Meeting called to order 10:00 AM by President Kurtz

Present: Meeker, Hunjadi, Kurtz, Wesley, Zurbuchen, Weir, Merrill, Becker, Menzel, Madigan, Tefft, Myhre.
Notified Absent: Victorson, TeStroete, Schilder, Hellman-Bulle, McCarrier, Teale

Review of January 1998 minutes. Motion by Meeker second by Madigan to approve the minutes. All in favor. Motion carried

Officer action items

Kurtz thanked Myhre and Tefft for their years of service since this would be their last meeting as board members. Tefft expressed thanks to the board for the many years of "good times".

Meeker: Reported on the CQI workshop from March 14, 1998. Evaluations from the 119 people in attendance were exceedingly positive. Dr. Polsky did a very good job of presenting. Discussion about doing additional workshops in the future.

TeStroete: Absent

Hunjadi: None

Old Business

Meeker reported on the Working Together in EMS Conference. Attendance totaled 1,416. Total gross income $195,000. Meeker also gave a brief overview and review of the conference. 1999 Conference: Meeker and Hunjadi met with the Grand Milwaukee Hotel during the past week. They were informed that the hotel is completely renovating with a budget of nine million. Because the renovation project will be in full progress when our conference takes place, there will be 130 rooms that will not be available to us. Because of this, the Grand is willing to freeze prices, and will provide other added services including a housing bureau and shuttle service to other hotels. Board members expressed concern over the situation and the Grand's ability to guarantee enough rooms in the hotel. Discussion held on the pros and cons of several conference locations. Unable to identify any other hotel that would be able to provide even 300 rooms along with 15,000 square foot exhibit hall and seating for 1,200 general session and lunch. Motion by Myhre second by Becker to hold the 1999 conference and the Grand Milwaukee Hotel. All in favor.

Paramedic Pilots: Several areas and services have been contacted. No solid prospects have been found at this time. Meeker is going to contact Marc Playman of Wisconsin Dells.

Legislative Update: Hunjadi updated and gave more detailed information on the bills active in the legislature. At time of report, there is less than two weeks left in the session.

New Business

Hunjadi reported information on the Wisconsin Fire Association. Don would like to have our executive board meet with this association's executive board to make sure that we are both informed of each other's operations - including legislative initiates.

Planning

Association lobbyist Forbes McIntosh met with the board to inform them of current activities and to educate board members and provide direction for items to pursue in the next legislative season. The board had 90 minutes of discussion and education along with time for questions and answers. Discussion continued over lunch and ended at 1:10 PM

The board began the process of identifying areas of legislation and education to pursue in the next legislative session. During discussion, concern was raised about the association violating statute by the executive manager exceeding permitted contact with legislators and their staff. This could be solved by registering Hunjadi as an additional lobbyist. Motion by Madigan second by Becker to register Don Hunjadi as a registered lobbyist. All in favor - none opposed.

The group brainstormed ideas for legislation that could possibly be introduced by a legislator. A list of nine items was identified to be prioritized and/or eliminated by the board. The items identified are:

Public Service Defibrillation
Funding for all EMS training related to licensure
Dispatcher certification
Line of duty death benefits for EMTs
Review and amend all applicable legislation naming fire fighters to include EMTs
First Responder legislation
Length of Service State pension program for volunteer EMS
Immunity for physician medical directors
Immunity for patient care records used for CQI purposes.

The Executive Manager will develop a voting list for board members to rank the items in order of importance.

The second topic for brainstorming was ways for the association as well as members to make contacts with legislators and for the association to educate members on how to build relationships with legislators. Many ideas were placed on a list to be referred to as we progress with legislative projects.

"Meet your legislator" day
Magazine articles
Town hall meetings
Educational pack to members
Speakers at the annual conference
Mail a legislative directory
Donations or Political Action Committee (PAC)
Educate members through Phone calls, E-Mail, Letters, Hot Sheet, Web page,
Office visits.

Items were recorded. Consensus that all board members should have the opportunity to evaluate and vote on items of priority. Hunjadi to compile list and mail to board members prior to next meeting.

Motion to adjourn by Madigan second by Tefft to adjourn at 3:08 PM. All in favor.

Action items:

Part-time care position draft (Hunjadi/Teale)
Contact Wisconsin Dells for potential EMT-P pilot (Meeker)
Rank legislative items (Hunjadi to coordinate)