Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • October 30, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 17 Quality Construction + Butler Manufacturing = Repeat Customers www.borghesibuilding.com © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. 2155 East Main Street • Torrington, Connecticut 06790 Wittmann Battenfeld, Torrington, CT | 2000 | 37,000 sq. ft. 2006 | Addition — 14,400 sq. ft. 2013 | Addition — 18,900 sq. ft. Contact us at 860-482-7613 or visit us on the web. society said. "CSMS is obligated to remain the strongest advocate for physicians in every part of Connecticut." Fairfield County Medical Association officials said the group has approximately 800 dues-paying doctors, and some don't intend to renew their state society mem- bership in 2018. Meanwhile, the CSMS as of calendar year 2015 had 4,766 dues-paying members, who contributed $1.6 million in revenues, according to the group's most recently available not-for-profit tax forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Today, it cost $620 for an annual CSMS membership. Membership has been a challenge in recent years for medical associations, as healthcare consolidation has concen- trated physicians in larger practices or hospitals, not all of which cut dues checks for their doctors. From 2013 to 2015, the most recent three years available, the CSMS saw its member- ship drop from 5,800 to 4,766 members. The Fair- field association's dues revenues fell from $401,000 to $352,000 over that same period. It costs $420 for an annual Fairfield membership. CSMS down- played any poten- tial impact from the split. "We foresee con- tinued growth and success at CSMS, both next year and into the future," the organization said. The state society is the larger entity, with more financial resources, employing both full-time internal and external lobby- ists, the group said. Finger-pointing Each side blames the other for the dete- riorating relationship. The CSMS said its deunification vote was sparked by the Fairfield County as- sociation's decision in Oct. 2016 to remove language from its bylaws requiring its members to join both organizations. "The decision to deunify was actually made by FCMA when they changed their bylaws to conflict with those of CSMS, mak- ing them a competitor organization," the society said. The Fairfield association said it believed the medical society wanted to deunify in the near future regardless. They also argue CSMS wants to be the only game in town and prefers the county associations to be more like "social pods." Hartford and New Haven are among other county medical associations. Both are linked with the CSMS. "I'm speaking for myself, but the feeling I get is that CSMS would like to be the only medical society in the state, which would make it easier for it to get member- ship and dues," Oshman said. After the Southington incident, two New Haven County doctors, Mike Connair and Emily Nolfo, emailed CSMS leadership expressing concerns about what hap- pened and warning it could threaten the financial viability of the group. "To any neutral observer, it would no doubt appear that the intent was to sway the vote," they wrote in the email obtained by HBJ, adding "that spon - sors witnessed this is unconscionable." The email contin- ued: "The 'us versus them' attitude of those on the Council who orchestrated the excommunica- tion of FCMA after years of mutual mis- trust and squabbles over control issues has finally blown up in our faces. We believe the events at the Aqua Turf meeting threaten not just the moral center, but the very financial viability of the CSMS." Peace offering Though the relationship between both groups has been strained, each said it hopes to quell the beef. "While this FCMA decision [to deunify] is regrettable, we have made it clear they are welcome to come back at any time, as our bylaws allow, and we are doing everything to make that happen," the state society said. "In the meantime, all Fairfield County physician members of CSMS are welcome and valued." Mark Thompson, executive director of the Fairfield County association provided this statement: "Although it was unfortu- nate that [CSMS] chose not to let eligible members vote in the election because they were not registered for dinner, and then to call the police on their own members, [FCMA] remains steadfast in its desire to work with the state medical society for the betterment of patient care in Connecticut." CT Doctor Group's Membership Dues Revenues (in $000s) The Connecticut State Medical Society and the three largest county medical associations in the state have seen a decline in revenue from membership dues in recent years. Here's a breakdown. 2013 2014 2015 CT State Medical Society $1,927 $1,789 $1,641 Fairfield County Medical Assoc. $401 $404 $352 Hartford County Medical Assoc. $374 $329 $299 New Haven County Medical Assoc. $258 $248 $229 Source: IRS 990 Tax Forms Dr. Robin Oshman likened the split between CSMS and Fairfield County to a divorce. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED At Simsbury Bank, we never forget that small to mid-sized businesses are the cornerstone of our local economy. It's the kind of appreciation that you don't find in a bigger bank. So we strive to be more flexible. To approve faster. To work with your business not as a lender, but as a partner. How can we help? You believe in you. Your bank should too. Visit SimsburyBank.com/grow-your-business to learn more. SimsburyBank.com 860-651-2057 Partners and Advisors to: Commercial & Industrial Businesses | Home Builders and Developers | Home Owner Associations Personalized Banking Solutions for Privately Owned & Family Businesses

• Cover