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PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
How can your idea
become legislation?
By Dr. Jayesh Shah, 2016 BCMS President
Did you know that every BCMS member has the opportunity you submit a resolution to TMA, the staff will add a fiscal note
to write a resolution and get involved in producing legislation at to your resolution so that if approved, it can be included in
the grassroots level? TMA’s next year’s budget. Please note that only the resolved state-
ments of resolutions are acted upon by the House and become
If you sometimes wonder how you can contribute when you association policy statements or directives. If your resolution has
identify a problem with the practice of medicine, this is what you directive to go from the AMA House of Delegates then it is re-
should do. Take the problem that you found and use it as an op- viewed by the AMA delegation from TMA.
portunity to find and suggest a solution in the form of a resolu-
tion. As a member of the county medical society, you can write If you need help, BCMS has a lot of resources including staff
a resolution which can be submitted to BCMS. person, Mary Nava, Director of Governmental Affairs, who will
help and guide you to write your resolution. I would like to en-
The BCMS Delegate Committee reviews all resolutions that courage everyone to get involved, write a resolution, and be a
are submitted by BCMS members. If the committee agrees, the part of the BCMS delegation to TMA. You can also serve on the
delegates present the recommendation as a resolution from the Reference Committee or get involved in other county society
county society at the next meeting of the TMA House of Del- committees.
egates. If your resolution is not adopted by the county society,
you can still submit it directly to the TMA House of Delegates Get involved. Individual members have the power to change
without the county society’s endorsement for consideration by things and there is a mechanism in place so your voice can be
the TMA House. TMA sections also may submit resolutions. heard. I am attaching a resolution this year that was brought by
Boards, councils, and committees (and sections) also develop a BCMS member which was approved by the BCMS delegation.
ideas and recommend actions through reports (not resolutions) The TMA House of Delegates will discuss this resolution at the
to the house. TEX MED annual meeting on April 29-30 in Dallas.
Resolutions are structured to express the background of the See you all at the TMA meeting. One of our past presidents,
problem in “whereas” clauses and to specify a specific position Dr. David Henkes, is running for president-elect and we need
or course of action in one or more “resolved” statement(s). you all to be there to support his candidacy.
If your idea or resolution is already a policy, you can find that
out by searching the AMA or TMA website. It is always a good See you there.
idea to search relevant policies while writing a resolution. Once Dr. Jayesh Shah
8 San Antonio Medicine • April 2016
