Communicating with your classmates and faculty about your FMIG is key to having a successful FMIG. One FMIG saw their membership grow just by advertising events two weeks in advance and having their events at the same place and at the same time every month. Another FMIG sent text messages to members to remind them about upcoming meetings and events.

Here are a couple of other ideas for communicating:

• Check to see if your school’s e-mail system allows class-wide or school-wide e-mails - This is a great way to advertise your programming and meetings.
• Use school bulletin boards for posters and postcards - you can request free postcards and posters from the AAFP, e-mail Ashley Bentley for more information.
• Set up a website or a blog to communicate with members and potential members – many platforms are free.
• Advertise your meetings and events in student newsletters – some schools have weekly e-mail newsletters that are sent to all students.

In addition to communicating with students through conferences, mailings and handouts, the AAFP also has five regional Listservs specifically for FMIG members and student leaders. These are a great way to stay in touch with the AAFP and FMIGs in your region and to gain information about best practices.

Some tips for using the Listservs:

• Always check the “to” field to make sure you’re sending the message to the right listserv (or individual).
• Don’t write in all caps.
• Make sure your message is appropriate for the audience. Does the message apply to all students in the region, or just students at a particular medical school?

Your regional coordinator is a great resource for information about the AAFP and FMIG Network. Don’t hesitate to contact any Regional Coordinator about programming ideas, FMIG events or other questions you may have about your FMIG. Contact information is available here.

The AAFP can provide you contact information for FMIG student and faculty advisors at many medical schools. If you’d like to collaborate with another FMIG, just let us know and we will give you any contact information we have. If you’d like to plan a regional event, the FMIG Regional Listservs are a great way to communicate your event and find other interested FMIGs.

The national FMIG Network has a Facebook page that can be used to communicate with other students interested in family medicine.  This page is open to anyone to "like."  The AAFP and the AAFP's National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Students are also on Facebook.

You can also follow the national FMIG Network on Twitter @AAFP_FMIG. The FMIG Network Regional Coordinators, the medical student leaders who advance the network during their one-year terms, tweet from @fammedstudents.

We also post video updates and link to clips of interest on YouTube. Just follow our YouTube channel.

The AAFP has a variety of family medicine handouts and brochures that FMIGs can use to promote the specialty and their student group. All of these handouts are listed below. Hard copies can be ordered by e-mailing Ashley Bentley. These are great for student organization fairs or for introducing new students to the group.