44 Infrastructure DEVELOPING STATE AND REGIONAL SOCIETIES As members continued to join ACOFP, they experienced the organization’s value and began forming local societies across the country. These societies were small, but the spirit of volunteerism caused many to prosper. The origin of the ACOFP Pennsylvania Society was formed over lunch at The Lincoln Hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania, on a beautiful spring day in 1960 or 1961. The three founding members were Earl Gabriel, DO, FACOFP, George Essayian, DO, FACOFP, and Paul Herr, DO, FACOFP. These three served as officers for several years, and their work was soon augmented and carried on very ably by Larry Koplovitz, DO, and Joseph Stella, DO, FACOFP. The Pennsylvania Society has grown to be one of the largest in ACOFP and has produced many ACOFP leaders over the years. This pragmatic approach to government has been a part of the formation of most of the state organizations since the 1950s. Since its inception, ACOFP has expanded to include 29 state and regional societies, representing both small and large states. These societies are led by a diverse array of organizations, from physician volunteers to professional association staff and management companies. The activities of these societies vary widely, ranging from large in-person conventions with thousands of physicians and exhibitors to small luncheon meetings and virtual conventions. In 2021, the ACOFP Congress of Delegates approved the establishment of the first regional society, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians – Mountain West Regional Society (ACOFP-MW), to represent physicians in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. FIRST SOCIETY: PENNSYLVANIA 29 CHAPTERS
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