Meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by President Jan Victorson.

Present: Jan Victorson, Steve Teale, Grace Merrill, Patricia Becker, Brenda Hellman-Bulle, Dan Kurtz, Larry TeStoete, Mary Schilder, Don Hunjudi, Cilvia Lewis, Pam Myhre, Tom McCarrier, Keith Wesley, Mark Madigan and Bill Tefft.
Not Present: Richard Meeker and Susan Menzel

Review of January 12, 1997 BOD’s Minutes. One change, per Don, on page 3 under Financial Plan. Kemper Securities should be Paine Weber. Motion by Larry and seconded by Mary to accept and approve January’s minutes as amended and presented. Motion carried unanimously.

President’s Action Items:
Jan updated board members on the Fire Service Legislative Group

Vice President’s Action Items: None
Secretary’s Action Items: None

Executive Manager’s Action Items:
Don and Keith will be updating Medical Director List by the end of the month. Don testified for the EMS Association in favor of AB-147. Jan reported that Don did an excellent job testifying and stressed the importance of showing a physical appearance at these hearings.

Association Secretary’s Action Items: None

Committee Action Items:
Conference: Held first meeting. Will be keeping it with a four day conference at a rate of $60 per day. By popular demand the Human Cadaver Dissection session will be held again at the ‘98 conference. Developing ideas on the following: 1) Set aside one day of the conference for EMT-Basic’s; 2) Ways to communicate and notify all First Responders statewide that they are also welcome and encouraged to attend the conference; 3) Suggesting Friday morning as a good time for the associations annual meeting for members.

First Responder: Please submit any lists of First Responders to Jan, they will be implemented into a statewide newly created data base.

Legislative: None

Membership/PR: Don reported merchandise is currently at a break even point and that last years inventory has been completely sold. Still have plenty of merchandise (excess of sweat pants). Ideas on membership promotions; 1) Incorporate membership renewals to include a half price renewal if they sign a friend up as a new member. 2) Have instructors notify students about WEMSA after classes; 3) Implement promotional/incentive item if you sign up as a new member; 4) Have Don make up form that instructors can pass out after classes.
Discussion and clarification about Corporate Memberships: It costs $350 and Marquette County is the only one to date. The difference between a Corporate and a regular service membership is that their is NO voting rights with a corporate membership and only 10 corporate names will receive the bi-monthly EMS Professional magazine.
Publication: Don is and will be reformatting magazine for a different look . Introduced last edition with 5 colors.

Old Business:
Executive Manager Contract/Review:
Dan reported the results of his verbal outside evaluation sources regarding Don and his past/present job performances(s). All reports positive. Dan put on table for discussion and evaluation by board members.
Motion by Steve and seconded by Mark to move forward and extent current contract and have Executive committee negotiate a three year final contract with subject for final approval by the board at next meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Bill and seconded by Dan to have the Executive Committee prepare Executive Manager’s annual review form to make available for the director’s at the next BOD’s meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

BREAK 11:30 - 11:40 a.m.

Executive Manager Contract/Review: Motion by Bill and seconded by Larry to amend the salary of Executive Manager’s position to $3000 per month for the extended contract time until the Executive Board presents the three year contract at the July BOD’s meeting. 12 aye’s and 1 obstained.

Investment Update: $15,000 invested with Paine Weber ($7,500 in bond fund and 7,500 in growth funds). Above average return(15.4%), but current stock market is down. Don reported total values in the checking, savings, inventory and equipment (total approx. $160,000).

Organization History for BOD Handbook & Handbook Status: Mark gave handbook to Don at today’s meeting. Mark completed the handbook by adding tabs and incorporating everyone’s suggestions from the last BOD’s meeting. Don will review and provide board members with copy at the next meeting. Jan has all the information on current legislation and will be providing this information to Don, before copies are made. Tom still working on organization’s history. Pam requested to have executive manager’s contract in this handbook as well.

EMS Recruitment Project: Jan will have update to share about the possible state wide proposal at next meeting.

By Laws Revisions Actions: Mark reported that the BOD’s worked on and updated the By Laws yesterday, April 12th, without Calvin Beyer. Mr. Beyer was unable to attend this session for unknown reason(s). Discussed new ideas for implementing new nomination forms for future board of director elections. This form would require nominees to submit 20 signatures and phone numbers from either medical directors, instructors, or members (does not have to be association members) that would support them as a board member.
By Laws updates will be completed by Don, who will then send them out for review before the next board meeting. A section will be added for special positions (i.e. Executive Manager, Association Secretary). Keith suggested to incorporate a special wording into the By Laws so if present or future members of the board are also performing other special duties, such as paid positions, that the By Laws explain and clarify this option.

LUNCH BREAK: 12:10 - 1:15 p.m.

Annual Meeting/Position Statement: Jan expressed a note of concern about the 50/50 split on the position statement between board members at the January ‘97 annual membership meeting. This resulted in NO POSITION STATEMENT. The board needs to be a united front. If board members are unable to attend a particular quarterly meeting where position statements or motions are made, they need to trust, accept, and back the decisions that are made by the board members that were present, until future board meetings. (only 7 out of 15 board members were present at the Jan. ‘97 BOD’s meeting) SPECIAL NOTE: Only board members that have voted on an issue(s) can bring it up for a re-vote at future meetings.

Strategic Plan: None

New Business:
Conference Budget Approval: Don presented budget which was motioned by Larry and seconded by Patricia to approve budget as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Future Equipment Purchases: Don reported that our laser printer and computers are O.K. and are presently servicing the associations basic needs. A new color laser printer cost $4,500 to $7,000, which is not recommended at this time, but a color proofing device is. Motion by Pam and seconded by Dan to purchase a $1,800 Fargo color proofing device. Motion carried unanimously. Computer, scanner, digital camera and laser printer will need to be updated or replaced within the near 18 months.

National Legislation: Keith updated board members on the “Access to Emergency Medical Service Act”, plus summarized the basic components of it. Jan suggested to board members to write to state legislators to support this program(s). No action at this time. Other legislation reported by Keith: State Medical Society is supporting the legislation about the safety belt law. Public safety. Motion by Steve and seconded by Bill to have Keith write a letter expressing and supporting the State Medical Society in their efforts and to offer our support about the safety belt law currently being discussed. 10 aye’s, 3 opposed.
Don showed New Ambulance Run forms. Don is investigating the possibility of the EMS Association producing and supplying these new forms. Motion by Larry and seconded by Dan to investigate producing these New Ambulance Run forms. Motion carried unanimously.

Officer’s Election:
Nominations for President: Dan. No other nominations made. Motion by Tom and seconded by Bill to cast an unanimous ballot to elect Dan as president of the Board of Directors. Motion carried unanimously.
Nominations for Vice President: Mark and Rick. No other nominations made, closed nominations and took a secret ballot vote: Results of written ballot: Mark - 6 votes and Rich - 7 votes.
Nomination for Secretary/Treasurer: Larry TeStroete. No other nominations made. Motion by Steve and second by Bill to cast an unanimous ballot to elect Larry as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors. Motion carried unanimously. Jan announced the names of the new Executive Committee: Dan Kurtz, Richard Meeker, Larry TeStroete and Jan Victorson.

Motion by Larry and seconded by Mark to adjourn meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Cilvia Lewis, EMS Association Secretary
Action Items to be completed at the July ‘97 BOD’s meeting:
Present new membership promotional ideas and items. (Don)
Present and vote on Don’s new three year Executive Manager’s contract. (Dan)
Provide all BOD’s with newly completed organizations handbook. (Don)
EMS Recruiting Project update. (Jan)
By Law’s Update review. (Mark)
Present idea(s) on New Ambulance Run form. (Don)
Association History (3rd request). (Tom/Larry)