage each county chapter to send at least 10 members. It’s a great way to meet your colleagues, network, learn more about the alliance, and enjoy thought-provoking speakers.
Register for AllMed
Reserve your hotel room in Houston.
2022 Membership Drive
The 2021 TMAA Membership Campaign is entering the home stretch. Thanks to the hard work of our county presidents and membership chairs, renewals are coming in steadily. Your members have until March 31 to renew.
Each county that achieves a renewal rate of 95% or higher will receive an award of $500 to use for membership development, so get those dues checks in before March 31. There are three ways to renew your dues:
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Call the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955 with your credit card information.
- Mail a check to TMA Alliance, 401 W. 15th St., Austin, TX 78701. (Make out your check to the TMA Alliance.)
- Go online at texmedalliance.org. You will need to know your login information to use the renewal portal.
Alliance Spotlight
We want to welcome Jose Melendez to the TMA family. Jose recently joined the TMA marketing and communications division. He'll be managing the alliance as well as TMA’s outreach and advocacy programs, such as First Tuesdays at the Capitol, and First Tuesdays in the District. He can be reached at jose.melendez@texmed.org or (512) 370-1390. Welcome, Jose!
Deadline Approaching! Award Honors Programs Reaching Texans in Need
Cash prizes for exceptional projects that address urgent public health threats are available through the John P. McGovern Champion of Health Awards presented by the TMA Foundation (TMAF). Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 11.
Learn more and make a nomination online.
Give More Medical Student Scholarships
If your alliance chapter has its own medical student scholarship program, then you are eligible to apply to the TMA Foundation for TWO matching scholarships!
Here’s how it works: The TMAF has two funds devoted to providing scholarships to students entering or currently enrolled in Texas medical schools. One fund provides scholarships for Hispanic students and the other is for all other students.
Your alliance chapter may apply for two scholarships from each fund in the amount of your own medical student scholarship, not to exceed $5,000 per fund. Applications are due March 31. You can learn more and start your application at www.texmed.org/FamilyofFunds. If you have questions, please email TMAF’s Sean Dunham at sean.dunham@texmed.org.
Our sincere thanks to Dr. Roberto J. and Agniela (Annie) M. Bayardo for establishing these funds at TMAF and their generous support of the future of medicine.
A Guarantee During An Uncertain Time
Until Feb. 25, TMA members under the age of 65 who enroll are guaranteed to qualify for $20,000 in TMA Member Critical Illness Insurance. Spouses under 65 are guaranteed $10,000 in coverage when they enroll. There are no deductibles, no physical exams, and no medical questions asked. You also can apply for up to $250,000 in coverage.
One key advantage of this coverage: The benefit gets paid directly to you upon proof of diagnosis of a covered illness. You determine how the money is used. Use it for household expenses, high health insurance deductibles, co-pays – the choice is yours. It can help relieve the financial strain of a serious illness so you can focus on regaining your health. See this short video to learn more.
Upcoming Events
Please check out our new calendar at texmedalliance.org, where you can find out about other events and sort them by county. Want to add your local events to the calendar? Please email tmaa@texmed.org .
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Feb. 15: County Leadership Listening Session at noon via Zoom
- March 15: County Leadership Listening Session at noon via Zoom
- April 19: County Leadership Listening Session at noon vi Zoom
- April 28-29: 2022 ALLMed look for a full schedule of events at texmedalliance.org