News & Updates
ARMS End of Year Newsletter - 2025
ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED MEDICAL STAFF (ARMS)
2025 Annual Report and Member Survey
About ARMS
The Association of Retired Medical Staff (ARMS) was established in 1990 to make the transition from active practice to retirement easy, to maintain the friendships and collegiality of retirees, and to continue the connection to the Permanente Group.
We sponsor three luncheons annually in the Seattle/Tacoma area, maintain a website, and send periodic newsletters and updates to members.
2025 Activities
In 2025, we held three successful luncheons:
March – Murano Hotel, Tacoma: Dr. Bill Affolter described his unique experience interviewing people from a park bench
July – Salty's, West Seattle: Dr. Jim Demaine shared insights from his book Facing Death
October – Dr. Rick Rapport presented the history of Medic One from his book Seattle's Medic One: How We Don't Die
Post-luncheon surveys reflected general satisfaction with both the events and programs. Attendees expressed strong interest in continuing the luncheons, valuing the opportunity to visit with colleagues and hear engaging presentations.
Our website is being improved. Please go to it and send us suggestions for easier access and ideas for more content. We are especially interested in having contributions from you, the membership, e.g., stories, essays, activities, travels, opinion pieces, volunteer opportunities, life experiences, learnings, etc.
Challenges and Financial Update
Since its inception, ARMS has faced two primary challenges: increasing member involvement across the state and sustaining financing. Currently, ARMS is supported by a subsidy from WPMG and attendee fees. This year, costs and revenues were balanced.
Important Change: Due to the expense of recording and hosting virtual meetings with minimal virtual attendance, we will discontinue virtual linkages to the luncheons. We hope to continue recording programs for later viewing on the website.
Future financial sustainability will depend on continued WPMG subsidies and luncheon fees. If circumstances change, we may need to consider additional member support, such as annual fees or voluntary contributions.
Goals for 2026
Continue luncheons with engaging speakers
Expand engagement in Spokane and Olympia with local meetings
Increase the visibility and utility of the website to provide valuable resources for members
The dates for the 2026 luncheons will be March 24 in Tacoma area, July 28 in Seattle Area, and October 22 place to be determined.
ARMS can be a valuable resource for retirees to maintain friendships, promote continuing education, and strengthen connections with the Permanente Group and our communities.
Hugh Straley
Arms end of year 2024 Letter
Food Bank Help
Individuals looking for help, or to donate, should reach out to their local
food bank.
More help locating food resources is available on the Washington
Department of Agriculture’s website, or by calling 360-725-5640. You can
also call 211, or visit Washington 211’s website, for help locating additional resources.
Books Recommended or Written by Colleagues
Beyond Limits
Dr. Susan Warwick ob - gyn forwarded this suggestion as a well received book. Author Dr. Sella writes about her experience as an abortion provider. For 20 years, Dr. Shelley Sella saw patients whose diverse backgrounds and circumstances led them to the same difficult decision: to end their pregnancies. In her new book, Beyond Limits, Sella draws from her experiences to offer a window into a typical week at her clinic, weaving together patient stories.
https://townhallseattle.org/event/dr-shelley-sella/
Dr. Sella will be coming to Seattle Thursday September 11, at the Wyncote NW Forum.
1119 8th Ave (Entrance off Seneca St.)
Seattle, 98101 Dr. Shelley Sella with Amelia Bonow. Townhall.org.
Seattle’s Medic One
Our own Dr. Rick Rapport has several books out including players many of us remember from practice or our training. In 1968, Dr. Leonard Cobb, along with Seattle fire chief Gordon Vickery, began to implement something new and daring: one of the country's first pre-hospital coronary care systems. Along with Dr. Michael Copass, they started Medic One, an emergency service unlike any other. ...
Facing Death
Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope and Healing at the End.
Jim deMaine spent nearly forty years caring for severely ill patients and witnessing their final days as a pulmonary and critical care specialist. He was the chief of medical specialties and co-chaired the ethics committee at Group Health Cooperative (now Kaiser Permanente).