APMA News - May/June 2017 - 60

Report from the APMAPAC Chair
By Barney A. Greenberg, DPM

Remember the Titans!
ence that brought representatives from the components and
In the movie "Remember the Titans," an over-achieving footfrom all of the colleges of podiatric medicine to Washington,
ball team overcame racial discrimination to win every game in
DC, to advocate for our profession. Please make sure your
the regular season with a perfect record. In the championship
game, the Titans were losing and the coach told them in the
component is on our list as a supporter of the APMA GEF.
The APMAPAC board has changed its strategy for this comlocker room that he was very proud that the team had gotten so
far and it was okay if they did not win. One of the players stood
ing year and is holding fundraisers for our profession's legisbefore the entire team and coach and said, "Coach, with all deflative champions. During the recent meetings in Washington,
DC, members of our HOD, APMA Board of Trustees, and PAC
erence to you, we came onto this field perfect, and we, the team,
will leave it perfect." The team went on to win the game and
Board attended a fundraiser for our new US House champiultimately the championship.
on for the HELLPP Act, Rep.
At the APMA 2016 HOD,
Bill Johnson (R-OH). This
We as a profession, so far, have
the delegates were all perfect
summer at The National in
in the fact that they supportNashville, TN, we plan to
relied solely on the over-achievers
ed political action by making
host a fundraiser for Rep.
(the 21 percent who participate).
a meaningful donation to
Brad Wenstrup, DPM, lead
Thanks to those supporters, we
APMAPAC. I am proud to
sponsor of the VA Provider
say we left the HOD perfect
Equity Act. We are also planhave achieved a lot for the profession,
again this year with 100 perning other fundraisers, and
but we need to be perfect in political
cent of delegates contributthe success of these events
ing to APMAPAC. The leadrelies on the support of our
advocacy if we are to see the kind of
ership of the HOD gets it,
members for the chosen cansuccess we desire for the future.
but now the entire profession
didates and APMAPAC.
needs to get it.
I drafted this article to be
Despite this outstanding leadership support, only 21 perabout a team of over-achievers who wanted to win. We as a
cent of the members of our association support political action
profession, so far, have relied solely on the over-achievers
through donations to APMAPAC. This percentage is not perfect.
(the 21 percent who participate). Thanks to those supporters,
The legislative team of your association works for each of us
we have achieved a lot for the profession, but we need to be
every day; they are the watchdog of our profession, and they
perfect in political advocacy if we are to see the kind of sucwork tirelessly to promote our legislative agenda, including the
cess we desire for the future. We all need to be perfect and be
VA Provider Equity Act (HR 1058) and the Helping Ensure Lifepart of the team to help promote and protect our profession.
and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians (HELLPP) Act
Like the APMA Board of Trustees, APMAPAC Board of Di(HR 1542).
rectors, and APMA HOD, the entire profession needs to be
The Legislative Conference was another success; we properfect by making a meaningful donation to APMAPAC.
Remember the Titans. Remember the APMAPAC. Rememmoted our bills and requested cosponsorship of our two bills
ber the APMA GEF.
■
and support for issues important to the profession. Now we
need your help back at home to contact your members of
Congress and senators to follow up on these visits and to establish or strengthen podiatry's relationships with these memContact Dr. Greenberg at pac@apma.org.
bers of Congress.
There are many ways you can support us: Contact your
members of Congress through eAdvocacy (www.apma.org/
PURPOSE: The American Podiatric Medical Association Political Action ComeAdvocacy), attend a fundraiser or host one for candidates in
mittee's purpose is to raise and disburse funds to candidates for federal office who
your area, and get to know your legislators' staff in both the
support the legislative priorities and goals of the podiatric medical profession.
home district and DC offices. The most important step you
IMPORTANT: Any contribution amounts noted here are suggested amounts. You may
can take today is to support your association's efforts by makcontribute more, less, or not contribute without concern of being favored or disadvantaged. Occupation/employer information is required for aggregate annual contribuing your meaningful donation to APMAPAC.
tions of more than $200.00 by the Federal Election Campaign Act. Federal election
The APMA Government Education Fund (GEF) supports
law does not permit corporate contributions to be used for donation to candidates for
federal office. Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.
our lobbying activities, such as the recent Legislative Confer60 APMA News May/June 2017

http://www.apma.org/eadvocacy http://www.apma.org/eadvocacy

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