Dear Colleague,
I have been disturbed over the years by the large number of our members who do not know who the president of their professional organization is and who do not seem to care. If these members get involved at all, it is usually only to ask the leaders of the organization, “What have you done for me today?” As president of the AANS, a position I am honored to hold, I wish to respond to this question, not out of frustration, but out of a true desire to involve all of you in our organization and in our important mission.
Volunteer Opportunities
There is little a professional organization can do without the active participation of its members, and unless you are willing to get involved, your voice rings hollow when you complain. Moreover, there is no reason for you not to get involved, since the opportunities for you to contribute are endless. Let me share with you some of the programs that your dedicated colleagues have initiated.
In the past, the membership process was cumbersome and time consuming. Recently, however, through the efforts of our superb Membership Committee and the AANS staff, we have streamlined that process. Now, all residents are given free membership and then asked to apply for provisional membership upon completion of an approved residency. They are then automatically approved as Active members after passing their written and oral Board examinations. This new process benefits not only North American members, but it also encourages international membership, which has resulted in our emergence as a more global organization. And the day is soon approaching when we can handle our membership application processing online. All these improvements come directly from the work of your fellow neurosurgeons, and you, too, can be involved.
In an effort to maintain the educational and research missions of the AANS, our leadership has created the “Angel Circle Program,” a new concept designed to simplify our relationships with corporate sponsors and partners. These relationships are vital in order to sustain and enhance the level of excellence we have all come to expect from our scientific programs, annual scientific meeting, journal, and the Neurosurgical Research and Education Foundation (NREF). Now, rather than being nickel-and-dimed throughout the year, corporate sponsors and partners can customize their involvement with the AANS from a menu of services and activities designed to meet the needs of all parties. Building relationships with industry raises important ethical questions, and you can be involved in determining the nature of these relationships.
Another new initiative that could benefit from your involvement and support is called “Buying Immortality: The Sharing of Knowledge.” This program is every neurosurgeon’s opportunity to leave a legacy to the profession by sponsoring or endowing such things as: a lectureship at the annual meeting, a fellowship, a breakfast seminar, an AANS course, a resident program or an international program. All of you should have received information about how you can contribute to this important effort, and I am asking that you make that commitment today.
Planning the 2002 Annual Meeting offers yet another opportunity for you to be involved. Scheduled for April of 2002 in Chicago, the event promises to be exceptional both educationally and socially (See Annual Meeting preview on page 16.) You can contribute to this event by contacting the Annual Scientific Program Committee with your innovative and creative suggestions for making the meeting memorable. Your involvement is critical.
We’re All Busy
I have scarcely touched upon the many ways you can make your professional organization exactly what you want it to be. We are all busy. We are all harassed. We could all make every excuse not to get involved, but the truth is that we all have a responsibility to one another to do more than that. Try not to be the critic in the wings who has plentty of time to complain about problems, but who cannot find the time to find solutions. Neither I nor the leadership of the AANS can solve the many issues that face neurosurgeons each day without your help, so I leave you with my own question: What have you done for the AANS and your profession today? Could you be doing more?
Stan Pelofsky, MD, is the 2001-2002 AANS President.