Pakistan Physicians Society
www.ppsil.org

The Illinois Chapter of APPNA

(Article published in APPNA Journal summer meeting)
 

The story of APPNA sojourns to Chicago for annual conventions is intricately intertwined with that of Pakistan Physicians Society, a local chapter of parent organization hosting 2006 meeting in Chicago. This local chapter has unique distinction of being the first ever APPNA local chapter with a charter since 1981 even way before concept of APPNA chapters existed. Our local chapter had been honored several times in the past for hosting APPNA annual meetings before (fifth to be precise excluding retreats and Executive Council meetings). For those who may not be familiar with history it was  here in the great city of Chicago where the first APPNA constitution was presented to the general assembly of members, approved  and adopted by the APPNA in 1981.

It all began for Pakistan Physicians Society affectionately known as PPS, early 1978 in Elmhurst, Illinois home of the author (Nasir Rana). At that time Chicago boasted presence of a large, vibrant Pakistani community brought together by Islamic foundation, a religious organization. There was a sizeable Pakistani physician community but not as an organized entity. So idea of PPS was conceived by Drs Rana and Mushtaq Sharif. Three more physicians were recruited into this SECT and the group came to be known as the GANG OF FIVE (Mushtaq Khan, Tariq Ghani, Khalid Riaz, Mushtaq Sharif and Nasir Rana). Of the original five Conspirators three went on to become APPNA presidents and recipients of APPNA Gold Medal, while remaining two stayed out of APPNA political politics.  The late Mushtaq Khan was nominated by the gang as a president (because of his seniority), Nasir Rana secretary (some one has to work) and Tariq K Ghani as treasurer (an excellent financial manager).

 Completely unknown to both PPS and APPNA they were on a colossal collision course (just kidding friends!). APPNA, a fledgling organization from state of Michigan, struggling to establish itself as a sole representative of all Pakistani physicians in the United States of America was planning its summer meeting in Chicago in 1981. It was at this meeting that the present constitution of APPNA (without subsequent amendments) was presented for the first time for discussion and adoption. The location for the meeting was Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Chicago (it is rather strange that APPNA Qissa is silent about this meeting!). During planning phase of the meeting APPNA knew that a local Pakistani physician organization existed and was very active in Chicago and tri state area (Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin). The unexpected news to the APPNA was strength of the PPS that lay in its more than 150 members. The APPNA hierarchy immediately considered PPS as an emerging threat (not true at all!) that might undermine its annual meeting in Chicago. So suddenly telephones started ringing here in Chicago to find out who is who and who is in charge of this little known (only to Michigan crowd!) outfit calling itself PPS. Drs. Iltifat Alvi, a very senior fixture of Chicago medical community of the eighties and Mohammad M Arain (a little bit fixture then!) were both ours and theirs INFORMANTS!. It was through these Chicagoan medicos that APPNA approached us. Thus an interstate journey to explore good will and mutual admiration began from Chicago to Menominee, Ohio in a huge automobile (really huge) driven by none other than our senior Tabeeb (that is Doctor of medicine Alvi sahib).

 Our unarmed posse left great city of Chicago on this historic voyage of discovery (we thought so!) after authorized by the GANG OF FIVE to conduct discussions and negotiations but no surrender! The team was authorized to entertain both a treaty of mutual co-operation and MAD (if you don’t know then look up in the cold war terminology!) a treaty of belligerency and non-cooperation between PPS and APPNA.

 The forefathers of APPNA (very senior grand fathers now) on behalf of their organization did their utmost to force us to change our name, cease and desist from existence, change our way of life (just kidding!) or merge into APPNA with no trace of our original self. They told us either you are with us or with them (not a recent phrase!). For them “them” meant Chicago at a time when APPNA was still in infancy and far away from becoming a national organization! We listened to their entreating with passion but with un-daunted fervor defended our independence!

 In the end we kept our independence, kept our name as PPS and extended our hand of friendship and unstinted co operation and a promise to fully facilitate APPNA meeting in Chicago as an affiliate organization. What? Precisely an unheard event of 1980’s when it was SELF BEFORE SERVICE, a generation adept at hostile takeovers, leveraged buyouts, and mega-mergers!

 The APPNA original constitution did not contain provision for an affiliate or a local chapter. Finally a deal was struck whereby PPS was given a charter of an APPNA chapter at a time (amazing!) when no chapter existed! So we became first ever chapter of our parent organization and with that APPNA gained more than one hundred members and we gained political capitol. Our membership representatives were instrumental in the establishment of APPNA central office. It was in 1986 at Dallas that Chicago was recommended as permanent seat for the APPNA central office at the town of Westmont, Illinois. Since those early days we have been contributing innumerable hours with complete dedication for the smooth and efficient workings of this office and even today continue in the foot steps of late Mushtaq Khan and others who followed. We provide our time and expertise with the same zeal and intensity as before. Not a bad deal for both APPNA and PPS! This symbiotic relationship has remained strong ever since and had weathered several political and non political storms, personal and impersonal agendas, in fighting and no fighting, accusations and appreciations, competence and incompetence over the past two decades.

 The strength of any organization is its people. In our case it is no different than other similar professional organizations. But in addition to our members we cultivated our relationships with their families. From one family we became many eventually creating our own community of professionals. But instead of isolating ourselves from other Pakistani- American’s we actively reached out and encouraged them to join us for our functions and finally these non- physicians became our friends, our financial resources and our strength. Today PPS takes pride and rightfully so as an instrument that defined and shaped our local Pakistani-American community, a diverse but a cohesive group indeed.

  It is in this spirit of camaraderie that Chicago chapter of APPNA has been consistently in the forefront whenever a need arise for worth while causes, for that matter any cause involving Pakistan or human catastrophes both natural and man made sans Frontières. We are always there with APPNA or without APPNA to bring our collective resources and our humanity for Pakistan flood relief, floods in Bangladesh, human sufferings of Bosnia, 911 tragedies, cancer hospital appeal, APPNA Sehat, eye hospital appeals, HDF or NCHDF, tsunami relief, earthquake relief or Katrina or establishment of CHAPS as a pilot project for community based health awareness programs. We always rise to challenges and come together as one strong family, one voice in unison and move in one direction with élan. Whole of Chicago with one objective to assist those who need our help, comfort those who are in need of comfort and educate those who lack education. We are Chicago community and we are PPS Illinois and we are APPNA Chicago 2006. We are E Pluribus Unum.

 Our local APPNA chapter has been in existence since 1978 and is a model for all those chapters that were created after PPS. The APPNA constitution was modified to create local chapters because it was need of the times and also precedence existed since eighties due to PPS, a chapter with a charter since early 80’s without a constitutional provision. This chapter also has a distinction as the first chapter given a chapter status under the revised APPNA constitution in 90’s. Our chapter has always concentrated its energies for its membership and their well being and shied away from politics of the parent organization as a matter of principle. But individually we have encouraged our members to seek national leadership positions. We believe that change from within the national leadership is less traumatic to the well being of an organization than convulsive revolutions with unknown consequences and outcomes. We always believe that with a global vision our elected leadership is capable and dedicated enough to understand its challenges and obligations to get things done right.

 It is with this historical backdrop that Pakistan Physicians Society, on behalf of APPNA welcomes you to APPNA Chicago 2006. We are your hosts during your stay in our great City of Chicago affectionately known world over as windy city and a city for the new millennium. Please enjoy our city whole heartedly with gusto, visit our parks and museums, watch in awe Cloud Gate at the millennium park, and get a taste our of mid western hospitality and its diversity. Above all have a safe, fun filled and a gratifying visit with us. WELCOME TO APPNA CHICAGO 2006.