I need some input to improve this program!

Hello all, I have been the student/resident representative for the AMA Alliance of MN for the last year and they have asked me to continue this year. I would really like to improve this program because I think they have a lot to offer but I need some idea's to get the ball rolling.

The Alliance is, in general wives of long practicing docs. Most do not work outside of the home and thus meetings are scheduled for weekdays. I think that this group has the potential to be very helpful to partners of students and residents. I know that the experienced partners can give so much to those of us starting out. So- please if anyone has idea's as to how to make the most out of this group and to get people to join!

Any idea's would be great! Thanks!

[DCJenn]

First, I think they need to remember that most younger spouses are either SAHPs or working. They really will have to wrap their heads around evening or weekend meetings and activities.

When we first moved here for intern year I signed up for the spouses group and every meeting was at 11am on a Tuesday. I worked FT and there was NO way I could just up and leave, especially when I was a brand new employee. (even if I was the boss!)

I'd also recommend that they make it as internet friendly as possible- most people today do at least part of the social networking via the internet.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Jenn

[Flynn]

First, I think they need to remember that most younger spouses are either SAHPs or working. They really will have to wrap their heads around evening or weekend meetings and activities.

When we first moved here for intern year I signed up for the spouses group and every meeting was at 11am on a Tuesday. I worked FT and there was NO way I could just up and leave, especially when I was a brand new employee. (even if I was the boss!)

I'd also recommend that they make it as internet friendly as possible- most people today do at least part of the social networking via the internet.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Jenn

I tried to join here but after moving and finding three good babysitters (which I think is pretty good!) -- they all have class during the day. Meeting on weekdays in the middle of the day is just SILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The women keep saying "maybe when your kids are in school full time." Um yeah, NOT impressed.

Doing things online would be VERY helpful. Calling me the day before to tell me there is a meeting in the middle of the day is again, not helpful.

State the purpose of the group UP FRONT. I still don't know what it is despite asking LOTS of members.

Hope you can help out....can you tell I'm so underwhelmed with this group???

[PrincessFiona]

Flynn,

I had a very similar experience here. Obviously, meetings need to be tailored to meet the needs of moms with young children...simply including childcare would be a big bonus.

Also...don't forget to refer everyone here for extra emotional support :>

kris

[Flynn]

Flynn,

I had a very similar experience here. Obviously, meetings need to be tailored to meet the needs of moms with young children...simply including childcare would be a big bonus.

Also...don't forget to refer everyone here for extra emotional support :>

kris

ITA!!! Also, what's wrong with an occasional evening meeting? Dang. If you want new members you have to keep things fresh. I think the group is really "set in their ways" here so I'm not going to hold my breath.

I am trying to shake things up a bit. I know last fall they did a student/resident picnic in the evening and in the cities they do encourage people to bring kidlets. At least the meetings I have been to has encouraged it, like the Christmas Tea and events that are at someone's home.

How about idea's for activities that people would want to come to. I am also trying to get the working partners without children.

More idea's? I appreciate it so much! I want this to be a postive experience for people involved.

[DCJenn]

To be honest, it would have to be a seriously compelling topic after work to get me to go- even before I needed a babysitter. So, I think meaty topics- like financial planning, contracts, etc. or timely speakers like if there wre bond issues that influenced taxes, etc. Interesting local authors or personnel from the hospital who may have published something interesting.

The last thing I want to do after work is make small talk at a tea. (a moment of thanks that the Medical Corps of the Army doesn't function like the rest of the Army) or leave work to make small talk at a tea.

Keep it interesting any dynamic. and even if only quarterly child-care could be provided, you'll get a better turn-out.

I was invited to a deployed spouses event at the Army base and it was to make Fiesta decorations. I momentarily considered going because they had kid activities and then I decided that it would be a circle of hell I didn't need to be part of. But that's just me and I'm not a joiner in that sense.

Jenn

[Flynn]

BBQ at someone's house -- pot luck to make it easy.

An evening with spouses no kids -- again someone's house. This can be post dinner so it would just be wine and finger food. For all the families with "older" kids this should be easy to host. Every couple can bring a bottle of wine to help supplement the evening.

Please no lectures about nutrition, scrapbooking, or "being a supportive spouse" in medicine. NO PAMPERED chef and no domestic goddess stuff. UG.

[DCJenn]

Please no lectures about nutrition, scrapbooking, or "being a supportive spouse" in medicine. NO PAMPERED chef and no domestic goddess stuff.

Oh so true- like bunco groups- either you do that stuff or you don't. If you do, you have a network. If you don't then you're obviously not interested.

My mom's alumnae group has been bringing in local people on the topic of Women's Issues worldwide. Since it's such a broad theme for the year, they've been able to have really interesting and very different people come. The last speakers were an Afghani couple (PhDs) who discussed education and healthcare in Afghanistan.

Jenn

[medpedspouse]

WARNING.. :soapbox:

I joined my local alliance group but quickly became disenchanted because all correspondence was to "the ladies." I agree that Alliance groups can be a great resource (socially and emotionally) BUT I balk at the thought that we are not engaging the male medical spouses when (at least here) a little over half the students are female. The residents are almost half and half in some programs too.

So, my suggestion is to also do things that will support/engage the male spouses.

[fluffhead]

So, my suggestion is to also do things that will support/engage the male spouses.

right on, brother.

Thanks for all the input. Actually the president of our MN alliance right now is a male. He has been working hard to reach out to the males as well and it has helped since he has been in charge. But it is a good point and something to keep working on for sure.

So as a male, what things would you like to be involved in?

[medpedspouse]

oops

Let me clarify...I am not a male. However, I do have very strong feelings about making sure that my local alliance group includes everyone.

My suggestions are to plan for gender neutral activities. Some of the suggestions I have is to invite a local chef to teach knife skills 101. Or how about Digital Photos/Video 101?? Depending on your region, setting up a quarterly weekend (inexpenssive) day trips to a local attraction. I say weekend because I also do not want working spouses to be excluded.

These are just off the top of my head.

[SuzySunshine]

Our group here has lots of different interest groups but they have one specifically for the male partners. I'm not sure what its called but they get together to watch sporting events and do traditional male things. Yes, they are invited an do participate in other events but I think they like having a group thats just men when they can commiserate.

[Vanquisher]

The only problem with weekend stuff, and this DOES get very tricky, is that a lot of medical spouses are VERY protective of their weekend time, especially if their spouse happens to have that particular weekend off.

In trying to do my own group here, which never worked out due to lack of participation, I found that it was completely impossible to make a time that everyone could attend or would even want to. You've got a lot of different groups of people.

We had a wine tasting for example, on a weeknight, that nearly no one attended because parents couldn't get a babysitter. It seemed that professionals and/or nonparents were reluctant to attend anything. It seemed that most of them had their own lives, so to speak. The best attended events we had were in the middle of the day on weekdays when people could bring their kids. I think THAT is why that attitude is out there.

I could never do this because it became too hard and too much work for me, but I think the BEST way to get attendance up at the events is to hold A LOT of them at several different times/days of the week. I would say 4-6 events/month at a minimum. We used group funds to hire babysitters once, and that was a moderate success. Some were reluctant even still, but the event was at my house, with 2 sitters and 10 kids in a closeby area where parents could monitor.

But, in order to get people to come, you have to call them. Here, it sems we get impersonal invitations. I would call people. Evites are a great way to send invitations! Those have worked great for me. Set up an internet group where people can see your monthly activities and you can send out reminders. It is a lot of work, and I could never make it happen here very well (program is just too small), but I think I've learned some things anyway.