COM report April 2012 Submitted by Christina Vo, MD, FAAP COM had an intense membership strategy meeting

focused on various member groups, AAP pricing strategy, AAP communication strategy and the possibilities for the future of AAP organization. An executive summary of the minutes will follow but here are some highlights I think are important to our chapters: Recommendations made to the Board (in order they were discussed during the meeting, not in order of importance) 1. Allow board certified fellowship trainees FAAP status and all the privileges of FAAP status the goal here is to get specialists involved early 2. Create a National membership category for Medical Students (currently SOMSRFT section affiliates). 3. AAP should take a comprehensive look at member vs non-member pricing with a focus on site licenses 4. AAP communications need to emphasize getting the word out to pediatricians first: all member emails at the same time it goes out to the media, putting AAP content at the top of Smart Brief, consider an opt-out email system (rather than opt-in) 5. AAP Board will fund a workgroup to explore joint Chapter and National dues.

DUES and PRICING: Online dues payment system is being updated with phase 2 of aap.org update. AAP is getting ED input on how this will look. It should separate dues from the current shopping cart model which makes it easy to remove chapter dues. Of note, Chapters can now opt out of pro-rated dues because of the anniversary date billing system. Only 25 chapters have done so. If our chapters need to do this, contact Betsy Siska? Several pilot studies continue with joint dues programs for subspecialist societies. Ophthalmology society gets discounted AAP dues if they maintain 200 members. Heme/Onc society members pay full dues and a portion of those dues will go to buying a party of the Federal Affairs group time to lobby their specific issues. A pilot for joint Chapter and National dues will require a workgroup to do it right. COM is asking the Board to create this workgroup to include members of ACBOM, members of COM, chapters of all sizes, EDs to come up with recommendations on how to best utilize a pilot. Issues of importance include: National membership pricing

Varied chapter membership pricing Regional impact, e.g. if Virginia and DC both had joint dues, pilot then would VA members who work in VA but live in DC or vice versa just join the DC chapter because the dues are lower? Or would all chapters have the same total price? Risk of chapters leaving the AAP as a whole, e.g. Texas Pediatric Society prides itself on its independence Getting the word out/communicating the value of joint membership Future make up of the AAP: should the culture of the AAP shift to Chapter membership/grassroots as the priority and National as the umbrella/Federal advocacy (similar to our District functioning as the voice of the state)

Overall pricing structure needs to reflect membership value. In particular, site licenses should be tiered by percent membership. NCE registration should have more of a differential between member and nonmember price. Other products should have bigger differential in price. CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP: Chapter Member counts increased overall. Only chapters who billed separately from national experienced a loss, some of this may be accounted for by Illinois going to separate billing for the first year. Several COM members pointed out that this increase is a recovery from billing errors (invoice problems) rather than being the result of a major recruitment campaign among the chapters. An overall growth in membership is still a challenge. WebCMS update has a group of EDs representing different size chapters and will come out in the end of the year. Includes Meredith Kennedy! COM also suggested that a chapter with an ED who is not technically savvy participate. National recently sent list of recently boarded lapsed members along with template letters and emails. Some chapters have already utilized those lists: Connecticut will contact everyone and use Ohios model of sending a packet with chapter information, incl how to get involved, what CME is available, what have we done for you?, include picture of young physician committee Massachusetts will email and send personalized message, tying in with newly launched website

Now tracking chapter successes and challenges in recruitment/retention on Annual Report Most chapters show that they need to do more than one thing Recurrent successes outreach campaigns (peer to peer calls), establish membership committee, engage younger members Recurrent challenges economy/financial constraints, demonstrating value to subspecialists

How Chapters can support National

Perception from National that chapters have been able to mobilize and win back lapsed members but National is not gaining any members. Local level recruitment to National as well as Chapter may help how can National support this? i.e. where should the money go?

COMMUNICATION: Talk on membership for residency training programs and Grand Rounds Plans are in place to compile talks which exist, including SOMSRFT and SOYP talks. COM advised Academy to make it searchable for all AAP leaders to have access. COM recommended that residency programs have an advocate. Or program directors should be charged with communicating AAP value to residents (maybe free membership for those program directors). And program directors should be members to get access to ILP for their residents. Pediatrics 101 exists as a guide for HS, College, and Med students who want to become pediatricians AAP communications need to emphasize getting the word out to pediatrician members first all member emails at the same time it goes out to the media putting AAP content at the top of Smart Brief consider an opt-out email system (rather than opt-in) for Federal Affairs updates

BENEFITS FROM NATIONAL TO PROMOTE/LOOK FOR Affinity programs Officite build a website for your practice (or your chapter!) o Look at pricing depending on penetrance of membership o Offer menu of suggested items from the AAP donate to the AAP, healthychildren.org, way to promote that members are FAAP Student Loan consolidation program coming!!

Federal Affairs Facebook page open to all, an easy way to follow Fed Affairs Federal Affairs Ask the Candidates for the US Presidential Race look for a members only feature in the fall Federal Affairs/SOMSRFT Get out the Vote Campaign www.aapgotv.org Free buttons and stickers T-shirts DC Charlie for kids to use like Flat Stanley and send in pics

Member Guide to Using Social Media will include using social media for your practice, for advocacy, how to participate in blogs, etc