Present: Averbeck, Barker, Hornby, Hunjadi, Schilder, Teale, TeStroete
Notified Absent: McCarrier
Absent Without 48-Hour Notice: Allen, Meeker
Meeting called to order by Vice President TeStroete at 12:04 PM
Motion by Schilder to approve the January meeting minutes as written, second by Teale. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Motion by Schilder to approve the April meeting minutes as written, second by Teale. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Motion by Schilder, second by Hornby to approve the annual meeting minutes as written. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
President: Absent
Vice President: Nothing
Secretary/Treasurer: Nothing
Executive Director: Hunjadi reported on water damage that occurred in the office three weeks ago. Very little equipment was damaged and what was damaged is covered by insurance. Some records and the collection of past magazines dating back to the 1980s sustained significant water damage. Specifically, the 2004 year records may be difficult to read. Schilder noted that the 2004 financial records had already received an audit/review. The offices must be re-carpeted and then will be back to business as usual. Interviews for the Sales and Public Relations Director position are scheduled for the following week. These are thought to be the best candidates from about 15 applications that have been received. He hopes to select a candidate for final interviews and appointment as early as August 1 and hopefully no later than September 1. Financial and membership records were provided in the board member handouts. Membership growth has been slowing down over the past 12 months and has slowed even more since the sales position was vacated. Specifically, services that historically require intervention on our part to prompt them to complete their membership renewal are going un-renewed. They will need to be addressed by the new sales director when hired. Financially, the association is ahead of 2005 primarily due to increased conference profit, savings on sales director salary April-July and over $4,000/month return on investments with increasing interest rates and market growth.
Conference: Hunjadi attempted to provide conference information in Meeker’s absence. The speaker lineup is still being finalized. Corporate and event sponsorship sales is doing well. The first expo mailing went out on schedule. Full color exhibitor brochures were again printed to be used for both the 2007 and 2008 conferences. Midwest Airlines has decided to renew and expand the $89 roundtrip flights by adding St. Louis, Des Moines, and Indianapolis to last year’s list of cities. We are still awaiting final transactions with the Hilton in order to be able to close the books on the 2006 conference. It is anticipated that will be completed by the end of July. Several manager staff positions will be moved/filled for 2007. All other items and tasks are on schedule.
2007 Cruise: At this time slightly more than 120 cabins have been booked for the cruise. So far the participation is lower than any of the first three cruises. It is anticipated that additional bookings will be forthcoming but with rates locked in and prior cruising experience, passengers are not as anxious to book early as in the past. Increased flight rates to San Juan may also be playing a part in the bookings. While flights to Florida for cruise departures are about $200 cheaper, cruise rates are more expensive so the total package price ends up being the same in the end. A $100 per cabin shipboard credit has been added to help offset the flight costs and spur bookings. All passengers, including those already booked will receive the credit. Magic Carpet Travel has presented only one option for a pre-cruise stay. The hotel is one of the best in San Juan and the closest to the dock. However, the hotel cost for one night is $265. While that rate is cheaper than the regular hotel rates, it is felt to be too expensive. The board would like to offer a second, lower priced option or if no other option can be made available, no official pre-cruise package should be offered and instead passengers should be directed to book a pre-cruise on their own or to contact Magic Carpet Travel directly if they are interested in a pre-cruise package. It is important to maintain a quality priced product.
OLD BUSINESS
Covelli Litigation Matter: Motion by Schilder second by Hornby to move into closed session to discuss personnel matters. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. The meeting was moved to closed session. Motion by Schilder, second Barker to return to open session. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. The meeting returned to open session. Because Covelli has met the terms of his contract and is currently employed in a position that does not violate his no compete clause, the Wisconsin EMS Association will accept his settlement offer, including giving up his bonus, in order to have his law suit against the Wisconsin EMS Association dismissed. Hunjadi and attorneys will review the paperwork from Covelli’s attorney to have his law suit withdrawn. No further activity is warranted or expected.
Bylaw Changes Workgroup Report/Progress: No progress to report.
State EMS Office Survey Results: Hunjadi provided a synopsis of the recently completed EMS Office and Group Buying Program survey. The EMS Office portion has been previously reported in the Hot Sheets and in the current issue of EMS Professionals. Significant improvement in performance has been noted over the previous survey completed in 2001. In that survey, state office officials claimed that the level of service being provided was the best they could do and pointed to a lack of funding and office staff as the reason. While funding and staff numbers have not increased, the level of customer service clearly has increased under new leadership. The entire survey along with all written comments will be provided to the state EMS office during our next meeting with them. The Group Buying portion of the survey clearly showed that WEMSA Service and Corporate members who have switched to Tri-anim for their medical supplies are very pleased with the level of service they receive. Approximately 35% of members have switched their primary supplier to Tri-anim totaling about half a million dollars in sales. Together, Tri-anim and EMP garner over 90% of the WEMSA market share. BoundTree Medical, Matrx Medical, Moore Medical, PMX, and any other supplier share the remaining 10%. Contracts for medical supplies group buying are set to expire in September. The negotiating process will again be started shortly with the potential to extend the contract until the end of 2006 to have all group buying contracts start and end at the same time. Tri-anim will also be provided with survey details and written comments.
Strategic Planning: The Board of Directors has previously voted to hold another strategic planning session in October. The location is still TBA due to sold out hotels at the Hilton and Hyatt. A facilitator recommended for the Saturday and Sunday morning session originally requested $1,500 but agreed to lower his fee to $1,000. Board members continue to want to only review and update the current strategic plan because many items are still in progress or have yet to be started. Motion by Barker, second by Hornby that due to the nature of this strategic planning session a high level facilitator is not needed and a session facilitator be identified for the one day session. Barker believes she has two or three individuals who are capable of leading the group through this exercise at a more reasonable cost. Because this will not be a full-blown strategic planning session, it is felt that a high level facilitator is not needed. Barker will attempt to identify a suitable facilitator. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
NAEMT Affiliation Conference Call: President Meeker had set up a conference call with Ken Bouvier, President of the National Association of EMTs, regarding their continued request for affiliation. Two telephone numbers were provided. Schilder attempted to contact Bouvier without success as the meeting continued.
NEW BUSINESS
Appointment to fill open board position: Following the annual meeting in April, Brenda Averbeck attended the Sunday board meeting and subsequently completed the necessary nomination paperwork for appointment to an open position on the WEMSA Board of Directors. Discussion followed regarding appointment to an open board position per association bylaws. Motion by Teale second by Barker to appoint Averbeck to an open board of directors position ending March 31, 2007. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried.
ZOLL AED Drawing: The final of three AED giveaways for 2006 was offered in conjunction with the recent EMS Office/Group Buying Program survey. All returned tickets were placed in a basket and drawn by Averbeck. Oregon Area Fire/EMS was drawn as the winner of a ZOLL AED plus defibrillator.
EMT-Intermediate Rules: Emergency rules for moving the IV Technician program from HFS 110 to HFS 111 have just been released about a week prior to the meeting. Due to the nature of emergency rules, significant changes cannot be made. However, in some cases, the two rules state different things and therefore one has to be chosen. In other cases only internal office policy has been in force rather than having items outlined in rule. Board members are concerned with the emergency rules but also do not want to have to involve legislators in blocking the rules and risk losing the financial changes that may come as a result of the changes. Hunjadi will review the rules along with WEMSA lobbyists and where necessary, the WEMSA medical director. Suggested changes will be provided to the board. The changes will be included in the official public hearings and distributed to the membership. WEMSA will then attempt to work out changes with DHFS leadership rather than having to take a legislative route.
Motion by Teale second by Averbeck to adjourn. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 2:12 PM.
Immediately after the meeting was adjourned, Bouvier of NAEMT returned a telephone call to Schilder. It is not known why contact could not be made earlier as he was available at the numbers provided. It was agreed that another conference call would be set up with the executive board prior to the October full board meeting.