I should be clear though, when I say nerds, I don't mean people who were really smart and would go on to accomplish real things in the real world. Those kind of people never joined APhA. You know the kid who sits in the front row of every class and thinks they are better than everyone else because they raise their hand at every question, get it wrong, and thereby necessitate a 10 minute diversion from the planned lecture as the professor struggles to get something into their pointy little head?
That kid would be total APhA material.
They also specialized in having meetings where they would talk at great length about things like whether a pharmacy technician could ask a customer if they would like the pharmacist to go over their medicine with them, or if the offer had to actually be made by the pharmacist. I am not kidding you. They would talk about this for hours, and get quite worked up about it. I know because I had to go to APhA meetings while I was a pledge in my fraternity. My fraternity wasn't concerned about advancing the profession mind you, the forced attendance was part of the hazing process.
At any rate, it would seem that APhA is still around, and that they're in the market for a new leader. According to the article:
APhA began the process by assembling a committee to establish the key criteria for selecting a new CEO. "APhA spent a lot of time trying to build consensus on the criteria," he said.
I have no problem believing that. That they spent a lot of time trying to build consensus on the criteria. Here's what they came up with:
- Must be a pharmacist as required by the APhA bylaws.
- Must be an APhA member.
- Must be a US citizen.
- Must have demonstrated prior or current leadership abilities.
- Must be able to pass a government background check.
I'm glad they put in that part about the government background check. It makes me feel all safe and stuff to know an Al-Qaeda operative won't be the next CEO of APhA.
I'm also glad to find out that as soon as I join their little talking club, I will be eligible for immediate consideration. That really shows how well spent all the time was they put in to come up with their criteria.
So yeah, it's been about 18 years since APhA last popped up on my radar screen, and after reading this, I fully expect it to be another 18 or so before they pop up again.
I do feel like tracking down the nearest APhA member and giving them a wedgie right now though.
Dweebs.
