General announcements:

• Sarah reported that Klick Pharma is donating $1000 to SPM following a FitBit challenge.
• Emily Hackel from Edelman has accepted role heading corporate marketing.

In the area of fundraising and possibly hiring an executive director, Sarah suggests considering a professional fundraiser, who keeps percentage of funds he raised.  Danny concerned that their earnings potential from our meager membership fees may not attract anyone.  We agreed was worth investigation.

Discussed status of salons.  SF on 9/26 is oversubscribed thanks to push by David Lansky.  Boston invitation is just going out.

Discussion about proposed SPM guidelines announcement at Health 2.0 (submitted by Alan):

• Overall, concept is good, and okay to do an announcement, but…

• 10,000 clinicians may be a lofty goal.  Concern that we are aiming too high.  Perhaps less specific or 10,000 in n years

• What is the process? Are providers on board?  Dave suggested that clinicians participate in forming details of goals once they are nominated

• Are these aspirational goals?  Need more detailed objectives if not.  May take a long time for physicians to achieve these goals.

• Once we start this program, other organizations might help us promote these guidelines

• Call them “goals” and not “guidelines.”

• Consensus that this is good forum to announce, but less detail around what they are other than a statement of principles.

• Maybe keep 10,000 clinicians as goal but not in a year.

• Sarah: mission of SPM is to bridge gap between patients and healthcare professionals.  How about a goal of encouraging questions from patients?  How about ensuring that patients understand treatment options?

Sue: No work yet on relationships with other organizations.  She plans to build off of the value proposition.  Danny suggested mapping related organizations, perhaps in a Venn diagram based on organizational focus as a first step.

Group liked membership proposals from Maria, especially the discounted e-Buddy for cancer or other diseases.  Comment that a free $30 membership may not be anough motivation to recruit members.

Sarah: people who are members want to know how they can participate.  Pointed to News section of site and Cheryl as volunteer organizer.

Some of our initiatives may be redundant.  Can we have clarity around their interrelationship and timing?  We discussed how initiatives are vetted by the exec committee to ensure that they do not conflict, overlap, or are nonstrategic.

Meeting adjourned at 1:02pm.