Letter from the Chair

Andy Spooner, MD, MSCS, FAAP

What’s my membership in the Section on Computers and Other Technologies worth?

I shell out $25 per year to be a member of the Section. What do I get in return?

First and foremost, it lets the world know that not only are you a physician who puts kids first, but one who thinks information technology is part of optimal care for children. It lets the Academy know that it has members who are interested in technology, which helps drive its decisions about educational programs. And it lets organizations outside the Academy know that the AAP has something to say with regard to technology that works for children’s health care.

Second, it gives you a chance to be part of technology education in the world of pediatrics. Faculty for educational programs are solicited from the membership of SCOT. As we move more into a world of on-line education, this will mean much more than simply being invited to give a talk at the annual meeting. We will have increasing opportunities to educate each other on-line, through Academy initiatives like PediaLink.

Third, you get a newsletter. Just like this one. We try to put one out twice per year, and I’d be pleased to see it more often. But it’s a challenge to get volunteer newsletters out, so if you have anything you’d like to share with others in the section, mail Stuart Weinberg, our newsletter editor, at sweinberg@aapscot.org.

Fourth, you get access to the Section’s e-mail list, SCOTtie. This is an instant way to communicate with others in the Section, but it only works as well as it has enthusiastic participants. For more information, contact the mailing list manager, Lewis Wasserman, at lewis@wasserman.org. Or see the Section web site at http://www.aapscot.org.

Fifth, you get a virtual e-mail address, like aspooner@aapscot.org, that remains unchanged as your various e-mail addresses change.

Sixth, you get access to the Section web site’s Member’s Only area, with username "aap" and password "scot".

Seventh, membership gives you a voice in how the Section responds to its members. Don’t like how it’s doing? Run for a spot on the Executive Committee. The competition is usually not all that great, and, like all volunteer organizations, the more energy to put into it, the more your results will be. Missed the last election? No big deal. Write an article for the newsletter, post something good to the mailing list, volunteer to help create web-based content for the web site… anything you can think of. If you’re a member of the Section, you will get all the support I can give you.