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March
2007—Issue 1
Editor House of Delegates Officers: Frank Salvatore, Jr., BS, RRT, FAARC Camden McLaughlin, RRT /
Secretary Joe Horn, BS, RRT / Treasurer Denise Johnson, BS, RRT / Past
Speaker |
In This Issue... | |
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Bill Pruitt Debbie Fox Frank Salvatore, Jr. Denise Johnson Joe Horn Vijay Deshpande
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Off and running….. Bill Pruitt, RRT I know that for a lot of you this is a busy time of year….probably the busiest! I know it is for me. But, we all have obligations to keep up with the dealings of our professional association since we have assumed official duties and represent our peers while we serve in the House. This is my first issue to sit as editor for the Record. I’m following in the footsteps of some major players as I do this task. Looking back over past issues I see the works and words of John Blewitt, Pat Munzer, co-editors John Rutkowski & Michael Jackson, Laura Lucas, etc. I hope to continue to match their efforts and have this e-newsletter be informative, thought provoking, idea-generating, and motivating. My thanks go out to the committee members who are joining me in reviewing the submitted articles – Jennifer Bush, Steve Kessinger, Suzanne Bollig, Tom Smalling, Virginia Durant and Will Beachey, you folks are great! We are on top of the PACT dates in Washington. May they go forward with purpose and be met with SUCCESS in every office they visit! This year has the potential to be a banner year for Respiratory Therapy. We have achieved much in many areas and with continued, focused effort – we may tip the scales this year in the halls of Washington. We have strong leadership today in the office of AARC President with Toni Rodriguez, HOD Speaker with Debbie Fox, the capable men and women on the BOD, the Executive office, plus this body of professionals – we are all leaders in our various spots across the nation. Let’s keep the heat on, keep the letters going, keep the calls on the line, keep the emails hitting the In-Box so our voices can be heard clearly. As you read the following articles you will see a sad note … we have lost a good man recently and he will be missed. Bill Bitzel from Georgia impacted hundreds if not thousands and through the many years in the profession, he accomplished a lot. If you have comments, suggestions or have an article you would like to submit, please contact me. And as you keep running the race… read on through this edition of the Record and spread the word - this is a BANNER YEAR and WE’RE SET TO WIN! |
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Speaker’s Report Debbie Fox, MBA, RRT-NPS I am excited to begin my term as Speaker. As expected 2007 is going to be another busy year and the business of the House of Delegates has already begun. I would like to briefly review some of the activities that are currently underway. President Toni Rodriguez is continuing the monthly conference calls between the 3 P’s (herself, the Board President, and the Past President) and the 3 S’s (House Speaker, Speaker-Elect and Past Speaker). These conference calls help maintain open communication and keep the Board and the House working together efficiently. I communicate with Toni frequently and we are committed to accomplishing the AARC goals together. The House Officers will also be attending the AARC Board Meeting in Dallas in March. I will be sending a report to the House following this meeting. The House is currently considering the First Reading of the proposed amendments to the AARC Bylaws. As you recall from the discussion at the Las Vegas HOD meeting the Bylaws changes deal primarily with changing the term of the Past President from one year to two years. We are conducting this via electronic vote to allow adequate time for the membership to comment on the amendments prior to considering the Second Reading during the Summer HOD meeting in Reno. Another important activity in March is the PACT Meeting in Washington DC. I will be attending along with several other Delegates who also serve on the PACT. Our annual trek to Capitol Hill increases the awareness of our profession and provides us an excellent opportunity to advocate for our patients. This year will be important as we begin efforts to gain coverage for Respiratory Therapy Services under Medicare Part B. In addition, the Pulmonary Rehab and the Medicare Home Oxygen Reimbursement bills have both been reintroduced. The House needs to be prepared to assist the PACT and respond to any requests that may come from Frank Salvatore or Cheryl West. One of my Speaker’s Goals included a task for each Delegation. I would like each Delegation to coordinate two consumer-related public relations events through their state affiliate. These could be COPD screenings, asthma awareness events, a consumer day at your state seminar or other public relations events. I believe most affiliates sponsor such events and we need to share these successes with each other. This type of sharing of ideas is one of the bonuses of the House as we learn what has worked well for other affiliates. You can report your consumer event in a future edition of the Record, on the House listserve or during the Open Microphone session at the House meetings. As I am writing this report, I have just learned of the loss of one of our Delegates, Bill Bitzel from Georgia. I am saddened at the news and feel a deep personal loss. Bill was a true professional, always ready to help with a smile on his face. The House of Delegates provides us with an opportunity to form friendships with dedicated, enthusiastic respiratory therapists who are leaders in their societies. Bill was one of those individuals and we will miss him. I thank you for this opportunity to serve as your Speaker. I am honored to lead this group and I would welcome any comments or suggestions. |
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Speaker-Elect’s Report Frank R. Salvatore, Jr., BS, RRT, FAARC Once again, let me thank you for the honor and privilege to serve as your House of Delegates Speaker-Elect. This is going to be a very busy year. At this time I am preparing to attend both the AARC PACT Meeting in Washington DC on March 5-6, 2007 and the Board of Directors meeting with the rest of the House officers in Dallas on March 16-17, 2007. Let me take this time to list out my charges so that you are aware of the expectations of the speaker-elect. I will also address anything that is going on in regards to those charges at this time (that information will be in italics). Speaker-Elect Charges for 2007: The charges have basically been the same for each year with minor changes. I will make sure to address each of them in my July 2007 Report to the House. If you need to get hold of me, please feel free to contact me at anytime. You can reach me at frank.salvatore@danhosp.org or you can call me at (203) 739-7984. Thank you again, and I look forward to seeing all of you in Reno/Lake Tahoe. I would like to end my article by expressing my deepest sympathy in regards to the passing of Bill Bitzel from Georgia. Bill was very kind in his words to me on my election this past December as Speaker-Elect. I have only the kindest words and praise for him as a person and a member of our profession. My prayers will be with him and his family during this very sad time. He will be missed. |
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Treasurer's Report Joe Horn, BS, RRT I wanted to take a moment to express to the entire House of Delegates how honored I am to be given this opportunity to serve as the House of Delegates Treasurer. Those who know me best know how much the House means to me. We have a lot of very important work to do and I am thankful to be a part of it. Last Friday I attended a webcast as part of my responsibilities to the sub-audit committee. It was very informative. The information will be utilized during the audit process of the AARC. The following is a list of the 2007 HOD Treasurer charges:
I will keep you informed of the status of each of these charges via House reports at the summer and winter HOD meetings. If you need anything from me, please don’t hesitate to call me at (817) 461-6543. My email address is jhorn@irgstaffing.com . I look forward to working with each of you this coming year. Thank you again for this tremendous opportunity to serve the House of Delegates and the American Association for Respiratory Care. |
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Past Speaker's Report Denise Johnson, BS, RRT In December I experienced one of those once in a lifetime kind of experiences. Many before me had suggested the long lasting impact the winter HOD meeting would have on me as Speaker; however, I had not prepared for the overwhelming support and commitment I felt from all of you. The meeting was informative, productive and fun. I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Speaker. It was a life changing event for me, one I will not forget. We are in great hands with Madame Speaker Fox and her House Officers. I know I will miss being in the House with you but I will not be far away. I have just learned today as I was working on this article of our dear friend and colleague Bill Bitzel's death. I am stunned as I am sure you all are by this news. It is difficult to express the magnitude of this loss to the House of Delegates and to the Respiratory Care profession. In the years that I have known Bill, he was always supporting the House Officers, Delegates and the work we had to do in a very positive way. I remember him saying to me as Speaker-elect and Speaker, "Madame Speaker, anything for you, just let me know what I can do, I want to help." This was Bill's way. With a terrific, fun loving spirit (who will ever forget the white robes??) and his genuine dedication and love of our profession, he was a joy to spend time with. I am deeply saddened by this tragic news. Bill we will miss you greatly! |
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In Remembrance... Vijay Deshpande, RRT
I am in India since January 1. I do still not comprehend Bill Bitzel’s passing away. I thought I was a composed individual. Bill's passing has completely “decomposed” me. It was difficult for me to find words to express my feelings, the only time I was speechless. He represents the first therapist to leave this world while serving in the House of Delegates. Many of us are his contemporaries. I can imagine the sudden shock felt by many in the House. Well! Let us cherish his memories. Bill made an impact on all of us who worked with him closely. A subtle sense of humor, a pleasant smile behind that bushy mustache and grey beard, soft spoken words and his love for life and family attracted most of us to Bill Bitzel. He would open up when surrounded by close friends. He never made derogatory comments about anyone. Bill’s vocabulary included “us” and “we” and not “I” and “me”. I knew Bill Bitzel as a respected leader in Respiratory Care in Georgia. My association with him was restricted to GSRC meetings. Our friendship developed when I was elected as his deputy at the HOD. Bill’s attitude towards life, in general, was simple –enjoy every moment, as life is a God’s gift to you. I vividly remember his smile and shrug when discussing his health problems. He often talked about his family especially Carson, his grandson, with a passion. I became a grandfather last year and I started looking forward to happy days with my grandson when he grows up. Bill was a role model - “Pappy”. He was dedicated to another passion of his life, the Respiratory Care Profession. Oh! Excuse me Bill! Florida Gators too! He was a silent worker. Bill was instrumental in developing a respiratory therapy program at Thomasville, Georgia. He mentored many graduates from South Georgia. He provided clinical education to students at his hospital. He always promoted AARC membership and encouraged his staff and students to attend GSRC meetings. Bill was very active at the state level, serving on many committees and finally serving as the President. This was his last term at the HOD and was considering running for the delegate’s position again. GSRC was fortunate to have a representative at the HOD of Bill’s caliber. His knowledge in by-laws and legislative issues was our great asset. Although relatively quiet, Bill would jump to third gear when talking about Florida Gators. His closest friends, past presidents of GSRC, were avid fans of Georgia Bulldogs. Every year Bill joined them at the Georgia-Florida football game in Jacksonville. He was surrounded by Bulldog fans and had the last laugh, since Florida won the game in succession for many years. At the end of the game he would quietly go to the hotel desk and reserve rooms for next year for the entire group, as his friends from Georgia were too upset to plan for the next year. We all are going to miss Bill Bitzel at the next HOD meeting in Reno next year. A scholarship fund is being considered by GSRC. I suggest that at the next meeting, the HOD plan to recognize Bill Bitzel for his dedication to the profession with a “Go Gators” slogan. |
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Membership Figures (as of 3/01/07)
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