Page 18 - Flying Physician Magazine Issue 1-2018

The FPA Continues to Move Forward in 2017-18

Reflecting on what transpired within the Flying Physicians Association over the past year is encouraging. I believe it will
inspire us to continue moving forward with organizational growth and development during the 2018-19 year.
The Flying Physicians Association is the ONLY organization in existence in which both the experiences of being physicians
and being pilots can be shared, nourished, and celebrated together with active participation of Right Front Seater spouses and
significant others! What a joy!
Direct group email with a personal 2-way communications between the FPA President and membership is now a reality,
helping to supply the glue needed to give your membership and participation a sense of meaning and satisfaction.
Perhaps one of the most productive changes is the renewed engagement of the Membership Committee and the External
Relations Committee in seriously exploring advertising in various aviation journals at a reasonable cost. Aircraft, avionics, main-
tenance, and physician practice discussions are applicable for us all.
Our recent FPA Annual Meeting at The Greenbrier was everything I hoped that it would be! Starting with our incredible
local arrangements and transportation committee chair, Skip Prescott (with the help of his family and mine), the “airport arrival
welcome” and transportation of the members to and from Greenbrier went very smoothly throughout the meeting.
The Saturday Evening Welcome Reception in the Champion Room at the Golf Club was a delight, with libations, delicious
food, live piano music and plenty of “meet and greet” conversation amongst the members. Winners of the FPA/Greenbrier lim-
erick contest were given their prizes at the well-attended event which was enjoyed by all.
With the help of our CME Program Chair, Mark Eidson, and CME Committee Chair, Dick Sloan, the educational program
was pulled off in grand style! Talk after talk touched on important topics of interest to physicians of all specialties. The aviation
experts at the meeting, Bruce Landsberg and Mike Busch (both honorary members), were terrific.
The FPA Annual Meeting Scramble Golf Tournament was resurrected! The Greenbrier, known for its first class golf courses,
was the perfect place for this event. There were 5 teams competing for prizes. John Freitas is apparently our unofficial FPA Golf
Pro, bagging prizes for being on the winning team, hitting the longest drive on a par 5, and testing off closest to the pin (7’2”) on
a par 3. Bernie Heckman, Chuck Reinninger, and Kurt Von Maur were also members of the winning foursome.
Bunker tours, falconry, spa visits, the gambling
casino, indoor and outdoor pools, skeet and trap
shooting, fishing, off-road 4 wheeling, horseback
riding and bowling were activities also enjoyed by
the membership. The movie theater, restaurants
and, of course, the lobby bar were favorites as well.
The Right Front Seater program was organized
and well received including history tours, culinary
demonstrations, an art colony tour, and glass blow-
ing demonstrations.
The FPA 2018 Annual Meeting (and vacation)
was certainly one to remember for those who at-
tended, especially me. The standing ovation I re-
ceived at the end of the final banquet was heartfelt
and something I’ll never forget.
Mark and Sarah Eidson are very talented and
poised to take over the reins for 2018-2019. We
plan to give them our utmost support to help carry
the FPA torch into the future and ask that you all do
the same!

Onward,

George W. Shehl, MD
FPA Immediate Past President

18 The Flying Physician vol. 61 - Issue 1 2018