Alliance Channels 007 James Bond for Annual Convention Fundraiser

Celebrities often grace us with their presence as an attraction at fundraising events, and although the Alliance was not able to invite in person the iconic figure who prefers his martinis shaken, not stirred, James...James Bond will feature strongly at the MSMA’s Annual Convention Alliance Dinner/Fundraiser on Friday, April 3, 2020, at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel.

Alliance VP for Foundations Kathy Weigand has planned a follow-up event in keeping with her British theme from last year. Chosen in honor of the current Alliance president (yours truly), Kathy’s theme for last year was The British Invasion. The evening was filled with English touches, such as an appearance by Her Majesty Queen Katherine, and an array of bid items and prizes of typically English fare. Fawlty Towers and English tea were well represented.

In keeping with last year’s focus (as this president is completing a second term), Kathy and her committee will continue the British theme and present Alliance Celebrates James Bond - 007. It is hard to imagine that 007 has been around for over 50 years. (In good company with other famous fictional characters such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh who have been around even longer!)

Just in time for the twenty-fifth James Bond film, No Time To Die, release on April 10, 2020, the evening will be filled with James Bond trivia, music, drink specials, and perhaps even James Bond, himself. Please join us! You can register for the event online at msma.org/alliance.

There are many creative individuals in the MSMA Alliance who are never at a loss for clever ideas for these fundraising events. Some previous themes for the Friday night fundraiser at the state meeting have included casino nights, a mystery party with sleuths and suspects, Running with the Roses (a mock Derby), and various musical programs including An Evening of Blues, featuring Dr. Joe Corrado’s band.

The Alliance has always had a strong tradition of fundraising for good causes. These events have evolved over the years into a variety of different formats at the local and state level. Funds are raised to donate to charities or community programs supported by the Alliance dealing with topics such as breast cancer awareness, illiteracy, autism, impaired physicians, and newborns in crisis. The Alliance offers school programs that address prevention of violence, Smoking is Not for Me, and the current Drugs are Not for Me program, which now includes opioid awareness and the new horrors of electronic cigarettes, or vaping. These anti-smoking and anti-drug programs used by the Alliance were developed in Greene County, spearheaded by Barbara Hover. The program has been presented in many other states and at the national level, even winning the prestigious HAP Award.

Women’s shelters and food banks are routinely supported by Alliance counties across the state. A new initiative by the AMA Alliance this year invites participants to arrive at a local or state meeting armed with jars of peanut butter. These are donated to the local food banks by one of the hosting members. For many years, the Alliance in Cape Girardeau has funded a Backpack for Fridays program so children in the local elementary school have food and other items for the weekend.

Alliance members in Buchanan County raise funds at their holiday event with the medical society and purchase anti-bullying books for the St. Joseph School District. Kansas City and St. Louis also combine their annual holiday parties with charitable fundraising and donations.

The Alliance contributes to medical student scholarships through donations to Missouri State Medical Foundation throughout the year, but the Holiday Sharing Card and the annual meeting fundraiser are the main sources of Alliance funding for MSMF. The Alliance provides additional gifts to graduating medical students at the Match Day events. St. Louis donates gift cards and luggage to students in a drawing at Match Day. An innovative idea, conceived by Angela Zylka, raised money for these gifts by renting out an independent movie theater and showing classic movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Meet me in St. Louis, Singin’ in the Rain, and more. This took place annually for several years until the theater ownership changed hands.

Wine tastings, fashion shows over lunch (Neiman Marcus) or in the evening (The Vault) or a direct sales fashion event (Cabi) at someone’s home, are always popular ways to raise funds.

If you are coming to the MSMA Annual Convention in St. Louis April 3–5, please mark your calendars for Friday, April 3 at the Renaissance. We will be celebrating James Bond’s 50-plus years in many ways – there will be a signature drink (guess!), a DJ playing the familiar songs and soundtrack music and videos from the Bond movies during the evening, a drawing for Bond-worthy gifts, a trivia competition (hint -start re-watching all those movies!) and a couple of surprise guest appearances.

Funds raised will benefit MSMF. Please join us for a fun evening for a good cause.

For more information go to msma.org/alliance or contact Kathy Wiegand at daffodil4302@yahoo.com or call 816 387–7264.