FIRST CALL FOR THE AMA-REFS ANNUAL MEETING FREE

The 23rd Annual Meeting of the AMA-RFS Assembly will be held June 17-19 at the Palmer House, Chicago, Ill. Residents and fellows from across the United States will meet to create policy on collective negotiations by residents, graduate medical education funding, and public health.

Delegates to the AMA-RFS Assembly must be AMA members currently in an accredited residency program or fellowship. Resident delegates represent their state and medical specialty societies or the uniformed services.

Registration materials will be sent to state medical societies and to residents who have attended a meeting in the past year. Residents and others can register by mail, fax, or online through the AMA-RFS Web page at the address listed below. The preregistration deadline is April 30. Preregistered attendees will be mailed a copy of the AMA-RFS meeting handbook prior to the meeting. Registration will continue after April 30; however, those who register after that date must pick up their handbooks at the meeting.

Policies considered at the meeting are derived from resolutions submitted by individual delegates or delegations and from reports developed by the AMA-RFS Governing Council. Resident delegations interested in submitting a resolution should begin researching the resolution now since well-researched and well-written resolutions are more likely to be adopted. All resolutions must specify whether the AMA or AMA-RFS has current policy related to the resolution. Resolutions for consideration at the meeting must be received by the AMA-RFS staff by mail, fax, or e-mail no later than May 7.

On Friday, June 18, the Assembly will convene and be presented with general information about the meeting events. All resolutions and reports under consideration are referred to 1 of 2 reference committees, and attendees will be able to testify on the resolutions in open hearings. Following the hearings, the reference committees will meet to develop recommendations on whether to adopt, not adopt or refer an item of business to the Governing Council. The committee's recommendations are based on testimony presented in the hearings and background information provided to the committees. On Friday, attendees will also be able to participate in educational sessions and state and specialty caucuses.

On Saturday, June 19, the entire Assembly will reconvene to vote on the recommendations of the reference committees. Resolutions that are adopted may become internal policy or may be submitted to the AMA House of Delegates for further consideration. Residents are encouraged to attend the House of Delegates Annual Meeting, June 20-24, to provide testimony in reference committees and monitor debate on resident issues being considered by the House.

Delegates at the AMA-RFS Annual Meeting will elect a resident to the positions of 1999-2000 Governing Council vice chair, secretary, delegate, alternate delegate, and 2 members-at-large. In addition, reference and credentials committees and House of Delegates' testimony coordinators will be appointed prior to the Annual Meeting. Information on the above positions will be included in the registration materials.

Contact the AMA Department of Resident and Fellow Services at (312) 464-4751; fax (312) 464-5845, or send e-mail to colleen_eakin@ama-assn.org. The Web site address for meeting information is http://www.ama-assn.org/mem-data/special/RPS/amarps/amarps.htm.