Present: Allen, Averbeck, Barker, Hornby, Hunjadi, Ihler, McCarrier, Meeker, Schilder, Teale, TeStroete,
Guests: Carey, Schindler, VanBuren
Meeting called to order by President Meeker at 12:01 PM
Motion by Schilder, second by Teale to approve the October meeting minutes with one correction changing the previous meeting minutes approval from January as listed to July. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
President: Nothing
Vice President: Nothing
Secretary/Treasurer: Nothing
Executive Director: Hunjadi provided a printed and brief oral review of 2006 related to financial, membership and operating statistics and information. The First Responder/duffle bag 2007 Premium Item was presented and passed around. While the bags are much more expensive than previous premium items ($28,000), the Association is well financially positioned to provide the return to the membership in the form of a value added item. The EMS Poster depicting Wisconsin ambulance services that has been provided twice in the past will be released in its third version. A total of 5,000 posters will be printed in time for the Working Together conference. Copies will be sent to all Service & Corporate members and available to all individual members during and after the conference. Several new merchandise items have been ordered and will debut at the conference. The new items include a hooded sweatshirt with pockets, a wind shirt, ladies hats and scarves, WEMSA teddy bears, can coolers and re-orders of several previous items. Finally, Hunjadi announced that he has been appointed to the JEMS Magazine Editorial Board. The position is advisory only and requires a limited amount of time to be dedicated. The appointment does help to keep WEMSA’s name on the national scene.
Conference: Meeker provided updated information on the 2007 Working Together conference. Several new staff members have been placed as two more have left the division during the year. Several new staff volunteers will also work during the conference. Registrations are arriving much slower than in previous years but hotel number remain strong indicating that attendance will still be large. Conference staff members are expecting approximately 2,500 attendees this year.
2007 Cruise: Hunjadi reported that the EMS Cruise had dropped below 100 cabins although Schilder had been told it is back to 102. Either way the 4th EMS Cruise will have less cabins booked than the previous three cruise events. Only three board members and one staff member are participating in the cruise. TeStroete and Schilder will handle all on-board obligations of the organization. Information is still forthcoming for a potential Alaska Cruise to be offered in July or August 2008. Hunjadi hopes to have detailed information at the April board meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Presentation from NAEMT: Jerry Johnston, President of NAEMT, delivered a presentation regarding state affiliation of WEMSA to the NAEMT. NAEMT currently has over 20,000 members although only about 6,000 of those are paid memberships. If WEMSA would affiliate, all WEMSA members would be eligible to join NAEMT at a $10 reduced fee. WEMSA would also have a representative named to the NAEMT Board of Governors. However, this person must be a NAEMT member for at least one year prior to appointment. Currently, only one WEMSA Board member is a regular, paid member of NAEMT. Board members followed the presentation with questions and a lengthy discussion. The Board of Governor’s requirements are the most concerning for Board members as it could happen that no current WEMSA Board member might be eligible for this seat. There is further concern that it appears that WEMSA is currently more sound and returns more membership benefits than does NAEMT. WEMSA also has 1,000 more paid members as a state organization than NAEMT does as a national organization. Board members agreed in principle to affiliation provided that the NAEMT Board of Governor’s requirements can be altered. Johnston will take this information to the next NAEMT Board meeting taking place in a few days. He will report the outcome back to President Meeker.
Covelli Litigation Matter: Our attorney has filed a motion for summary judgment with prejudice to the court. This is based upon the items set forth in Covelli’s contract regarding bonus compensation and no compete clause. If the judge rules to dismiss the case based on this information, it would bring the entire matter to an end. No other action has been taken.
Bylaw Changes Workgroup Progress: Barker received a response from many of the board members regarding their suggested changes to the WEMSA bylaws. Board members would like to add additional discrimination items for membership that include race, sex, and several other items commonly included in other discrimination clauses. Board members would like to clarify the three year requirement to run for a position on the board to be three consecutive years at the time of nomination. Work will be completed to draft more specific regulations for the no more than three members from the same organization clause. Members agree in principle with the clause but would like to see it be more specific and less subjective. Allowances for E-mail or other electronic means shall be added to section 3.8. More information and direction should be added to the section that allows for filling a vacancy mid-term on the board. All of these items will be drafted and sent to the WEMSA attorney for the potential to be placed on the agenda for the annual meeting in April. This would allow for a vote of the membership to accept the changes at the annual meeting. Barker, Meeker and Hunjadi to handle.
State EMS Office Items: Forbes McIntosh is continuing to attempt to get a meeting with DHFS leadership. Since he has been running into roadblocks, he will seek to meet with the new secretary this coming week. The goal is to gain DHFS support to go to the governor and to the legislature to have additional general purpose revenue funding placed into the state budget to fund positions in the state EMS office. This would be in place of the current funding structure which derives funding for many EMS office positions from federal grants.
Group Buying Program Contracts: Ihler presented the group buying proposals for medical supplies. A total of five companies responded to the WEMSA request for proposal. Two companies, Alliance and BoundTree were eliminated due to having the highest prices. Moore medical provided a strong proposal. WEMSA staff and board members have a concern over Moore’s current low market share in Wisconsin and the lack of knowledge with Moore. Board members believe that if Moore continues to foster a relationship with the association and obtain more market share in Wisconsin that they could be a very strong contender in 2009. The eliminations leave two companies, Emergency Medical Products (EMP) and Tri-anim, as the final two candidates. Motion by Allen second by Averbeck to pursue Tri-anim and EMP for final bids including asking them to consider additional discounts for being offered a sole source contract. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Election Results Ratification: Hunjadi provided the ballots and election results for board review. Four ballots were eliminated for not meeting election requirements. The remaining ballots have re-elected Averbeck and Meeker. New members elected to the board are Bill Carey, Salem, Wisconsin, and Jim Van Buren, Waupon, Wisconsin. Hunjadi belives the election margin between the four successful candidates and the four defeated candidates is wide enough to ratify the election as presented. Motion by TeStroete second by McCarrier to ratify the results of the election. Nine in favor, none opposed, Hunjadi abstained. Motion carried.
Open Board Position: Following the election, all but one board seat has been filled on the WEMSA Board of Directors. The remaining position will expire in March 2009. In anticipation of a possible appointment, Meeker invited the four remaining candidates to attend the board meeting. Only one of the four candidates, John Schindler, was able to attend in person. The others stated they would be available by telephone to speak with the board. Meeker first called Greg Fries, the 6th place winner in the election. The board completed a telephone interview via speakerphone with Fries. Next Steve Leger, the 7th place winner in the election was called. An answering machine was received and a message was left letting him know that the call was attempted. Next Jim Lange, the 8th place winner in the election was called and the board again completed a telephone interview. John Schindler, the 5th place election winner was present at the meeting and was able to speak directly with members of the board. Motion by Schilder second by Hornby to move into closed session to discuss personnel items. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. All guests were excused from the room and the meeting went to closed session. Motion by Teale second by Hornby to return to open session. All in favor, none opposed. The meeting returned to open session and all guests returned to the room. Motion by Teale second by McCarrier to nominate John Schindler to the open board position ending March 31, 2009. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Schindler’s term began immediately following this appointment.
Approve 2007 Operating Budget: Hunjadi presented the general operating budget for 2007. The budget includes general and administrative items only and excludes any budget for asset purchases. The conference budget is separate from this general budget and will be approved in April. No conference revenue or expenses are included in this budget. Hunjadi had one addition to the presented budget to add $10,000 to the EMS Cruise income line item. The general budget includes $418,000 of income with $370,000 of general and administrative expenses. Motion by Schilder second by Averbeck that the budget be approved as presented with the addition of $10,000 to the EMS Cruise income line item. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Executive Director’s Contract: Hunjadi’s current three year contract will expire on March 31, 2007. Any performance reviews and contract negotiation must be completed in preparation for the April meeting in order to avoid a lapse in contract. President Meeker asked for volunteers to complete this task with Allen, Averbeck and Hornby agreeing to work on the Executive Director’s contract.
Lobbyist Fee Increases: Forbes McIntosh with Broderick and Associates has been operating at the same hourly rate as the WEMSA lobbyist for nearly ten years. McIntosh is now a senior partner with the firm and currently obtains an hourly rate four times what WEMSA currently pays. While initially asking for a more substantial increase, Hunjadi was able to re-negotiate the rate to $100 an hour with the provision that an additional lobbyist be commissioned to work with McIntosh on lower level items. McIntosh would remain the main lobbyist of the Wisconsin EMS Association. Motion by McCarrier second by Allen that the proposed increase to $100 an hour from Broderick and Associates be approved. Ten in favor, one opposed. Motion carried.
Set 2007 Meeting Schedule: Board members discussed locations and dates for the 2007 meeting schedule. It was agreed that meetings shall continue on Sundays starting at 12:00 noon. The April meeting is set for Wisconsin Dells at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center on April 22 – the day following the annual meeting. July is set for Stevens Point on July 8. The October meeting will take place on October 14 in Milwaukee. The first meeting for 2008 will be held on January 6, 2008 in Madison.
Other New Business: Meeker announced that this will be Larry TeStroete’s last board meeting. TeStroete spoke briefly to the members of the board regarding his nearly 25 years with the Wisconsin EMS Association. Board members thanked Larry for all of his years of service. TeStroete’s term will end on March 31, 2007. He will continue as Vice-President, attend the annual conference, attend the EMS Cruise and complete Executive Board duties during his final three months on the board.
Motion by TeStroete second by Hornby to adjourn. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 4:06 PM