American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine February 2015 - (Page 5)

President's Message ASRA-Our New Age of Self-Management On January 1st of this year, ASRA became a self-managed organization. What forces led to this monumental change? Why after 40 years have we chosen this path? What does it mean for the Society and for the individual member? Really now, hasn't there been enough change in ASRA over the last two or three years? Many of you know that 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of ASRA's "re-founding." When the Society was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1975) as the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, a key figure in that process was John Hinckley and his family-owned association management business (Ruggles). John and his Richmond-based company were well known to nowdeceased founding father and University of Virginia Professor Harold Carron, MD. In those early days, every management decision from organization to meeting planning to finances was orchestrated by John Hinckley, who himself was honored with ASRA's Distinguished Service Award in 1992. As John grew older, his family continued to shepherd ASRA's business management until December 2004. Since then, ASRA's experience with association management firms has been a mix of satisfaction and frustration. The Society spent seven years with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as its management partner. As it became clear that ASA was strategically retreating from subspecialty society management services, in January 2012, ASRA became the first North American client of Kenes International. Although there were many positives to that relationship, the two parties mutually agreed to separate at the end of 2014. When this decision was finalized in late 2013, ASRA was afforded a great opportunity and challenge: Rather than seek proposals from other association management firms, the Board of Directors asked if we were now large enough, ready enough, and bold enough to manage ourselves? To paraphrase an old saying: "Who is more likely to best look out for ASRA's interests than ASRA itself?" the business skills to make these assessments? The ASRA Board of Directors astutely acknowledged their lack of expertise in these matters. Our initial, wishful discussions were thus followed by commissioning a disciplined analysis of the Society and its capabilities. Through the expert guidance of a consulting firm that had previously negotiated our publishing contracts, ASRA was able to assess the complete financial Joseph M. Neal, MD costs of self-management-from ASRA President personnel needs, to membership and Angie Stengel, MS, CAE meeting management software, to ASRA Executive Director what it costs to pay the electricity bill and local taxes in Pittsburgh. In the end, our consultants and attorneys convinced us that the costs to self-manage will likely be very similar to what we were currently paying Kenes and other contractors. Moreover, it is the Board's strong belief that ASRA can provide member services at a higher level and do so in an accountable, transparent, and controllable fashion. From the member's perspective, we anticipate that most changes will be viewed as overwhelmingly positive-a United States-based management team, an integrated membership database, more engagement in social media, and all without increasing dues or raising meeting registration fees beyond baseline inflation. "Who is more likely to best look out for ASRA's interests than ASRA itself?" So, in the winter of 2014, in the midst of fledgling initiatives that included the "Year of the Member," blowing up the Society's website, divesting from Kenes, and jumping headlong into social media, the ASRA Board of Directors made the decision to become a self-managed organization. The Board could readily identify the Society's strengths-we were financially stable, Kenes had just hired an outstanding Executive Director in Angie Stengel, and the membership was more engaged than it had been in years. Yet there were unknowns: Would self-management be more or less expensive, could we build a small core team to capably run the "business" if key Society of managerial leadership was hit by the proverbial bus, and, most importantly, did the Board have What will the new ASRA management look like? In many ways, our outward appearance will not change much; our administrative offices will remain in Pittsburgh with a mostly local team of professionals. Angie Stengel will continue as ASRA's Executive Director and lead a team of four in-house employees and several outside consultants (Figure). Already familiar to many ASRA members, Julie Simper will remain as Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Director and will expand her role to include meeting planning. Tracey Escamilla will stay on as Operations Manager, and Diane McGuire will continue as Membership Manager. New to the in-house team are Anne Snively, Communications Manager, and Elizabeth Smith, Administrative Assistant. In her role, Anne will support marketing, website, and social media. Beyond this core management group, the Society will continue its previous relationships with our accountants, auditor, investment advisor, and association attorney. Finally, ASRA will outsource the procurement of meeting exhibitions and in-kind support. This specialized service fulfills American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2015 5

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine February 2015

In Memoriam : Alon Palm Winnie, M.D., ASRA Founding Father
President’s Message
Editorial
40th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting
Resident and Fellow Events at the 2015 Spring Meeting
How We Do It: Managing an Acute and Perioperative Pain Medicine (APPM) Service at the University of Florida
Ketamine—an Old Drug with New Tricks
Optimal Postcesarean Delivery Pain Management
Palliative Care and Pain Medicine—Beyond Intrathecal Pumps and Opioids
Scientist Spotlight—Dr. Guy Weinberg, Trailblazer in Patient Safety

American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine February 2015

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