October 2022

President’s Message
What keeps you coming back to the Texas Medical Association Alliance? Think about when you attended your first alliance meeting or event. Who invited you? And why did you decide to go? But most importantly, why do you keep coming back? Is it because there is a unique topic, a good speaker, the location, or the food? Chances are it’s because you feel welcome and have a sense of belonging. That is why I keep coming back.

Everyone has their reasons for being involved in an organization. It can be because one’s values are aligned, or they are passionate about community service. As I travel around the state, I’m impressed by the warm and inviting environment you are creating. Some counties have even organized a welcome committee to greet and introduce guests – and to follow up after the event.

These steps can persuade a new member to stay with the alliance. I believe there is a true need for the alliance. No one can relate to what you are going through as well as another person who is married to a physician. I have experienced this multiple times throughout my medical marriage. I want others to know that we are there for them. We care about them and are willing to help if the need arises.

The alliance is great because we are a lifelong organization. We are there for any family while a physician is in medical school, residency, the first years of practice, mid-career, or retirement. I have learned much from my alliance friends who have gone through ups and downs over time and then shared their experiences.

As we start our 2023 membership renewal process, encourage your friends to renew or join you at the next alliance event so they can see we are welcoming, supportive, and fun.

Regional Conference
I want to encourage you and your members to attend the Regional Conference on Oct. 14 at The Barfield Hotel in Amarillo. There will be a welcome reception Oct. 13 with a full day of learning on Oct. 14 from 8 am to 4 pm. The Regional Conference is a training resource for current leadership and a way to develop new leaders.

Kasey Long, our keynote speaker, will kick off the conference with a presentation called “Nuts and Bolts About Leadership.” We will have county alliance presidents from all over Texas share their successful community projects. They will provide tools to help run a more efficient and effective county alliance. And you will learn about medicine’s most powerful advocacy program: YOU!

Don’t miss out on all the tips and tricks of running an alliance with this special “welcome back” training session. Did I mention it is FREE? You just need to get yourself there and book your room. We will take care of the rest. We want you to know you are appreciated and needed in order to grow our family of medicine. And that growth will create a lot of fun for all of us.

Libby White

 

 

2023 Membership Renewal Campaign Underway
It’s that time of year again! The TMA Alliance sent out its first email asking members to renew their 2023 dues. It was sent to current members and those who have not renewed since 2020.

A few things to note:
  • If you have opted into auto-renewal in a previous year, you will not receive a billing statement from us. The auto-renewal charge will go through on Oct. 2. If it fails to go through (for example, if the card on file has expired), it will automatically be put through again on Nov. 2.
  • Physician members will not receive a TMA Alliance statement until January.
  • Both resident and medical student memberships are now free! If you know a medical student or resident who is trying to join, please have him or her reach out to jose.melendez@texmed.org and sign them up as a member.

Timeline for Membership Renewal Campaign Emails and Mailed Invoices
    Sept. 27: First email asking members to renew sent out
    Oct. 2: Auto-renewal notice sent to members who have opted-in
    Oct. 11: First mailed invoice (includes TMA Alliance brochure)
    Oct. 18: Renewal email reminder
    Nov. 2: Auto-renewal (if the initial charge failed)
    Nov. 29: Renewal email reminder
    Dec. 13: Second mailed invoice
    Jan. 17: Email reminder (first statement for physicians)
    Feb. 21: Final email reminder
    Feb. 28: Final mailed invoice
    Mar. 31: Drop date

 

Sign Up for Auto-renew

When you renew your TMA Alliance membership, sign up for auto-renew and encourage your members to do the same. It’s easy, and renewing your membership next year will be a snap. Just follow these steps.

 


Register TODAY for TMAA’s Regional Conference
We’re inching closer to our in-person Regional Conference and can’t wait to welcome you back! Please be sure to register and join us on Friday, Oct. 14, in Amarillo. The conference is FREE for all members. We encourage everyone to come to Amarillo and enjoy a day packed with speakers who will provide excellent strategies to grow your county alliance. Don’t wait – sign up today!

Event Registration  | Book your Hotel

 


TMAA President Visits

TMA Alliance President Libby White will be crisscrossing Texas as she visits county alliances and attends a slew of fantastic events. See below for a list of locations and dates. Stop by and say hello!

October 6 from 11:30am-1:30pm - Smith County

November 1 from 6-8:30pm - Ector County

December 7 from 11am-1pm - Dallas County

December 8 from 6-9pm - Lubbock County



Holiday Sharing Card

The TMA Alliance is excited to raise funds again through its Holiday Sharing Card. The campaign now celebrates its 27th year of giving! Your gift will allow TMA Foundation to support the TMA Alliance Texas BookShare program in 2023. We hope your alliance chapter and your members will participate with a tax-deductible donation.

You can make a secure online gift or call Marilyn Anderson, TMAF data manager, at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1466, to make a gift over the phone. Donate to the Holiday Sharing Card here. To learn more about TMA Foundation, please visit www.tmaf.org.

Thank you in advance for your support this holiday season!

 

Fall Conference was one for the books!

 

County Roundup

The Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance on Sept. 22 held a Night at the Corn Maze. TMAA President Libby White and TMAA President-Elect Elizabeth Vanexan joined more than 100 people celebrating fall with friends and family.

In September, Dallas County Medical Society Alliance members held their first gathering of the year by touring The Magdalen House. They learned how this nonprofit organization helps women coping with alcoholism.

Nueces County Medical Society Alliance members shared an enjoyable day on Sept. 8 as they held a Shop for a Cause event to benefit Shop with a Cop, a group dedicated to fostering better relations between youth and police officers. The event was a great success thanks to the vendors, the hostess committee, and member Ruth Brown, who opened her beautiful home for the event.

The Travis County Medical Society Alliance gave away 60 new bike helmets to Austin’s 100 Bikes for Kids through the Hard Hats for Little Heads program in September. 100 Bikes for Kids began as a father-daughter summer project in 2020 and grew big! The group accepts and repairs used bikes for north Austin kids in need.

 

TMA Low-interest Loans Ease Financial Burden of Medical Training

Unsure how to pay for residency program applications, one Texas medical student considered getting a high-interest credit card to cover the cost. Instead, a low-interest loan from the Texas Medical Association solved the problem.

If you know someone needing a financial hand up during medical training, TMA’s educational loans program offers up to $6,000 at a fixed 4.4% interest rate for qualified Texas medical students and resident physicians.

Students can apply for a loan during any year of study for educational or other unanticipated expenses, such as a car repair. These loans also can enable fourth-year students to travel for residency interviews. Resident physicians can apply for a loan to help them relocate for a residency program, to bridge the gap from med school to residency, or to cover other expenses, such as child care.

TMA Alliance member James Davis of Freeport has served for a number of years on TMA’s Educational Scholarship and Loan Committee, which oversees the loans program.

“I am proud to serve on this committee that works to secure the future of medicine, just as the TMA Alliance does,” Mr. Davis said. “Whether you have a family member on the journey to becoming a physician or know someone else on that path with financial need, please share the news about these great low-interest loans.”

Six funds managed by TMA support the student and resident loans. Among them is the TMA Alliance Medical Student Loan Fund, which provides loans for students attending non-University of Texas system medical schools.

Loan applications are accepted year-round, and funds – in most cases – are disbursed within four weeks from submission. Email for more information or visit TMA's Educational Loans and Scholarships webpage.