You Can Write Legislation!

From your warm friendly office or home you can begin the process to make or change a local or state law affecting the practice of medicine. This process is arranged for you through the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society (SSVMS) and the California Medical Association (CMA). This is not frivolity, and there is even the potential of affecting national law.

Begin with a resolution to be presented to the SSVMS Delegation to the CMA and to the CMA House of Delegates. If the SSVMS Delegation agrees with your resolution, its chances for approval are enhanced.

The CMA House of Delegates is made up of delegations from all county medical societies in the state. It meets yearly and conducts its business in a democratic process that is both awesome and inspiring. If a majority of the House of Delegates accept your resolution, the political section of the CMA will act on it.

Were you aware you had such power?! For information and instruction, contact our Society staff, who are always there to assist you.

If your concern is local medical issues, contact your representative to the SSVMS Board of Directors, the Society President, or Executive Director Bill Sandberg. The Board has representatives from the six districts in our three-county medical society and meets monthly.

If you don't know your district representatives on the Board of Directors and CMA Delegation, look at the left side of page 2 of this journal. Or you can obtain the name of your representatives from the Society staff.

Because the actions of our society need approval from the Board of Directors, it is advantageous to keep your representatives on the Board informed of your issues and opinions.

This is my last president's message. (Did I hear a sigh of relief?) Writing this, I was surprised that I felt somewhat sad — perhaps because it seems like such a short time, and I wanted to accomplish so much more.

My best hope is that I have been able to get across that our society is here to be used! Please use it! It is both worthwhile and a joy to participate in the society's activities and business.

Our strength and success depends on our members keeping the society informed, and by participating in its activities. There are many ways to participate without interfering with your practice; SSVMS committees, as well as the Adopt-A-School and SPIRIT Programs, are all available to you.

If your wallet feels too fat, and you are in a sharing mood, consider the William E. Dochterman Medical Student Scholarship Fund. This fund honors a beloved past executive director of our society. Each year, the fund presents monetary scholarships to deserving medical students. A donation can encourage the training of caring physicians and also be a living memorial to a friend, family member, or colleague.

It has been great serving you this past year, and I can't think of enough words to express my sincere gratitude for the support of our society staff. I look forward to the leadership of our incoming president, Paul Phinney, MD.

See you at our annual installation and awards dinner on January 24, 2003.

bryantsheehy@yahoo.com