Newsletter
A M ERIC A N ASSOCIATION OF PHY SICIST S IN ME D I CI NE VOLUME 33 NO. 6
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
AAPM President’s Column the last year or so—sorry but no new volunteer commitments until my AAPM regency has expired. The viability of the project spiraled downward from there--- I had thought that my pledge of financial support would be sufficient, but it seemed that sweat equity was also an absolute requirement. Unfortunately my pledge of sweat equity had been given to another until the end of 2009.
Gerald A. White Colorado Springs, CO
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everal weeks ago I found myself addressing the board of directors and staff of a local organization of community activists. Lots of comfort was, for me, to be found there. It seems as though a lot of what I spent so much time on in the ‘60s (alas, it was not all Math and Physics) has come back to us again. The purpose of my visit was to make a pitch for a particular project I thought they should undertake. I’d done a fair amount of preparation; adapting a national program to match our unique circumstances in Colorado Springs, collecting resources for both intellectual and materials support and providing a source of funding for start up with a plan for subsequent fiscal viability. It was, in my somewhat biased opinion, a proposal that would be so appealing as to immediately move forward. My sails were deflated when they put to me one question—how much of my own time would I be willing to commit to the implementation of the project? I invoked the message that I’ve been giving to a great many for
Treasure and participation, capital and labor, money and time are all essential for any substantial project and accomplishment. It doesn’t seem to me as though they always need to come together from the same sources. A paired contribution of wealth and self gives great benefit to any organization, but is not necessary for progress. Participants, members of the group endeavor, can supply one or both, but it is vital to have, at a minimum, one of the two thrown in to the communal pot. Last week at the orientation for new members of the AAPM Board I came across the data that there are nearly 1000 volunteer AAPM members participating in roughly 250 committees, task groups and workgroups. A quick calculation (assuming, conservatively, a 1 hour per week time commitment and $100/hour cost of physicist effort) gives us a time contribution worth a bit over $5 million per year. This contribution of about 15% of AAPM members dwarfs the annual dues contributions of all of us. These are folks who support with both time and treasure, the former coming in
increasingly short supply while the need for the incredibly productive activities of the Association continues to grow. We can’t grow much more time, but we can grow a bit more treasure. Many of us can’t find more time to move the AAPM forward, but surely we can all find bit more money. The AAPM Education and Research Fund awaits our attention. The recent defeat of the initiative for an increase in the AAPM dues structure calls out for a more vigorous dialog on the need for support from all of us, in a tangible fashion, for the mission of the Association. We are closing a year of reflection after 50 years of progress. We have, without a doubt, suitably celebrated the present, but we must also honor the past and prepare for the future by assuring a strong and adequate financial base for the Association. May the 51st year bring us the opportunity to make that a reality. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chair of the Board’s Column President-Elect’s Column Executive Director’s Column Editor’s Column Education Council Report Professional Council Report Leg. & Reg. Affairs Website Editor’s Column American Board of Radiology EFOMP Conference Update ACR Accreditation DBIS Program Update Health Policy/Economics Web-based Modules Persons in the News
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