Present: Meeker, Hunjadi, TeStroete, Schilder, Allen, Schultz, Werner, Bennett, Merrill, McCarrier, Covelli
Notified Absent: Teale
Absent Without 48-Hour Notice: Hackett
Called to order by the President at 12:00. The meeting was started with lunch.
Motion by Schilder second by Schultz to approve the July 2002 minutes as written. All in favor. Motion carries.
President: Nothing
Vice President: Nothing
Secretary/Treasurer: Nothing
Executive Director: Hunjadi presented the board members with current membership and financial data. Current membership is 4,539 individual and 207 service/corporate members. Financial highlights included a discussion regarding the reduced operating margin due to increased costs from the second full time employee. Meeker inquired about current financial assets. Hunjadi gave a brief overview of the stock market reaching five year lows. We remain with about 20% of financial assets in mutual funds, 30% in certificates of deposit and the remainder in money market funds. Hunjadi informed board members of the intention to raise EMS Professionals advertising rates by approximately 15%. The last rate increase was in 1997 when we were publishing less than 3,000 magazines. The rate card will become affective on January 1, 2003.
Sales and Public Relations Director: Covelli provided an update on the group buying program. EMP has installed software that allows their sales reps to see the group buying pricing when a WEMSA member calls. This will also be extended to their web site before the end of the year. When a WEMSA member registers or logs into their EMP account at www.buyemp.com the WEMSA pricing will appear in red. Covelli reported that Jerry Miller and Larry Knuth attended the regional Medicare meeting in Chicago. They provided a written report to Joe on the meeting’s outcome. A question was raised regarding any non-board members officially representing the association and whether a signed agreement and parameters should be obtained. The discussion was referred to later in the agenda under new business. WEMSA was presented with a plaque from the Law Enforcement Training Officers Association. The award was presented at a ceremony in Eau Claire and included other emergency services organizations.
Conference: 2003 Conference: Meeker reported that conference brochures would be mailed on October 14, 2002 as scheduled. No other significant changes or information was provided. 2004 Conference: As directed by the board of directors the conference division has continued to negotiate with the Milwaukee Center District and the Hilton Hotel. All negotiations have been positive with the exception of the exclusively contracted food vendor, Fine Host Corp. The prices quoted have been significantly higher than what we currently pay for lunches, banquet and breaks. Most other items have been within range. Hunjadi projects a worst case scenario under poor conditions would be a decrease in conference profit of up to $35,000. Hunjadi reminded board members that the conference sustains the association and its programs. Under a more favorable scenario Hunjadi hopes the 2004 conference would draw 2,000 participants which is possible with significantly increased room and marketing to adjacent states. The conference division also anticipates opening the exhibit hall to those not taking classes and adding fire and rescue equipment as well. Meeker stated that for the conference and association to continue its growth and to service its members the move was necessary. Board members toured the facility prior to the board meeting. Motion by TeStroete second by Schilder to allow the Executive Board authority to move the conference to the Midwest Express Center and the Hilton Hotel for 2004 and beyond based upon the negotiations of the conference division. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.
2003 Premium Item: Hunjadi reported that he had contacted Judy Larsen regarding rights to publish another pharmacology guide as the 2003 premium item. The guide may need to be updated by the association with medications released in 2002. Motion by Schilder, second by TeStroete that the 2003 premium item be a pharmacology guide. All in favor none opposed.
Association Cruise: Hunjadi reported that after 2nd ($225) deposits have been completed, a total of 179 cabins remain booked. Over 100 of these have also booked the pre-cruise Miami stay. We still have 210 cabins on hold. Because of this a full page ad has been included in the conference brochure which should help to raise bookings above 200 again. Blaine Werner raised the question of fairness for board members who were not able to go on the cruise. Several board members felt that this was a personal choice and a “perk” that was tied to an Association event – not compensation for board activities. No motion was made nor action taken.
Requests for Association Programs: Hunjadi asked for direction at the last board meeting regarding the continued request for services, programs and information from organizations outside of Wisconsin. Other associations seeking help and information, groups wishing to purchase our products and general consulting assistance are examples of the requests. Consensus of the board was to provide these items as we are able, taking into account time spent, etc. A base charge of $100/hour should be obtained for consulting services. The board directed Hunjadi to use his judgment and continue to bring specific requests for approval to the Executive and/or full board. The discussion also included increased requests for WEMSA to have a representative on various boards, committees, etc. and to attend ceremonies, etc. The amount of these requests has tripled during 2002. The consensus of the board was to bring these requests to board members in an effort to honor them. Only if no one is available or interested and staff cannot commit time for the request should they be turned down.
Interfacility Guidelines Document: No further information was presented. No further meetings have been scheduled.
Meetings with DHFS: Meeker and Hunjadi will be meeting with Ken Baldwin, Jon Morgan, Nan Turner and Dr. Barney the following week to discuss continued concerns of office/staff performance. Following the strategic planning session, the consideration to place a WEMSA employee inside of the state EMS office ten to twenty hours each week to assist, monitor progress and act as an agent for Wisconsin EMS Association Service and Corporate members will be communicated during the meeting.
Part-time ALS Care: No report or information was available.
Length of Service Awards Program: Mindy Allen reported on the concern of some Wisconsin volunteer services of the rates and fees being charged by the LOSA vendors. The LOSA Board, of which Allen is the Wisconsin EMS Association’s representative, will meet the following week. Allen will report on the meeting
NEW BUSINESS
Cellular Telephone Service: Covelli handed out information regarding the proposals for cellular phone service. He had contact with nearly one dozen companies and received proposals from approximately half of them. Through continued negotiations he has been able to obtain 10% to 15% discounts off of regular rates for both Individual and Service/Corporate members. Motion by Werner second by Schultz to Approve Cingular, Nextel and CellularOne for group buying cellular plans for all association members. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.
Strategic Planning: No actions were necessary.
NAEMT Affiliation: The National Association of EMTs has once again contacted the Wisconsin EMS Association regarding affiliation. This time it was John Becknel who talked with Hunjadi and Meeker to request access to the board or executive board to convince them to affiliate. Motion by Werner, second by Bennett to grant a request for an NAEMT conference call with the Executive Board. Nine in favor one opposed. Motion carried.
JEMS Cruise: A.J. Heightman, the editor of JEMS contacted Hunjadi regarding the potential to partner a future educational cruise between JEMS and the Wisconsin EMS Association. Board members expressed interest in keeping future communications with JEMS open but were not interested in moving forward until at least the current cruise for March 9-16, 2003 was completed. Concern was also raised regarding changing the cruise to an educational rather than recreational event. No action taken.
FAP Funds Legislation: Hunjadi reported that the EMS Advisory Board, with support from the Technical College System as well as DHFS, has decided to change the FAP Program by removing the requirement to provide “free” EMT-Basic initial and Refresher training and instead divide the $800,000 equally among FAP-eligible providers. This would provide approximately $2,000 in additional base money per service each year ($4,000 per refresher period) Services would then use the $4,000 to pay for initial and refresher training during the period and use any funds left over for other FAP-eligible items. Hunjadi stated the change would result in an increase of FAP money for the majority of WEMSA members. Other board members stated they believed the change would require services to be more responsible about whom they sponsor for EMT school. Motion by Allen, second by Merrill to support FAP language changes. All in Favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Joe Hackett Resignation: Meeker reported that Joe Hackett presented a resignation from the WEMSA board via E-Mail two days prior to the strategic planning session. Motion by Schultz, second by TeStroete to accept the resignation. A discussion ensued over recent and prior events and the accountability for them. After a period of time there was a motion by McCarrier second by TeStroete to stop debate and call the question. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried to call the question. All in favor of accepting the resignation none opposed. Motion carried
2003 Meeting Schedule: General discussion was held regarding the 2003 meeting locations and schedule. Motion by Schultz second by Schilder to set the 2003 meeting agenda as January 5 – Milwaukee, April 6 – Wisconsin Dells, July 13 - Stevens Point, October 12 - Madison. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Other New Business: Following the points raised during Covelli’s report on the Medicare meeting discussion was moved to this portion of the meeting. Motion by TeStroete that anyone who is provided with the authority to act on behalf of, or in some official way represent the Wisconsin EMS Association, be required to sign a representation agreement that they will provide any information or products back to the Association and that any and all correspondence and representation be that of the Wisconsin EMS Association using it’s main telephone number, mailing address, and Internet addresses. Second by Allen. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.
Other New Business: Motion by Allen, second by Merrill that meeting notes from the Executive Board be maintained and distributed to all board members. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
Motion by McCarrier second by TeStroete to adjourn. All in favor. None opposed. Meeting adjourned at 4:20 PM.