Ahoy, Alliance members! It’s me, The Masked Captain, sailing in with your October President’s message! 🏴‍☠️ This month is packed with a grand booty worth discovering. So, batten down the hatches, and check out all that’s brewing in the Alliance during this spooky season!

🍃The winds of change be blowin’, and the Alliance website’s been refitted stem to stern, sleeker, faster, and more user-friendly than ever before. Take her for a spin and see the treasures within!

❎Speaking of treasure, Alliance Board elections are open through this Friday, so cast your vote before the tide goes out!

🌟And don’t miss your chance to nominate the rising stars among us as our CPD Forty Under 40 Award nominations are open through Nov. 5.

⚓While ye be sailing through your to-do list, drop anchor for a listen to the Alliance Podcast, where Andrea Zimmerman, EdD, CHCP, chats with Dion Richetti. Together, they tackle myths and misconceptions that can weigh down creativity and diversity in CE.

💻Now how do you reach interprofessional collaboration? Register and tune in for the Nov. 13 webinar featuring Cynthia Carroll.

🛳️And here’s a voyage you won’t want to miss. Registration is now open for the 2026 Annual Conference in Atlanta, our original port of call! Join us Feb. 16–19, 2026, for an unforgettable gathering themed “Future Ready: Elevating Our Professional Practice.” We’ve got 80 sessions to spark your professional development as well as sponsorship opportunities for your organizations.

🧭Oh, and before ye go, don’t forget to renew your Alliance membership! Keep your compass pointed true and your connection to this incredible organization strong.

Now, let’s hoist the sails and steer our way back to the countdown, crew.

In 2007:

• While 2007 saw the series finale of The Sopranos, the Apple iPhone launch and the "Effectiveness of CME" article published, respondents to my LinkedIn survey remember this year most for the release of the final book in the Harry Potter series.

In 2008:

• Usain Bolt won gold in the men’s 100m during the Olympics held in Beijing.
• Barack Obama became the first Black American elected president.

In 2009:

• Michael Jackson died at age 50.
• The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) published "Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians" which examined the natural science competencies that graduating physicians needed to practice science-based medicine effectively.

And in 2010

• There were several reflective pieces published on the 100-year-old Flexner Report.
• While Betty White became the oldest host of Saturday Night Live at the age of 88.

Thanks for sailing with me, crew. Keep your candy treasure safe, your coffee strong and your Alliance spirit energized. This is The Masked Captain signing off.