Meeting called to order at 12:50
Present: Kurtz, Madigan, Merill, Becker, Meeker, Hunjadi, Teft,
TeStroete, Schilder, McCarrier, Menzel, Teale,
Notified absent: Wesley, Hellmen-Bulle, Myhre. Victorson, (less
than 48-hours)
Motion by Madigan, Second by Meeker to approve minutes from the July, 1997 meeting. All in favor. None opposed.
President - Dan attended a program in Milwaukee on layperson defibrillation. It was an initial meeting to see who will be involved and what they will be doing. No action for our association to take at this time.
Vice Pres- None
Secretary/Treasurer - None
Executive Manager - Written financial information, including investments was provided to those in attendance.
Conference - Brochures are set to be mailed no later than November 1. Board members will be expected to complete a conference registration form without money if they are planning to work the conference. Friday/Sat conference tuition is paid for staff. Wednesday and Thursday pre-conference classes, along with the Friday banquet must be paid for on your own. Hotel reservations need to be made by board members themselves and likewise will not be paid for by the conference division.
Membership/Public Relations - Brief update on Corporate memberships and group buying with Medical Products that will continue at 5% discount with free shipping. Products for this year’s premium item was discussed. Suggestions included: Pin, Key chain, Pen/highlighter, Two year calendar. Items will be researched for cost, size, shipping and presented to the executive board for purchase in preparation for 1998 renewals.
Discussion about allowing anyone that is renewing their membership in 1998 to pay $30 to renew themselves and another person that is not a current member and has not been for one year - limited to one person only. Motion Meeker, second Madigan All in favor. None apposed
Sale merchandise - We have a good supply of sweat pants and blue sweat shirts in stock. Additional items discussed for 1998 include T-Shirts, Caps (baseball and knit) (small trial amount) Travel Mugs. Don will move forward with these items for the 1998 conference booth sales.
Magazine: The new design was shown to the board members. Pages will remain at 32 for most publications, but color pages will go from 8 to 16. Added to the magazine is a table of contents, and articles on EMS research. Other columns and departments will stay with the current authors. Motion to allow new design changes to magazine by Schilder, second by Merrill. All in favor none apposed.
OLD BUSINESS
Paramedic Survey: Don gave a brief unofficial (number wise) report on the mail survey for the one paramedic rule. Approximately 400 surveys have been returned. Perceptions of WEMSA and the survey itself was discussed along with some of the more common written comments that repeatedly are being seen in the survey responses. Rich then talked about some of the discussion he has had with members of Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and other full-time career EMT-Ps in Wisconsin. A lengthy discussion continued. Consensus was to publish three versions of the data per the three methods of collection. An article is planned for the Jan issue of EMS Professionals to publish this data as part of the article. A meeting is scheduled for October 29th with PFFW for the purpose of introducing our association to their executive board and exploring what possible common goals and interests the two groups may have.
Executive Managers contract is complete. The contract has been signed and is in place until April, 2,000
PSOW - Dan Williams was contacted regarding the request for WEMSA to supported the safety books. Williams informed our association that we do not need to take action on the book at this time.
One day conference: We have been looking at the possibility of having a one-day seminar issue unspecific that would be held in addition and in a different location than our main conference. The topic of QA/CQI has come forward several times and now has come forward with PSOW. Dan Williams, Don Hunjadi, and Rich Meeker talked on the phone regarding doing the conference together. WEMSA would handle most of the registration/marketing and would coordinate with PSOW for endorsement, and some type of profit percentage. Rich is looking at having a CQI conference sometime in March 1998 in an area such as the Dells or Madison. Discussion of appropriate location to hold such a conference with regard to northern Wisconsin, and access. Motion by Madigan, second by Meeker to move forward with a CQI conference in conjunction with PSOW to be held around March in a Mid-southern Wisconsin location. All in favor none opposed.
Mark Madigan brought up doing multiple one-day conferences. Perhaps we could endorse outside groups to do conferences with WEMSA doing the marketing, registration, etc. Concern was voiced regarding quality assurance of conferences with our name on them. Time of year was another concern especially May-Sept.. Other members expressed thoughts to try the CQI conference first before we do multiple efforts. Case by case proposals could be entertained by the board with clear guidelines of what is expected from any outside groups.
Motion by Teale Second by McCarrier to combine survey questions and election ballot together in the same mailing. Survey would be clearly identified as not being binding or any part of the election process. Concern was expressed by Schilder and others that members might misinterpret survey as part of the election or in some way binding to the election. 8 in favor 4 opposed. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
In response to direction from the Board, Don Hunjadi has investigated the hiring of a lobbyist. Information was given and a letter distributed from Broydrick and Associates. Don has talked with several legislators and received favorable responses regarding Broydrick’s abilities. Board members had questions for the Executive Board regarding their perceptions from the meeting.
Motion by Meeker second Madigan to accept the six month proposal from Broydrick. All in favor none apposed.
Results of a lunch meeting with PSOW (Dan Williams and Dick Collyard) to discuss our two organizations, etc. They asked to meet with us to see if there are more issues that we could/should be working together on. They stated that they do not have the membership or financial situation that WEMSA does but feel our two organizations can work together on some issues even if we disagree on others.
No action with Susan Menzel since she was in attendance at this meeting.
Discussion of board meetings for 1998. Discussion had been surfaced to expand from four meetings/year to six. Two of the meetings would be abbreviated with the bulk of the time devoted to strategic planning. Several ideas were presented with some people wanting to set six meetings and then cancel if necessary. Others wished to schedule an additional two only if they are needed. Motion by Meeker second by Becker to hold the 1998 meetings Jan 11th, March, May, September, November to be held on Sundays from 12:00 - 5:00 in Stevens Point. All in favor none opposed. Year contract will be negotiated to include a few rooms with late checkout that board members can book for their own expense for family use.
Direction to the secretary from Meeker to allow the Executive Board to approve minutes before they are posted. Any posted minutes are to be labeled unapproved.
Discussion of the revised position statement regarding the one paramedic issue. The statement is revised from the 1995 version with items that have already been accomplished deleted. Motion by Madigan, second by TeStroete to accept the draft of the statement. Teale: Add “inhibit or reduce” between “will” and “the” in the second paragraph and strike “prohibit”. Meeker suggests in the second paragraph at the end add “within existing EMS systems”. Both amendments are accepted. All in favor none opposed.
Brief discussion on the provision of part-time ALS care. Teale suggests we draft a position statement calling for part-time care. Schilder reported survey results from WEMSA that listed 53% against, 33% for and 14% undecided. Concern on drafting a position that was in opposition to our membership. No further action taken on the issue at this time. Teale will provide a draft position statement for possible future action.
Motion to adjourn by Madigan second by Meeker to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 4:06 PM
Respectfully submitted by Don Hunjadi, Executive Manager
Action Items
Paramedic Surveys (Hunjadi)
1998 Meeting hotel contract (Lewis)
CQI Conference (Meeker)
Part-Time care position (Teale)
New Merchandise (Hunjadi)
1998 Premium Item (Hunjadi)