Present: Allen, Bennett, Covelli, Hunjadi, McCarrier, Meeker, Merrill, Schilder, Schultz, TeStroete, Teale, Werner,
Called to order by President Meeker at 12:00 PM.
Motion by Schilder second by Bennett to approve the July 2003 minutes as written. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
President: Nothing
Vice President: Nothing
Secretary/Treasurer: Schilder reported that the audit/review committee was not able to meet due to conflicting schedules. She hopes to complete the financial review in November.
Executive Director: Hunjadi provided a written report of the current financial status and membership statistics. The sample of the 2004 premium item was shown. The CPR barrier key chain was approved by the executive board and has been ordered. Cost to the association is $2.00 each. They sell on the retail market for approximately $4.00. Hunjadi reported on the EMS Magazine conference held in Las Vegas. The number of people who continue to become aware of the efforts and accomplishments of the Wisconsin EMS Association continues to increase. He noted dozens of people who stopped and talked with him from various national companies and organizations – many of which he was not aware of but are aware of WEMSA.
Sales and Public Relations Director: Covelli provided results of adding the new Group Buying items. Specifically the Minitor IV pagers have been extremely popular, with other pager dealers contacting the association to verify the price because they can’t believe a dealer is actually selling them this low. He also provided meeting minutes from another group buying organization who is hoping to obtain pagers and cell phone service for their regional buying group. He tried to negotiate a credit card program especially to try to obtain a percentage rebate for fuel purchases or a membership fee that would be paid by the card company if the member uses the card. Unfortunately this was filled with problems including the fact that most major credit card companies are looking for 150,000 or more members to market to. He reports he will no longer pursue the credit card options.
Conference: Meeker provided an update on the conference. Print advertising has been placed in the Dispatcher, JEMS Magazine, Illinois Fire Chiefs and Fire Protection District, Minnesota Fire Chiefs, Michigan Fire Chiefs, Iowa EMS Association and several smaller publications. We attempted to advertise in the Wisconsin State Fire Fighter’s Association newsletter but had the advertising refused. Unsure as to why they would want to prevent their members from learning about and obtaining continuing education, Meeker contacted the President of that association to discuss the matter. Meeker reported the outcome of that conversation. They are unlikely to change their decision. Over 2,500 hotel room nights have already been reserved. The Hilton is sold out on Thursday and Friday. The committee anticipates over 2,000 people will attend. Hunjadi provided information to the members of the board of directors for their participation in marketing. He asks that they not speak to EMS groups who already will know about the conference. Instead fire and first responder county-wide and regional groups should be contacted. Information on the five to ten minute presentation was provided. All board members are asked to speak to a minimum of three organizations. They are to contact Covelli with the particulars of where they will be presenting and to whom to avoid any duplication and so he can make arrangements to meet with any area groups who may be missed.
Legislative: The draft bill for the FAP changes is being worked on. Hunjadi has been a part of several meetings to finalize this bill for introduction in the near future. No other new EMS legislative items are active.
Association Cruise: Hunjadi provided written information on the proposed third EMS cruise. The cruise would be held on March 13-20, 2005 and sail the Exotic Western Caribbean on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship currently being built named the Miracle. The majority of items requested by the association have been met including agreeing to place a price guarantee should the rates drop by 20% or more from our price. Prices on the cruise are lower than we have had on the first two cruises. Taxes and port charges have of course increased. The large problem is the cost of air fare if purchased through the cruise line which is quoted at $459. This could actually be more than twice the going rate. Hunjadi suggests that if we approve the cruise that we encourage purchase of air outside of the cruise line. Commissions and rebates to the association and the board of directors would remain the same as the 2003 cruise. Motion by Schilder second by Merrill to approve a third EMS cruise as specified. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Motion by Schilder that cruise only with upgrade be provide to board members, medical director, attorney, secretary, sales/PR director using the same plan as in previous years. Some discussion was held including Werner suggesting that board members who do not take part in the EMS cruise being afforded the opportunity to go on a different cruise with the same amount paid for by the association. This suggestion was discussed but did not result in an amendment. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Meetings with DHFS & EMS Board: The next meeting will be held following the November EMS Board meeting in Madison. Nothing new since the last meeting.
Meetings with PFFW: Several attempts to meet have fallen through. Meeker will continue to find a date, time and location that will work for both executive boards.
Service of the Year Awards: Somewhat lengthy discussion was held regarding the award process. The work-group that was assigned the review of this task found several reasons for the lack of participation and suggests that more promotion be undertaken. The discussion began to focus on the scoring process rather than the fact that very few services take the time to put in a nomination. The discussion was tabled until the January meeting.
EMS Board Funding Report: The EMS Board funding report that was approved to be delivered by our lobbyist to the members of the legislature was later found to contain multiple inaccuracies and outdated information. Jon Morgan from DHFS, Dan Williams of the EMS Advisory Board and Hunjadi all agreed that the report should not be released in its current form. Therefore the report is not being taken to the legislature by Broderick and Associates.
Service Membership Awards: Hunjadi and Covelli suggest that we recognize all ten year and greater Service members (the Corporate category has not been in existence for ten years) at the 2004 Working Together Dinner and Awards Banquet. Services would be presented with a plaque. Five year Service and Corporate members would be provided with a certificate through the mail. We would then continue to recognize new ten year members at the banquet. Motion by Werner to recognize ten year Service members with a plaque at the awards banquet. A mailed certificate would be provided to five year members. Second by Allen. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Association Medical Director: Meeker reports that a very prominent Wisconsin emergency physician is considering becoming the Wisconsin EMS Association Medical Director/Advisor. He suggests that should this person accept the position that we would not open it up to other candidates. If the physician declines the position, it will be opened to other candidates for approval at the January meeting. Board members verbally agreed without a motion.
Strategic Plan Review: Covelli briefly reviewed the strategic plan. Since several of the items have not had enough time to be worked on or are still in progress, it was decided to look at the plan in six months.
NEW BUSINESS
Board members personnel issues: Motion by Schilder to move into closed session second by Allen. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried. The meeting moved to closed session. Motion by Schilder second by Teale to move into open session. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. The meeting returned to open session. Motion by TeStroete to ask Jon Schultz for his resignation due to future potential conflicts of interest stemming from actions undertaken at the July, 2003 WEMSA Board of Directors meeting. Second by Schilder. Following the close of the meeting, it came to the attention of board members that Schultz was aware of information that could cause potential harm to the Wisconsin EMS Association. He knew of this information during debate and discussion including action that could have been taken to avert this harm. When questioned, Schultz admitted knowing information that could cause WEMSA harm and stated if such a situation should arise in the future he would follow the same course of action and refuse to disclose such information to anyone within WEMSA. A paper ballot was undertaken. Yes= 4 No=6 Abstain= 1 Motion failed.
Hot Sheet E-Mail Subscriptions: Since the Hot Sheets began containing a watermark and digital signature along with a text message that warns of sending unauthorized copies, numerous organizations have contacted the association to inquire on their practices. Several wish to be able to re-send the Hot Sheets to multiple individuals within their organizations. This ranges from a couple of officers to services with over 50 members. Motion by Bennett that two levels of subscriptions be created to include multiple individuals within the same organization. Staff shall determine particulars and present them at the January meeting. Second by McCarrier. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Fire & EMS Legislative Coalition Meetings and Communications: Meeker reported that for unknown reasons the Wisconsin EMS Association was not notified of the last two meetings of the coalition and have not be provided with meeting minutes. Further, all letterhead that was sent during correspondence after this was questioned did not contain the name of the Wisconsin EMS Association in the list of members. It has been further learned that other member organizations are upset at WEMSA’s absence at the recent meetings. It is unknown whether this is intentional or unintentional. Board members would like to proceed under the hope it is unintentional. Motion by Bennett second by Allen that a letter of concern be sent to all of the members of the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition regarding meeting notices, minutes, and other correspondence being omitted from the Wisconsin EMS Association along with the Wisconsin EMS Association’s name on the letterhead. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.
AED Giveaway: As part of their bid to be a Group Buying provider, Zoll has offered to provide WEMSA with a Zoll Plus AED for giveaway. Hunjadi suggests that we offer the unit as an additional membership benefit to one of the new Service or Corporate members joining between November 1, 2003 and March 1, 2004. Motion by Allen that an added membership benefit be created to give away the donated Zoll AED based on those services joining as Service or Corporate members November 1, 2003 through March 1, 2004. All organizations joining to be entered into a drawing to select the member who will receive the added benefit. Second by Merrill. Werner would like to see all member services included in the opportunity. Covelli and Hunjadi explained that the effort was to create urgency and attracted new membership and to aid in signing up new service/corporate members during the conference. 9 in favor, 1 opposed. Motion carried.
Set 2004 Meeting Schedule: The Board members set the following schedule for meetings in 2004: January 11 – Milwaukee, April 4 – Wisconsin Dells, July 11 – Stevens Point, October 10 – Madison.
EMT Refresher Position from Fire & EMS Legislative Coalition: At the last meeting (unattended by WEMSA due to lack of notice) the coalition voted to send a letter to DHFS and the EMS Advisory Board to increase the EMT licensing period from two to five years. WEMSA has been asked to sign this statement in order for it to be forwarded. Motion by Allen second by Merrill that due to a lack of research, data and reasoning, the Wisconsin EMS Association not approve a change in re-certification from two to five years. Instead the Association supports investigating changes to the current refresher system to further identify specific changes that can be undertaken and supported. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Motion by Allen second by Schilder to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 5:48 PM