“There is no limit to what a man can do so long as he does not care a straw who gets the credit for it.”
C.E. (Charles Edward) Montague (1867-1928)

Of all the columns I've written, none have elicited more emails and phone calls than "Where's the Love?" (JUCM, February 2008). It seems there is just not enough praise in this world, and it's too easy for us to forget to do it - and consequently we all feel at least a little underappreciated.

For a few people, I'd like to end that here.

These people have worked mostly in the shadows, for all of our benefit, for several years, with no compensation outside of the satisfaction of contributing to something they believe in. They have put in long hours after their day jobs, including countless marathon conference calls and meetings, and their "sweat equity" in the outcome is substantial. They have fought and argued. They have negotiated and cajoled. They have flown many miles and spent many nights away from their families. They have invested their time and their intellect and their passion.

You probably don't even know most of their names.

I am speaking (perhaps you have guessed) about UCAOA's founding Board of Directors. Not only did they create the Association, but they nurtured it closely through its early years, and without their incredible contributions, this journal, the convention in New Orleans this month, the Fellowships, the website resourcesˇ­none of it would have been possible.

I doubt many of us have ever thanked them. So let's do it now.

On behalf of everyone who has and will benefit from your original efforts, we thank you:
Don Kilgore
John Koehler, MD
Dan Konow, PA-C
William Meadows, MD
Lee Resnick, MD
Marge Simat
David Stern, MD, CPC

Since that founding, there have been four elections bringing in several new Directors who have added their own contributions: Kathy Crampton, Dr. Jim Gore, Dr. Ken Palestrant, Amy Tecosky, Cindi Lang, Dr. Marc Salzberg - and the five newest members still to be determined as of this writing, but whose identities will be known by the time this column is in your hands (and will be announced on www.ucaoa.org).

Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to recognize the staff and collaborators who make UCAOA work every day.

They are the people you talk to when you call us, who help you find what you are looking for, take your registrations, change your address, plan the conferences, line up our exhibitors, publish JUCM - and love doing it for you.

Becky Mendez (who has been here since the beginning), Colleen Richter, and Karlo Castro make up our full-time staff, Alan Ayers and Dr. Philip Disraeli provide consultation and program development on a regular basis. It's a team that loves working together, and I hope it shows in your interactions with us.

As you have read this, no doubt there are those in your own professional and personal life who have come to mind, that you have either never shined a spotlight on or it has been far too long. I hope this will encourage you to find a way.

Since this column must be submitted a few weeks before the New Orleans National Convention, a full report of the "happenings" will have to wait until June. However, we will be sending a "Live Report" by e-mail, so if you have not done so yet, please join our mailing list (you can visit www.ucaoa.org or e-mail info@ucaoa.org) and add UCAOA to your list of "safe senders."

Lou Ellen Horwitz is executive director of the Urgent Care Association of America. She may be contacted at lhorwitz@ucaoa.org