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Why Join?...Lessons From Geese
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Sue U. Malone There
are lessons to be learned from geese. Did you ever wonder why geese
always fly in a “V” formation? It’s because as each bird flaps its
wings it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in
this configuration, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater
flying range than if each bird flew on its own. In similar fashion,
members of an organization can achieve far more in less time than any
one individual working alone! Whenever a goose falls out of formation,
it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and
quickly rejoins the group to take advantage of the power of the flock.
Further, when a goose gets tired, he rotates to the back of the
formation and another goose takes over. It pays to share leadership and
take turns doing hard jobs. One more moral and I will quit the lesson.
Geese honk from positions in the rear to encourage those in front to
keep up their speed and their good work. Words of support and
inspiration help energize those on the front line of leadership. Every member who ever
questions whether they really want to continue their membership, and
every former member and nonmember should reflect on the message of the
geese. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other when
things get rough, and we will stay in formation with those headed where
we want to go. Every physician
practicing in San Mateo County should consider becoming a member of
SMCMA and CMA. It is increasingly difficult to stand alone in a system
where change is a constant. To effectively communicate physician ideas,
accomplishments, and goals, physicians must come together and stand as a
united group to protect the integrity of the profession. It is really
imperative that all physicians stay organized. It is so easy to drop
out. Instead I hope members will help us get nonmembers to fly in
formation and join in our efforts to bring back into the ranks a former
member or that colleague who is reaping the benefits fought for by
organized medicine but who is not supporting the cause. As noted in this
edition of the Bulletin, the CMA has won a major battle by suing
the largest health plans to stop downcoding and reducing reimbursement
for the care you have provided their insured patients. CMA battled Blue
Cross on its own and won. Along with other medical associations across
the country, CMA has battled the other insurers, and one by one the
carriers are settling their cases and agreeing to stop many of the
abusive practices that were challenged in the lawsuit. All physicians benefit from much of the work of organized medicine, and unfortunately, many of you let your colleagues get away with leaving you to do all the hard lifting. During our upcoming 100th year of existence, I hope you will help get physicians united in the cause of organized medicine by supporting the SMCMA and CMA. Just remember how much stronger we will be if we follow the example of the geese and fly in formation.
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