Perhaps you have wondered whether it is worth it to continue to commit the time and expense of participating in the AAFP and SDAFP year after year. Maybe you are just starting your practice after residency and wondering if this is an expense you need right now. CME is fine but could I get just as good education without belonging?

Our older generations of general practice and family physicians came together and formed our organization, which has evolved into the present AAFP. For many of them it was a presumed necessity to organize and membership was an assumed obligation. The baby boomer generation is different, asking if the value of membership is worth the time and cost. This generation has felt it is not an obligation to belong. Now Generation X’rs are graduates and residents. What will the future generations of new physicians think of organized medicine? Right now your national AAFP leadership is addressing these very concerns and issues. There is a strong commitment to get medical students as members by modifying the cost factors that are involved. The AAFP is continually fine tuning its programs and services as the need is presented.

Closely linked to retention of membership is the experience of using an academy service whether it is on the self-study CME or CME conferences or even just internet interaction. Have you used some service offered by the AAFP or SDAFP? How aware are you of these various services? It may be that you are award and just very busy with your practice. I would encourage each of us to use some service provided by the Academy. Try it, whatever it may be.