As I assume the leadership of our organization for the next two years, I ask myself what thoughts I may share with the membership. 

My first idea is to ask how the Society can help its members. What pressing needs do you have in your work that GLIPS may facilitate? To this end, Dr. Michael Scwartz has written a Grant application to the American Psychiatric Association to fund the establishment of Focus Groups during the coming year, in order to identify relevant issues that GLIPS may successfully address. We plan to meet informally over dinner or dessert on a regular basis with groups of 4-6 members in Suffolk and Nassau, to talk and listen. This forum will be of particular interest to the APA in light of the recent poor turnout for APA elections. Anyone interested in joining a Focus Group, please contact Jackie Cast and we will invite you to join us when meeting in your area.

 The second message is the announcement of a seminar that GLIPS is sponsoring on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM, at Nassau University Medical Center. The topic addresses the administrative aspects of establishing the practice of Psychiatry. We have invited experts in the field of law and finance to assist the membership in both starting and ending a career in Psychiatry. Areas covered include the legal aspects of beginning a practice, such as contracts, partnership, employees, and buying a practice. Risk management, marketing and billing will be addressed. What to do when the psychiatrist becomes ill or disabled?  How much is enough when we have had enough?  Finances, investments, sale of a practice and, finally, how to end a practice will be covered in Private Practice 101.

 Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you on Tuesday, October 2, 2007.