News from American Pharmacies, a Co-Op Owned by Independent Pharmacies.

A Co-Op Owned by
Independent Pharmacies

Working with pharmacy wholesalers, American Pharmacies saves our members real money.

June 15, 2010

Much more than a buying co-op!

APRx is a for-profit, member-owned buying group operating in Texas, Louisiana & Oklahoma,

with strong advocacy in Austin and Washington, D.C.

a a

& have your voice heard in the legislative and regulatory arena.

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Founding member Texas Pharmacy Business Council * Member National Community Pharmacists Association

Message from Mike
Milestones in independent pharmacy and APRx

As we settle in our new office in Corpus Christi, I can't help but reflect on our history as a buying co-op and the history of independent pharmacy in Texas.

We took this opportunity to gather details of American Pharmacy and you can find it here. It was an exciting and fast-moving time with many changes leading to the day in 2002 when we incorporated what we know today as American Pharmacies.

We began the process in 1999 with a group of independent pharmacists who decided to join together to increase buying power and be competitive in the marketplace. Our original mission statement clearly describes their vision: "American Pharmacies, Inc. is an organization of community independent pharmacies committed to creating opportunities, promoting ownership, encouraging business development, improving political involvement, and enhancing the image of Pharmacy."

A lot of people took a lot of chances to create American Pharmacies. Those first board members were visionaries willing to take a leap of faith to give independents an organization they could believe in and one that would fight to protect their interests.

Four of the original board members remain in service to APRx: Ray Carvajal, RPh, San Antonio; Buddy dela Rosa, RPh, Weslaco; Lynn Everett, RPh, Waco; and Bruce Rogers, RPh, Victoria. The other three original board members are Dennis Helbert, RPh, Brownwood; Gary Rice, RPh, Houston and Don Novak, RPh, of Longview.

We are gathering old pictures of members' early pharmacies to enlarge, frame, and hang in the APRx office to display some of the history of our stores. They can be exterior shots of old drug stores, soda fountain, or interior shots. We would really appreciate pictures from any time--they don't have to date back to the earliest days. I'm interested in any shot you are willing to share. Early 50s could be cool as well.

You can e-mail them to me or mail them to:

American Pharmacies
802 Carancahua St., Suite 1830
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

If you send one by mail, we will have a copy made and return your photo to you.

Thanks in advance for your photos. And thank you for being a part of American Pharmacies.

Continued success,
Mike Gohlke signature white background

Mike Gohlke
President, American Pharmacies

Nominations open for APRx Board of Directors

Three seats on the American Pharmacies Board of Directors are open and nominations are accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, June 25.

The APRx Board of Directors consists of elected volunteer stockholders who make all decisions regarding operating expenses and budget. The board strives to deliver economic value, while providing a broad-based, proactive, and effective grass roots network that delivers rapid response to local, state, and federal issues that can potentially impact the future economic viability of our members' businesses.
Our board also takes an aggressive role to impact political, legislative, and regulatory issues important to independent community pharmacy owners.

We are a 100 percent member-owned pharmacy buying group run by independent pharmacists for independent pharmacists. Our combined strength gives us a strong voice in shaping legislation which impacts our businesses, allows us to better serve our customers, and leads to greater profitability.

Nine board members serve staggered three-year terms.

Nominations must include:

person's name,
pharmacy,
city,
phone number and
e-mail address.
Brief description of the person's qualifications and reasons to fill one of the three seats.
If you are nominating someone other than yourself, please include your contact information.

Board members currently filling these board slots are willing to continue serving. They are:

Ray Carvajal, RPh, is one of the original board members of American Pharmacies and serves on the Texas Pharmacy Business Council board of directors. He is owner of Carvajals Pharmacy in San Antonio.
Lynn Everett, RPh, also is one of original board members and is immediate vice chairman of the board. He is owner of Lynn's LaVega Pharmacy in Waco.
Dennis Song, RPh, has served as a board director since 2004. This summer, he steps into the position of president of the Texas Pharmacy Association. He is owner of Flower Mound Herbal Pharmacy in Flower Mound.

Please click here to send your nomination no later than 5 p.m. Friday, June 25.

Be one of the lucky 50 for NCPA Ownership Academy

With more than 20 years of experience in assisting successful pharmacy owners, the National Community Pharmacists Association's Ownership Academy will provide attendees with advanced skills to identify business challenges, create profitable solutions, reach new customers, explore and develop new niche opportunities, enhance their business operations through technology, and improve stagnant margins.

Jumpstart Your Pharmacy Business: A Seminar for Owners,July 17-18, 2010 - Alexandria, VA. Click here for more information and to register.Registration Cost (includes seminar materials, 3 meals, tuition, and CE processing): $797 for NCPA Members,$1092 for non-members (and receive one year NCPA membership).To provide a more intensive learning environment, class size is limited to the first 50 paid registrants.