September 2022

President's Message
TMAA Mission Statement
Nominations
Regional Conference
Membership Campaign
County Leadership
County Roundup

President’s Message
Welcome Back, Alliance Members!

I want to welcome each and every one of you back to the Texas Medical Association Alliance. I love the promise of new beginnings that comes with each new school year, and I feel the same way about each alliance year. COVID-19 kept us from meeting in person for most of the last two-and-a-half years. Despite the pandemic, TMA Alliance chapters did their part to make their communities healthier – running drives to collect food and personal protective equipment, publicizing immunization outreach, and giving away bike helmets, among other activities.

Now that the pandemic is waning, we need to check in on our alliance members. Have you spoken with those members who you haven’t seen in a while? Have you called members who are retired? Have you texted those with small children? Have new physician families moved to your area without a welcome from the local alliance? Now is the time to reach out and connect with the family of medicine.

I remember a quote from my days of working at my family’s business: “It takes at least eight touches to engage a prospect.” The members in the alliance all have a common bond – our spouse is a physician. The person we married has a deep obligation to put work life above family life. Alliance members get it. We find ways to manage that responsibility while keeping our families going. Only another physician spouse knows what you’re going through. Now is the best time to reach out and make those touches. Make sure our members know they are appreciated and needed.

Please invite your physician friends and their families to attend one of the many upcoming alliance events. Also, please volunteer for the community service opportunities created by the alliance.

We are a lifelong organization – there for you from medical school to retirement. I have learned so much from my alliance friends who have gone through life’s ups and downs and who have shared their experiences with me.

Membership Campaign
TMA Alliance will start its 2023 Membership Renewal Campaign in mid-September. As I said, be sure to check in with members you haven’t seen in a while and welcome those who might not know about the alliance. We want to give a big greeting to everyone who married into medicine!

Join County Leadership Listening Sessions
We will be welcoming back County Listening Sessions starting Tuesday, Sept. 20. They will take place on the third Tuesday of each month from noon to 1 pm. All members in leadership positions are invited. Take a minute to meet your colleagues while you get tips about how to improve your local alliance.

County Alliance Meetings and Events
I’ve had a wonderful time the last few weeks visiting alliance chapters in the counties of Cameron, Dallas, and Travis. I’ve learned so much from my conversations with the fantastic leaders and can’t wait to put many of their ideas into action at my own local alliance. If you would like to invite me to an event or meeting in your county, fill out this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

I would be remiss if I didn’t welcome you to attend the Regional Conference in Amarillo. Join us early on Thursday, Oct. 13 for the reception and stay for the information- and fun-filled program the following day.

Here’s to a great year!

Libby White

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TMAA Mission Statement

The Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) is a group of individuals passionate about protecting the future of medicine through community service and legislative advocacy. Founded in 1918 by physician spouses, the Alliance has grown to include physicians, residents, and medical students. TMAA provides a community of support, mentorship, and lasting friendship in the Family of Medicine.

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Nominations Needed for 2023-24 Board of Directors

Do you have a shining star in your county alliance – someone with great ideas who would be interested in taking on another role? Fill out this short form to nominate one of your amazing members to serve on the 2023-24 TMA Alliance Board of Directors. We need people who can help us create more value for members across the state. Jennifer Lewis, immediate past president, chairs TMAA’s Nominating Committee. It will meet at Fall Conference on Sept. 16-17 to develop the slate of incoming officers. Please get nominations in before Sept. 12.

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Welcome Back! Register for TMAA’s Regional Conference
Please join us Friday, Oct. 14, in Amarillo for our in-person Regional Conference. We have scheduled a day packed with speakers who will provide excellent ideas you can take back to your county alliance. There also will be lots of opportunities for networking. Register today. It’s free for all members. We encourage everyone to come to Amarillo to enjoy a special event.

Event Registration | Book your Hotel

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2023 Membership Campaign Begins

The 2023 Membership Renewal Campaign has begun. Look for an email Sept. 20 with your personalized auto-login information. Just click the link in the email and it will take you directly to your TMA Alliance account to renew your dues. [Note: Please do not forward this email to colleagues – it is personalized to your account.]

Alliance members now have three ways to renew memberships:

We have set the billing schedule for the 2023 membership year. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

As with last year, we will be using both email and mailed membership statements to remind people to renew.
Members on auto-renewal will receive a reminder that their billing will go through on Oct. 2.
Physician members will not receive TMA Alliance membership statements until Jan. 2023.

Please note the dates below and let your members know that they can expect to see their 2023 billing statements around these times in the current alliance year:

Sept. 20:

Oct. 2:

Oct. 11:

Oct. 18:

Nov. 2:

Nov. 29:

Dec. 13:

Jan. 17:

Feb. 21:

Feb. 28:

Mar. 31:

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County Leadership Visits

TMA Alliance President Libby White kicked off her term by visiting alliance leaders. On Aug. 15, she met with Dallas County alliance President Angelique Reagor, and she later met with Travis County alliance leaders, including President Shannon McNeil, President-Elect Christi Dammert, and Immediate Past President Jenny Stern. Libby enjoyed learning about the great events these local alliances have planned for the coming months.

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County Roundup

The Brownsville Medical Alliance on Aug. 12 held its third annual Jump-A-Thon, a health fair for underserved children. Every child who attended received a free backpack, books, supplies, and more, plus they had a chance to win a new bicycle and helmet. The event was a huge success in large part thanks to President Rebecca Garcia and the Brownsville alliance members.

During August, the Tarrant County Medical Society (TCMS) Alliance members volunteered at the Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County Back-to-School Vaccination, which is made possible by a grant from Vaccines Defend What Matters and money raised at the TCMS Alliance Medicine Ball. It is an alliance tradition to volunteer at this event. TCMS Alliance also has welcomed over new 100 medical students at The University of North Texas Health Science Center to Fort Worth and into its ranks.

Nueces County Medical Society Alliance members shared an enjoyable morning in August at their book club gathering, where they discussed The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee. Attendees also enjoyed delicious Korean cuisine courtesy of alliance member and host Kevin Koehler.

Dallas County Medical Society (DCMS) Alliance held a successful Community Health Fair in August. The fair has grown over the last 12 years to serve hundreds of people in Dallas who need of free medical care. DCMS Alliance past presidents Sandy Secor and Michelle Anderson deserve credit for creating this event.