Dear Colleagues:

"No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our lives are made. Destiny is made known silently."
Agnes DeMille

Here we are on the eve of a new millennium. This should be a perfect time to take a few moments to reflect upon our past – our life, our accomplishments, where we have been. What the South Dakota and American Academies of Family Physicians represent, and what they have accomplished. It can also be a time to think about and plan for the future – where do we want our lives to go? What are the goals and direction of the Academies?

The new millennium also coincides with the American Academy’s anniversary and South Dakota Academy’s 50^th anniversary in 2001. Activities to celebrate the state academy’s anniversary are currently in the planning stages. Any special requests or exciting ideas?

The AAFP has accomplished much over the past 50+ years. Some of these include continuing education ranging from the Annual Scientific Assembly to Home Study Self Assessments including speakers, tapes, video and written forms. Internet access is also available. Formal Board Review courses, Annual Clinical Focus on various topics (this year focusing on mental health). Patient Education information and brochures are also available, including Tar Wars. Another area the Academy can support you on is in Practice Management. A very useful and timely item available is on how to select a computer system for an FP office. If you desire any further information on this, you may call the AAFP directly.

The mission of the AAFP, and therefore of the SDAFP, is as follows:

To promote excellence in health care and the betterment of the health of the American people.

Purposes in support of this mission are:

To provide responsible advocacy for and education of patients and the public in all health-related matters;
To preserve and promote quality cost-effective health care;
To promote the science and art of family medicine and to ensure an optimal supply of well-trained family physicians;
To promote and maintain high standards among physicians who practice family medicine;
To preserve the right of family physicians to engage in medical and surgical procedures for which they are qualified by training and experience;
To provide advocacy, representation and leadership for the specialty of family practice;
To maintain and provide an organization with high standards to fulfill the above purposes and to represent the needs of its members.

This organization shall have no capital stock. It is not conducted for pecuniary profit and does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit to the members thereof.

We accomplish our goal by providing 20-28 continuing education credits each year at the Black Hills Winter Ski and Summer Seminars. The next opportunity for you will be February 3-5 in Spearfish.

The most current membership numbers for SDAFP are:

Resident members: 48
Student members: 150
Active members: 240
Inactive members: 1
Life members: 30

Hopefully the SDAFP and AAFP are meeting your needs and goals personally and professionally. If not, please let us know.