COLLEAGUES -- Twice a year, members gather to discuss issues of importance to family physicians and plot the course for our specialty society. We discuss everything from legislative advocacy and public health initiatives to research activities. Our governance structure has some bodies with tightly controlled agendas and other groups that meet and discuss the issues brought forward by those in attendance.

TAFP has commissions, committees and sections that cover various areas of TAFP's activities. You can read about their roles and get contact information for the staff liaison for each on the TAFP Web site.  Each committee will meet Friday, March 3 or Saturday, March 4 during our C. Frank Webber Lectureship / Interim Session weekend in Austin. They will all report to the Board of Directors, which meets Saturday evening to vote on recommendations. All TAFP members are welcome to attend and speak at most committees or commissions. Simply show up and introduce yourself as a member of TAFP. For a schedule of business meetings, visit: www.tafp.org.

TAFP is lucky to have had great volunteer leaders through the years. As with all organizations, we're only as strong as our members. If you would like to get involved and become a leader, the best way to get started is to show up. If you can't attend the Interim Session, make plans now to attend our Annual Session in Frisco, Texas, July 20-23, 2006. Another way to get involved is fill out the "Make Your Mark" form, which will be e-mailed to you in March and will be in the April/May/June Texas Family Physician. The results from this form help the incoming president make committee/commission appointments.

Thank you for your continued membership. Please continue to share your thoughts, concerns and frustrations with me by e-mailing president@tafp.org.

Sincerely,

Tim Coleridge, D.O.
President