Wisconsin EMS Association
Board of Directors Meeting
April 7 , 2002 - Appleton, Wisconsin

 

Present:  Meeker, Hunjadi, TeStroete, Schilder, McCarrier, Allen, Schultz, Hackett, Werner, Bennett, Teale, Merrill, Covelli

Notified Absent:  None

Guests: Gary Winters

Called to order by President Meeker at 12:00 PM. The board was served lunch. The business portion of the meeting started at 12:30.

Motion by Schilder second by Schultz to approve the January 2002 minutes as written. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carries.

Officer/Division Items

President: Nothing

Vice President: Nothing

Secretary/Treasurer: Nothing

Executive Director: Ten Year Anniversary: Hunjadi reported that this meeting was the 10 Year anniversary of his appointment to the Executive Director position. Mary Schilder requested that this information be included in the official minutes. A highlight sheet comparing 1992 to the present was provided. Among the items included were membership at 857 in 1992 – currently at 4,278, Service membership at 4 in 1992 – currently at 183, gross income $95,000 increased to $395,000. Three of the board members on the board in 1992 remain. A total of 38 people have held board seats during the period. EMS Recruitment Workshops: Hunjadi reported that a total of about 100 people attended the recruitment drive workshops – 70 in Pewaukee and 30 in Stevens Point. The evaluations were very good. About 150 downloads of the information have been completed from the web site. The Association is just about at a break even point financially.  Resource Kit: The second edition of the Resource Kit CD is scheduled for release by June 30th. Hunjadi plans to investigate commercial production of the CD due to the need of 200 or more units to be produced. Board members who have documents for potential placement on the CD are asked to submit them prior to the submission deadline of April 30, 2002. A copy will be provided to each Service and Corporate member free of charge. EMS Advisory Board: Hunjadi announced that he has been re-appointed by Governor McCallum for a full three year term on the Wisconsin EMS Advisory Board. The term will expire in May, 2005.

Sales/Public Relations Director: Joe Covelli distributed a handout summary of his work and accomplishments over the first two months in the Sales/Public Relations Director position. His original plans as well as his contract called for him to work for the Wisconsin EMS Association an average of 32 hours per week. He would continue to work on a limited basis for Aid Association for Lutherans. However, due to the amount of work and necessary focus for the EMS Association, he has resigned from AAL and will work only for the association. WPS Medicare Committee: The Wisconsin EMS Association has been invited to place a representative on a multi-state committee implemented by WPS. They intend to meet twice a year. The first meeting will take place April 9th in Madison. Joe will be serving as the Wisconsin EMS Association representative.

2002 Conference: Meeker and Hunjadi reported on the outcome of the January 2002 conference. The evaluations were extremely good including 94% of respondents giving the conference an excellent or very good rating. The major trouble spot for the conference was the food where only 14% rated it as excellent or very good. Gross income exceeded last year by approximately $10,000, while expenses were about $10,000 less than last year. A record total of 1,527 participants were in attendance.

2003 Conference: The first conference division meeting is scheduled for the end of April. The only portion of conference planning that has been completed is the Keynote Address which will feature the EMS Incident Commander for the World Trade Center attacks. Several ideas and suggestions were provided by board members for the conference. The hotel contract is in year two of two with all rates remaining the same.

Legislative: Hunjadi reported that we have reached the end of the 2001-2002 legislative session. The only bills that now remain active are the Assembly and Senate budge repair bills. The Assembly’s version contained funding for the trauma plan. However, the Senate voted to remove all of the trauma bill funding as well as to place the language from the paramedic staffing bill into the budget. Forbes will once again work on this issue including talking with the governor’s office.

Old Business

EMS Cruise: Hunjadi reported on the status of the cruise. Currently 160 cabins have been booked. A list of names was provided to board members. He also reported on his trip to Miami to both tour the ship and to check out potential hotels for Friday and Saturday night stays prior to the cruise. Costs for the trip were minimal due to Hunjadi having $200 of free air travel that would have expired. Instead he donated it to the association. A hotel room was provided for free by the Four Points by Sheraton on Miami Beech. He showed a video tape he shot while he toured the ship and talked about potential hotels. The number of cabins necessary to obtain the free cocktail parties as well as 24 balcony cabin upgrades has been met. Hunjadi provided a detailed cost analysis chart for various options on the cruise conductor berths along with the upgrades. Discussion was held on the various options as well as the potential financial return to the association. Motion by TeStroete second by Allen that all board members receive a free cruise (air fare, port charges and taxes not included) along with two balcony cabin upgrades. All association advisors and employees to receive a free cruise (air fare, port charges and taxes not included) with one upgrade and allow the second upgrade if available (up to the 24 maximum). All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Group Buying Program: Covelli reported on his negotiations with the various vendors for the group buying program. Upon the direction of the board at the January meeting, he and Hunjadi met with both Emergency Medical Products and Matrx Medical. Both had different benefits to bring to the association and to our service/corporate members. Both were comfortable with having the other named as a group buying supplier as well. EMP was agreeable to again become an advertiser in the magazine throughout the length of the contract. Contracts are being worked out and should be completed by May 1st. Both contracts will expire on December 31, 2003.

Statewide Recruitment Drive: Hunjadi reported on the remaining tasks to be completed for the recruitment drive. Covelli has started his media contacts and is hopeful that we will be able to obtain television and radio interviews prior to the drive along with newspaper feature stories.

HFS 111 Rules Update: Hunjadi reported that the Intermediate rules were passed with essentially very little comment or problems. They have been published and went into affect on March 1st.

HFS 112 Rules Update: The Paramedic rules have been in affect since December 1, 2001. Hunjadi reported that several services have applied for single paramedic staffing with their new plans and two services that were in existence after January 1, 2000 have applied to modify their operational plans to occasionally utilize single paramedic staffing. According to Jon Morgan the remaining portion of the rules that was held up by legislators has not yet been published.

Meetings with DHFS: Meeker reported that when contacting Jon Morgan regarding our next meeting he inquired about the status of the audit that was to have been completed on the EMS Office. Meeker was then provided the audit report, dated three months ago. The report basically agreed with the Wisconsin EMS Association on the assessment that the First Responder legislation could be implemented using existing staff. Also noted was a statement by DHFS that they felt that while they do have staff that could now complete the First Responder implementation they felt that staff time was better spent on other projects. A somewhat irritated discussion was held. The concusses of the majority of board members is that we have waited too long as it is and we should now use every avenue possible to force the First Responder law that became affective December 1, 2000 to be implemented.  Several ideas and motions were made and amended with the final Motion by Werner that our staff members, including our attorney and lobbyist address DHFS being in violation of state law with regard to the First Responder implementation and that we place this issue among the highest priorities of the association. Second by Hackett.  All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.

Association Medical Director Replacement: Meeker reported that he has been unable in the last few weeks to talk with Dr. Wesley. John Schultz reported that he has talked briefly with Dr. Wesley regarding our intentions and had the feeling that he was willing to stay on as medical director with the understanding that he would not be able to routinely attend board meetings. Board members felt that since our other advisors do not typically attend meetings that this issue was not significantly important as long as he was available to provide input and direction as well as answer questions as needed. Meeker will again attempt to finalize this issue.

Strategic Planning: Discussion was held regarding setting up and completing a strategic planning session. Covelli will be in charge of setting up and facilitating the session. A potential date of October 5th, prior to the board meeting, was identified for a potential date. It was noted that Madison hotels may be unavailable due to Badger football. The casino in Wisconsin Dells was recommended as an alternate site.

New Business

2003 Conference Budget: The proposed budget for the 2003 conference was presented and reviewed. Hunjadi highlighted any budget amounts that had been changed from the previous conference and the rationale for the changes. No changes were requested by the board. Motion by Werner second by McCarrier to approve the budget as presented. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.

Executive Director Evaluation: Motion by Allen Second by Hackett to move to closed session. All in favor none opposed. Moved to closed session. Hunjadi was voluntarily excused. Motion by Allen second by Teale to return to open session. Hunjadi returned to the meeting.  Motion by Schilder second by Merrill to appoint a committee of four board members to conduct a performance evolution for the Executive Director position. Committee Members to include Schultz, Allen, Merrill with Hacket as the chair. The report is due at the July meeting. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.

Interfacility Guidelines Document: A brief discussion was held regarding the interfacility guidelines document being worked on by DHFS. A reply to a letter was received by the association between DHFS and the Wisconsin Hospital Association. Since the original letter was not provided, it is unknown what all of the issues between the two organizations are. We will continue to watch the situation and react as necessary.

Election of Officers: Nominations were opened for President with the only person nominated being Richard Meeker. Motion by McCarrier second by Bennett to cast a unanimous ballot for Richard Meeker as President. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried. Nominations were then opened for vice-president with the only person nominated being Larry TeStroete. Motion by Teale second by McCarrier to cast a unanimous ballot for TeStroete. All in favor, none opposed, motion carried. Nominations were then opened for Secretary/Treasurer with the only person nominated being Mary Schilder. Motion by Schultz second by Allen to cast a unanimous ballot for Schilder. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.

Part-Time Care: Steve Teale raised the idea of allowing advanced level EMTs to practice at their level of care rather than requiring the ambulance provider to provide that level of care 24-hours a day or not at all. A lengthy discussion was held with the majority of board members appearing to be in favor of the concept. The item was directed to new business for the July meeting.

National Activity: Meeker raised the issue of national legislation and activities and the Wisconsin EMS Association’s involvement in them. He provided the example of travel to Washington DC to meet with national legislators. Minimal discussion was held. No formal action was taken.

Motion to adjourn by Werner, second by Allen. All in favor. None opposed. The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 PM.

Action Items