The rheumatologists of our region in the mountains of western North Carolina have met ~quarterly for dinner meetings for the last 17 years. I agree that it is an important forum both for education and perhaps more importantly to facilitate the relationships amongst the rheumatologists here. I do feel strongly that funding by the pharmaceutical industry can introduce bias, and though we appreciate greatly that pharma has brought us some amazing internationally recognized speakers over the years, we have progressively weaned ourselves off their funding without any reduction in the quality of the educational experience. We accomplished this firstly by paying for our own meals, and largely self educating, making use of the excellent talent we have here locally. And then starting a few years ago, our wonderful state society, the NC Rheumatology Association, began picking up the tab. I feel that the education and camaraderie generated by this journal club have been an invaluable contribution to my career as a physician and a rheumatologist.