Present: Meeker, Hunjadi, TeStroete, Schilder, Blount, Madigan, Weir, Teale, Merrill, Allen
Notified Absent: McCarrier, Playman
Meeting called to order by President Meeker at 12:00 PM
Motion by TeStroete second by Schilder to accept the April 9, 2000 meeting minutes as presented. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Executive Managers Items: Hunjadi provided current financial and investment information. $125,000 in short-term CDs was purchased following the April meeting. As of Friday, $85,844 value remains invested in mutual funds. The graphic designer/consultant we have used in the past is working on the conference brochure cover as well as a re-design of the web site and Hot Sheets and will also design a T-shirt for the cruise. Hunjadi introduced the idea of adding electronic commerce to the web site as part of the re-design. Basic charges are a one-time fee of $500 for software and use of a secure server for transactions. Visa and MasterCard transactions are then processed with a 2.3% fee and a $.30 transaction fee. Minimum charges each month are $20 regardless of activity. Credit card transactions would only be for new memberships and Hot Sheets ordered on the web site only - not through the mail. Merchandise sales would also be available for credit card use both online and at conferences - but not through the mail. Hunjadi will continue to provide information on the web site changes as the project progresses.
2001 Conference: Meeker reported on the status of the conference. All of the speakers have been selected and contracted for the event. A Management Seminar will again return to the Wednesday pre-conference as well as the Human Cadaver Dissection. Thursday is slated for a pediatric workshop and a First Responder seminar. Key-note for Friday is Craig Jacobus and Saturday is scheduled for Baxter Larmon to provide the General Session. All fees will remain the same as last year. Because continued problems and complaints with meals, lunch for the 2001 conference will be optional.
OLD BUSINESS
Cruise: Hunjadi reported that as of Friday there were 275 cabins booked. We have remained at this level for several months. As some cruisers cancel their reservations others fill in. About 20 cabins have been cancelled so far. We are still holding a block of 300 and will continue to do so for several more months.
EMS Rules: Several board members reported on the rule hearings. Hunjadi and Meeker conducted a conference call with Nan Turner the EMS Section Chief following the final hearings. In addition to the thirteen organizations, five legislators have signed onto the Flexible Staffing position statement. Discussion continued on actions the association should take through the remainder of the process. Discussion was also held on the amount of changes that have taken place in EMS and within this topic since we started efforts to make the rule changes. Specifically changes to the new EMT-I level continue to make the issue cloudy. Items were identified and presented for the Executive Board to work from.
First Responder Implementation: Jon Morgan of DHFS has agreed to assign a committee to begin work on the First Responder implantation. Rules will also be written. This activity was as a result of the Association's decision to aggressively and by any means possible move forward with the process. Morgan still maintains that full implementation will not be possible without a staff position within their office. However, since this is forward movement and five months remain until the deadline, the Association will continue to monitor the process.
Documents Project: Hunjadi present the documents as well as an outline of what has been completed. Association staff has picked up where volunteer staff had left off on the project. About six additional documents are needed. Those of a legal nature will now go to our Attorney. Those of a medical nature will go to our Medical Director. This is for changes and approvals. From there the final version will be released on CD ROM. Hunjadi will create graphics and a legal disclaimer for the CDs. The final product will be sent free of charge to all current and future service and corporate members of the association.
2001 Awards: Board members discussed their thoughts on continuing or altering our current awards process. Motion by TeStroete, second by Schilder to eliminate EMT of the Year and Educator of the Year from the awards process. Discussion was held. Nine in favor one opposed. Motion carried. Motion by TeStroete second by Blount to create two awards categories for EMS Service of the Year. A career/full-time service of the year, and volunteer/paid on call service of the year. All in favor, none opposed, motion carried. As a result 2001 awards will contain the two service categories and the potential for a President's Award only.
Lobbyist: Members of the Executive Board met with Bill Broydrick and Forbes McIntosh regarding changes to their current contract. Broydrick outlined the activity since being hired two years ago as well as the successes they have brought to WEMSA. They proposed keeping the hourly rate the same but raising the monthly cap to $1,500/month. Hunjadi countered by holding the cap at $1,000 with special permission to exceed that amount in special circumstances. A proposal was drafted from Broydrick to that effect. Motion by Madigan second by Merrill to accept the proposal as stated. All in favor. Motion carried. Hunjadi to amend contract to reflect accurate billing for time less than ¼ hour segments i.e.: short phone calls, etc.
PR/Membership Position: General information was provided on the public relations and sales position created earlier in the year. Because of the wide job description, the position is being suggested to be split to two parts.
Motion by Schilder second by Weir to move into closed session to discuss personnel issues. All in favor. Moved to closed session. Motion by TeStroete second by Madigan to return to open session. All in favor. Returned to open session. Discussion was held with Paul Blount regarding his interest in becoming the Association's sales/marketing/customer service representative. Motion by Schilder second by Merrill to offer Paul Blount the position. Compensation set at $350/month base with a 20% commission for service and corporate membership and 10% commission for magazine, sponsorship/other sales. Blount to sign a contract similar to the Executive Manger and Conference Division Chairperson and provide sub-contracted services. Nine in favor, one abstain. Motion carried. Hunjadi to work with Blount on completing the contract.
Public Relations Firm: The other half of the position could be handled by a PR Firm. Members of the Executive Board met with several groups and individuals including Flaherty and Associates of Madison. Flaherty is already partnered with Broydrick and Associates and could provide an effective team approach. Flaherty provided a proposal for $1,000/month retainer. Hunjadi expressed concern of retaining a firm when we may not always have projects needing attention. Motion by Teale, second by Allen to allow the Executive Board to engage Flaherty and Associates as the Wisconsin EMS Association Public Relations Firm at the rate of $50/hour with a $1,000/month maximum. The contract would not provide for a retainer only payment as services are needed. Hunjadi also stated that while we may execute a contract now, it is very possible no work would be provided until later in the year as projects are identified. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
Legislative Items for 2001-2002: Discussion continued from the past board meeting regarding items for potential inclusion in the Association's legislative efforts next session.
Discussion on the items for legislation.
1. Raise the pay cap for a local
politician's ability to hold office as an EMT from $2,500 to $5,000.
2. Allow volunteer/paid on call "Ambulance Drivers"
to be immune from unemployment reporting
3. Dispatcher Certification
4. Position for First Responder Coordinator within DHFS
5. Immunity for Medical Directors
6. Increase FAP funds to include First Responder Training/Refreshers
It was felt that all of the items could potentially be accomplished. Priority to be given to Dispatcher Certification. The job position likely could be part of the budget bill. It was also felt that the first two items could be amended budget bill items as well. An FAP funds increase could potentially be the hardest to accomplish especially since the mechanism for certification is not yet set up. The Association will now enter discussions with other Fire and EMS Groups to see what their initiatives will be and their willingness to help with these items.
Group Buying: The North Central EMS Coop made contact to the Association after reading our minutes regarding negotiations falling through with the Provider Alliance in Wisconsin. They proposed that we could enroll our service members at the rate of $37.50 per service. Looking at the list of benefits, board members did not see an attractive package. Currently there are only five vendor sources. One for a gas credit card with no discount being evident. One for a large print supplier. One for paging service not available in most of Wisconsin and one for medical supplies. The most attractive item was a Wheeled Coach ambulance buying contract. Motion by Teale second by Madigan to decline the offer to merge or otherwise affiliate with NCEMSC. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. The Association will continue to put together their own buying program using new and existing staff members.
Legislative Attendance/Participation: Following introduction at the April meeting, discussion was held regarding the association becoming more active with grass-roots efforts including participation at public hearings, rallies, etc. Mindy Allen has agreed to work toward building a coalition of EMTs in and around Madison who would be able to rally at the capitol as needed and with short notice. Allen will begin formulating ideas on how to accomplish the goal and will provide suggestions at the October meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Length of Service Awards Board: The Association has been invited to provide a representative to sit on the soon-to-be-created Length of Service Awards Board. This governor-appointed board will work on creating the pension program passed a few months ago for Wisconsin's volunteer fire fighters and EMTs. Motion by Madigan second by TeStroete that we present Mindy Allen as the EMS Association representative for the Length of Service Awards Board. All in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.
Medical Access to Ambulance Services Act of 2000: The association was contacted by Gary Windgrove, a WEMSA member and an executive with Mayo Health's Gold Cross Ambulance. He provided information on a bill that will soon be introduced by Senator Grahms of Minnesota to address and potentially restore the losses set to take affect for ambulance reimbursement in 2001. He is looking for our endorsement and having us attempt to have our state senators sign on as co-sponsors to the bill. He would also like a representative of the association to travel to Washington D.C. to help lobby the bill. Motion by Madigan second by Weir to endorse the Medicare Access to Ambulance Services Act 2000. The Association Executive Manager is directed to contact Senator Fiengold and Kohl's office to urge their co-sponsorship of the bill. However, WEMSA will not provide lobbying activities or staff travel to Washington for the bill. All in favor none opposed. Motion carried.
Board Members As Contractors/Employees: Concern was raised by Madigan regarding the increasing number of board members becoming sub-contractors or employees of the association. Potential for misuse, etc. could become an issue. Several points were made and debated including the potential ability of anyone on the board to attempt to vote themselves inordinate compensation etc. Consensus was to place the issue on the October Agenda. Mindy Allen offered to provide a "Code of Ethics" for potential use by board members.
Past President Replacement: It was discovered that we had not followed by-laws by electing a representative from the board to sit on the Executive Board in the past president position - since the past president is no longer on the board. The October meeting will hold an election to fill this position.
Motion by TeStroete, second by Blount to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 4:45 PM
Action Items: