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October
2008—Issue 3
Editor House of Delegates Officers: Camden McLaughlin, BS, RRT, CPFT Dawn Rost, BS, RRT / Secretary Joe Horn, BS, RRT / Treasurer Debbie Fox, MBA, RRT / Speaker |
In This Issue... | |
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Keeping Track of Chartered Affiliates House Effectiveness Survey: A Commentary |
Bill Pruitt Frank Salvatore, Jr. Camden McLaughlin Debbie Fox
Tom Wagner
Dan Maddalino
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Editor’s Comments Bill Pruitt Wow! since we met in Phoenix in July - what a roller coaster ride! Considering the hurricanes along the Gulf, the fires out west, the Bejing Olympics, the Presidential campaigns and elections, the economic meltdown….. we’ve seen a lot of major events so far this year! Now as we look forward to the next AARC HOD meeting and International Congress in Anaheim there are more headlines to be written. We will have another “changing of the guard” as we seat the new House leaders. The Respiratory Care 2015 is continuing to roll-out and should begin showing the way into the future. The AARC leadership will also change hands as Toni Rodriguez hands the reigns over to Tim Myers. The USA President-elect will be putting together the machinery for his new administration and we will likely face new challenges in healthcare once the new crew is in place in Washington. Who knows where gas prices will be – eh? Regardless of the uncertainties and questions we face in the future, we have two unshakable truths to remember: Respiratory therapists are invaluable to our healthcare system and our “strength in numbers” is found in the AARC! This edition of the Record is full of things we need to know, new ideas, a few challenges, and some “Way-To-Go” pats on the back. Frank Salvatore kicks off with his final article as Speaker and brings his challenge to keep serving and keep taking the lead. Incoming speaker, Cam McLaughlin, gives us a look forward and encourages us to keep putting out good ideas for the AARC. Past-speaker Debbie Fox gives a run-down on our resolutions and says farewell but not goodbye as she steps away from the head table. Next you will see committee chair Tom Wagner’s informative article on having your affiliate bylaws “pass muster” (there’s one for you to Google) in the bylaws review committee. The post-meeting scorecard on how the House is performing comes next as we look at the House Effectiveness Survey from Marie Fenske and her Progress and Transitions committee. New Jersey delegate Sandra McCleaster has a very interesting article that focuses on two of our guests who attended the House meeting this past July. Dan Maddalino, delegate from Florida, urges all of us to be honest and thorough in evaluating the business of the House by using the House Effectiveness Survey to its fullest potential. Jenny Bush, delegate from Nebraska, follows with a look at her state society and Robin Wilson, substitute delegate from Virginia wraps everything up with her look at the Virginia Society – these two societies were highlighted at the Phoenix meeting. We wanted to give you another look at what they were doing to increase the value of their state societies… read these and consider adopting these “best practices” in your neck of the woods. [Top] |
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Parting Thoughts Frank Salvatore As Yogi Berra said, “This is like Déjà vu all over again!” Last October I wrote that I could not believe I was writing my last article as Speaker-elect for the House. Now I find myself writing my last article as Speaker and it is already October. I guess it is true that time really begins to fly as we get older. First, let me thank all of you who have served the profession as delegates this past year. Your dedication and hard work has placed our profession and advocacy for our patients on the right road. This year has seen some incredible things happen. Once again, we found ourselves working hard to advocate in Washington for both the profession and our patients. In July, we had our first legislative win in a long time. With the passage of the HR 6331, many provisions we advocated for had successfully passed. Pulmonary rehab will finally have its national policy in 2010. The rent-to-own 36-month provision was repealed and the competitive bidding program for the DMEs was delayed by 18 months. In another Déjà vu event, we saw Mother Nature’s wrath unleashed upon the shores of the Gulf coast. Our Association, under the direction of President Rodriguez, rose to the occasion and opened up the disaster relief fund for members affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. A plea for help went out to our state societies and members of the HOD. At the time of this printing, that plea was heard, help was released, and the states and members have pledged funds to the disaster relief fund in order to replenish whatever was used. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am to be a part of this profession. I think back to 1985 when I was in my spring semester of my first year of college when I received a surprising wakeup call. After one semester of not having mom and dad around to remind me to study…or even wake me up for classes, I was placed on academic probation. My grades were not good and I was put on notice. I could definitely say that any thoughts of medical school were probably tossed out after that first semester. Dazed by the realization, one day I found myself wandering the halls of the science building at the University of Hartford when I stumbled upon a bulletin board containing information about a new program that started in 1984. It was the Respiratory Therapy Program. I read about what a respiratory therapist did and then thought about my predicament. As I read more, I thought to myself, “Hey, you have asthma. Maybe this respiratory therapy is a good way to go!” After marching down to the director of the programs office, my fate was sealed. Respiratory therapy was to be my new career path. I could never imagine what would transpire in the twenty-three years since I made the decision to become a respiratory therapist. Not once in the twenty years since graduating and working in this field have I regretted the decision. I hope in your interactions with me that you have realized this without even knowing the story. My goal here is not to pat myself on the back, but inspire someone to step up into leadership in our profession. I am probably at the end of my leadership path on the national level. Not because it is something that I want, but because I do not feel my employer will support any further effort on my part to be more active. Nevertheless, leadership is not always someone who is at the top of the ticket or in the boardroom. Leadership can occur even at the most grassroots level. We need to take our love of this profession and find ways to channel that love to move us forward. Some of you will become leaders at the national level while some of you will be satisfied working at the state level. It is okay, because we need leaders at all levels. Please continue to do what you do for our profession and our patients. You never know how things will turn out. But if what I have seen over the past few years is any indication, I have no doubt that our profession and our patients are in great hands. [Top] |
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Flying Turtles Camden J. McLaughlin The turtle watched the geese preparing to fly south for the winter. “Say,” said the turtle, “I would love to go south for the winter with you. Could two of you carry a stick between you in your big bills? I’ll grab hold with my mouth and you can carry me along.” They agreed and soon they lifted off over the heads of a couple of fishermen. “Would you look at that?” remarked one of the men?” “What smart geese!” Eager to take proper credit, the turtle promptly opened his mouth and as he headed down to crash said, “It was my ideaaaaaa!” Having reviewed the July HOD Effectiveness Survey, provided by the Progress and Transition Committee, there were a lot of good suggestions, comments, and yes, good ideas! I am sure that we as HOD leaders will use these suggestions as we develop the December agenda. Your input is always welcome and encouraged. One item of House business is to ask all of you to begin thinking about serving on one of the 2009 HOD committees, and for you House veterans, consider if you would accepting a chair position for a committee. I will be sending out an email in the next few weeks to request such and would appreciate your review and acceptance. Please also look for an upcoming survey requesting your input on business practices in the House. Consider that someone once said that only people who can see the invisible can do the impossible. That shows the value of vision but also indicates that vision can be elusive. If you can see the vision of what needs to be accomplished in your personal life, work life and HOD life, then you have a very good chance at success in all venues. Vision gives us direction and confidence! Consider your vision as you plan for our HOD meeting in December. Lastly, if it appears to be no theme to my article, (or you think, Jeese he is rambling!) then you just may have to read it several times to recognize a loose (ok, very loose) common thread. Let me end with what I thought was a good theme from one of my previous Record articles; Become a person of influence in The House! Have faith in your fellow House members. Emphasize their strengths and push them, along with this body, to be successful in conducting "our" business in The House of Delegates. Use your vision! Use your voice! Be that person of influence! Thank you for serving in our HOD and for your time and attentiveness to the meetings. I appreciate your confidence in placing me in the position of serving as the upcoming Speaker and I appreciate your support and request your prayers. Sure look forward to seeing you in Anaheim. Feel free to contact me at anytime at avthoke@comcast.net or 540-230-7023. [Top] |
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Keeping Track of Business and My Personal Reflections Debbie Fox Below is the listing of House resolutions that remain open. Several of these will be under consideration at our Fall House and AARC Board meetings. HR44-08-02 Resolved that the AARC CRCE application process and member transcript be modified to separately break out the hours devoted to specific course content categories to ensure the usefulness of the transcript in reporting to state licensure boards. BOD Action: Refer to the EO to investigate the feasibility and to report back at the Dec. BOD meeting. HR22-08-04 Resolved that the AARC create an ad hoc committee to investigate and recommend the feasibility of creating an AARC student leadership initiative. BOD Action: Refer back to the HOD to develop a proposed plan of action to be submitted to the BOD. Speaker Salvatore has appointed an ad hoc committee co-chaired by Ed Borza and Sheri Tooley Peters. HR 04-07-23: Resolved that the House of Delegates (HOD) will receive the proposed AARC Budget on the first day of the fall HOD meeting. On the next day of the meeting the HOD will vote regarding the proposed budget. This resolution was referred to the Audit Committee and remains open until the Fall Board meeting in Anaheim Open Resolutions on Tracking History: HR 572003-28 “Resolved that the AARC adopt the following revenue sharing model:
I will provide a follow-up report on these open resolutions at the House meeting in Anaheim. This will be my last meeting as a member of the AARC House of Delegates. I have enjoyed my eight years as a “Houser”. It seems like only yesterday that I was a nervous junior Delegate being forced to the mike for the first time by my senior Delegate. I’ve witnessed a shift in the role of the House as we have become aligned with the AARC Strategic goals by increasing the Delegates’ role in political advocacy, sharing best affiliate practices, increasing membership, and strengthening lines of communication between the AARC and state affiliates. It has been a valuable experience for me and I have grown both professionally and personally. I would encourage all of the newer Delegates to step forward and become involved in the House leadership – either as a Committee Chair or running for a House office. I am confident that the House will continue to grow stronger in purpose and accomplishment. I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Past Speaker and hope to be a welcome visitor to future House meetings. [Top] |
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Chartered Affiliates Bylaws Primer Tom Wagner The Bylaws Committee is charged with the responsibility to review Chartered Affiliate bylaws according to the established staggered schedule in which all are reviewed every five years for compliance with the AARC bylaws. Affiliate bylaws will only be reviewed for compliance with the AARC bylaws. Errors in grammar, spelling, or internal inconsistencies will be the responsibility of the Chartered Affiliate. The Bylaws Committee may make recommendations regarding grammar, spelling, or internal inconsistencies, but will not delay the approval process over such issues. Affiliate bylaws will be considered in conflict with the AARC bylaws if non-AARC members are allowed to vote and/or hold a voting position on the Affiliate’s Board of Directors. Affiliate Bylaws will be considered in conflict if Active members of the Chartered Affiliate are not Active members of the AARC. All bylaws revisions should be sent to the chair of the AARC Bylaws Committee in care of the AARC Executive Office. Electronic submission is encouraged. Send these to Pat Lee at her email address: lee@aarc.org The affiliate's bylaws revisions must be accompanied by a cover letter that describes the reasoning for the proposed revisions. This explanation should be sufficient for the AARC Bylaws Committee to understand the intent of the proposed changes. The cover letter should include the name and contact information of the individual in the chartered affiliate who can answer questions about the bylaws proposal. The affiliate must provide a full copy of their bylaws with additions underlined and bold and with deletions appearing as According to recent records, the following states are in need of bylaws review: Wisconsin, Indiana, Alaska, California, Kentucky, Texas, West Virginia and Rhode Island. Oregon and New York have been submitted for review. Next year, we would like to review bylaws from Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Florida, Utah and Virginia. (If you think any of this information is mistaken, please let me know!) You don’t have to wait to make the list to submit bylaws for review. If you have made significant changes, or your five years are up, please submit them. When they are reviewed and deemed acceptable by the committee, they are forwarded to the AARC Board of Directors for approval. The whole process takes up to three months barring difficulties. [Top] |
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HOD Effectiveness Survey Marie Fenske, Chair 4=strongly agree 3=somewhat agree 2=somewhat disagree 2=strongly disagree
4=54 3=11 2=2 1=0
chartered affiliates. 4=59 3= 7 2=0 1= 0
continues to improve. 4=27 3.5=1 3=36 2=3 1=0
4=29 3=35 2=3 1=0
4=46 3=21 2=0 1=0
4=23 3=38 2=5 1=1
4=54 3=13 2=0 1=0
4=38 3=23 2=2 1=0
4=40 3.5=1 3=22 2=2 1=0 The totals for each question are not 68 because some questions were not answered. |
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House Guests Sandra McCleaster One of the interesting sidelights of the July 2008 HOD meeting was our introduction to two special “House guests”. The first was a guest of the Washington State delegation. A home care therapist named Joyce Belnap, RRT, happened to be in Phoenix attending the AART Asthma Ed Certification Course. Her Washington colleagues spotted her and invited her to join in on some fun activities and then to sit as a guest at the House meeting. We learned that Joyce is involved with an organization called the Physician Training Partnership (PTP). The focus of PTP is to teach, improve and expand neurosurgical services for Tanzania. Joyce tells us that PTP has been successful with teaching surgical teams in Tanzania how to perform delicate neurosurgical procedures, but hasn’t had the other ancillary support needed for post-op respiratory care. This is where Joyce comes in. We learned that she’s now the first respiratory therapist to join the PCP team. The Washington delegation pointed out that Joyce’s goal for her very first trip to Tanzania is to provide respiratory care related equipment and education to the Tanzanian hospitals that have none. After hearing Joyce’s story, Deb Hendrickson from Wisconsin challenged the house members to help with the PCP cause. Collectively and without hesitation, the delegates reached into their own pockets and came forward with $865. That’s not all. Soon there were pledges of CPAPs, BIPAPs and one full service ventilator. Campaigning on behalf of the PCP wasn’t in Joyce’s plan when she came to Phoenix. It just goes to show what a day in attendance at an HOD meeting can bring. Joyce describes it as being “the highlight of my trip.” She goes on to say that if there are any other RTs out there that may be interested in joining her for her first trip in February, she would welcome their expertise and help. She’ll be happy to provide more information on PCP. Just contact her at belnapjoyce@gmail.com. Our second House guest: Rob Converse, a senior RC student at Pima Medical Institute in Denver, attended the Phoenix HOD meeting as a guest of the Colorado Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC). Rob is actually a graduate of the University of Denver, having earned both a BS in finance and shortly thereafter an MBA from Regis University. No small accomplishments, to be sure. Nonetheless, Rob claims he regretted not pursuing an education in the health sciences from day one. In his own words, when he and his wife Shannon, an RN, would come home from work and have the usual “How was your day?” conversation, he found he was far more interested in her job than he was in his own. So in spite of lucrative employment in the financial industry, he eventually followed his heart and with the blessing and encouragement of his wife, entered respiratory therapy school in 2007. Right from the start, Rob aligned himself with the CSRC, first as class representative to their student advisory council. From there, he helped out with the CSRC annual state conference. Rob’s program director, Amy Brown, prompted him to attend the HOD meeting. He was unsure of what the HOD actually was or what function it served, but he says that after just a few hours at the HOD meeting, he “got” it. He says “Going to the meeting has given me perspective on how issues and ideas flow from the state societies up to the AARC and beyond. I have a greater respect for the support state affiliates, the HOD and the AARC provide to its members. I cannot understand why anyone would not want to be a member of the AARC or not be involved with their state society.” Rob is keeping several plates spinning. He and his wife are both employed and both are currently enrolled students as well. Most importantly, they recently became the proud parents of a new baby girl. As daunting and difficult as this all is, they manage to achieve a work/life balance as they pursue their personal and professional goals. It’s this kind of grit that forms the leadership of tomorrow. The AARC recognizes the need to develop its future leaders. It’s all about mentoring and nurturing. If every state delegation could take just one bright and shining student under their wing, our professional future would be assured. The AARC House of Delegates meeting continues to be fertile ground for the cultivation of future RC leaders. Student attendance at HOD is just one way to start.
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House Effectiveness Survey: A Commentary Dan Maddalino That survey. It’s that yellow, blue, or sometimes green form that is passed out to all Delegates near the end of each House meeting. That list of questions about our House and the AARC. Questions about our House and its procedures. Our House and its effectiveness. Four point scale. No neutral territory there. More positive, positive, negative, or more negative are the choices. Did you complete one? Or did you leave it there on the table as just a curiosity? From meeting to meeting, the results do not vary significantly. Sure you can find an up or down period, but with only a four point scale it begs a middle line. There haven’t been any chairs thrown during a meeting (more negative), nor have there been hugging and dancing in the isle (more positive). Thus, it tracks a low 3 to upper 3 point range every meeting. Yet there is very powerful information provided from the feedback on these surveys. The true insight into the perceived effectiveness of the House of Delegates is found in the comments provided by the (too few) Delegates for each question. Here we find the true level of satisfaction or disappointment of the House members. Or not. Should many of the Delegates continue to ignore the survey or simply just mark a number in their rush to the exit, they have missed a great opportunity to have an effect on the progress and transition of our House of Delegates. Yes it is OUR House of Delegates. Yours and mine. If we fail to take this opportunity to express ourselves we fail to give our leaders needed feedback leading to the continued improvement and enhancement of our House of Delegates. Next time you receive the House Effectiveness survey from the Progress and Transitions Committee, please take the time to not only score the effectiveness but make a statement supporting your choice. Don’t forget to jot down your observations and delights, or concerns at the end of the survey. Our House of Delegates will be better for it. [Top] |
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Department Showcase as Affiliate Best Practice Jenny Bush Facts about Nebraska: There are 1.8 million people that live in Nebraska, with the largest population areas located in the eastern end of the state. The state spans almost 77,000 square miles with an average 22 persons per mile. Nebraska’s hospitals range from the communities’ critical access to specialty hospitals and two major academic centers. Nebraska is home to four programs for Respiratory Care located in Omaha and Lincoln, but provides distance education for therapists and students throughout the state. There are about 1,300 respiratory practitioners in NE and a little over 400 are AARC members. So membership is of concern and a goal for the NSRC. There are several issues that maintain a separation between the rural and urban respiratory practitioners besides distance. The idea of a Department Showcase on the society’s web page sounded like a good idea to build bridges. Sheri Trindle, a respiratory therapist and assistant director at Mary Lanning in Hastings brought this idea and others when she joined the NSRC as the publications chair last year. “We developed the respiratory showcase to show respiratory therapists in action throughout the state of NE. We wanted to share the importance of all respiratory therapists, no matter what area of the state they work; they are all important components to the whole.” Prompted by Sheri’s proposal, we figured we could address some of the issues that maintained separation across the state. Specifically, we could:
“We respiratory therapists are a key component in healthcare and should be recognized for the job we do. The respiratory showcase is also a recruitment tool to get respiratory therapists to the website to see their organization, plus get them to look at what is new in the AARC and the NBRC” says Sheri. During the best practices presentation at the July 2008 House of Delegates, I was able to share some of the feedback that we have received since we started this process in January. It is exciting to hear about and recognize therapists that practice in areas that don’t routinely get noticed. A therapist that was a one-man department from Ord, NE was a delight to the HOD. I had met Steve Kusek at the NSRC state convention, and he relayed that it was interesting being “famous” after the Department Showcase from his hospital was placed on the internet website. He is very proud of what he was doing and we as a state society are also proud. We have heard many good things and connecting across the state was something we very much wanted to do. Department Showcase as a best practice is a good way for state societies to connect with some of their frontline therapists, and to get those not active to become involved. Their organizations are also glad of the advertising. Add a little recruitment incentive as well and organizational promotion and you have some nice benefits. The Department Showcase has been ongoing since January, and we are expecting some additional good response. As publications chair, Sheri randomly picks the proposed site, and makes the call to the department manager. Arrangements are made to tell the department’s story and generate digital pictures of the staff at work. The personal communication makes this process work. Rather than asking for volunteers, the department is asked to participate in the Department Showcase. Mike Morgan, the NSRC webmaster, has helped the NSRC professionalize its website. He has helped us present our material and information in an easy to navigate way. The slide show presented at the July House of Delegates is available, but I would recommend that you go to the Nebraska Society for Respiratory Care website and see for yourself. http://www.nsrc-online.org/. [Top] |
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Best Practices—Virginia Robin C. Wilson The Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, as an AARC chartered affiliate, was honored to be chosen to present a best practice this year at the Summer Forum. The presentation was one of many creative ideas shared with the AARC HOD in Phoenix. A snapshot of our best practice is that we elected to make a template of the various communication processes and forms to ensure they would always be available for the VSRC BOD. After development, the templates were posted to the VSRC website in a password-protected area of our website accessible by only the VSRC BOD members. The templates are updated / reviewed on a regular basis and the last revision date is noted on the form’s page. The on-line forms and templates include correspondence regarding notification of election results (announcement of winners and “thank-you-for-running”); the VSRC BOD orientation; official business cards; reimbursement of expenses; certificates of appreciation; motion / disposition forms; VSRC logo; budget worksheet; proposed bylaw change; oath of office; budget worksheet; and vendor and VSRC BOD contact lists. These templates / forms of communication were put in place to assist and complement the professional imagine of our BOD. It allowed the incoming BOD to make updates by just changing dates and plugging-in information on predesigned stationery. The form letters for those elected or appointed also included information regarding the particular office and the specific job description. As a volunteer organization, it is essential that we support our BOD and put in place items that will improve workflow and provide a consistent approach to managing the communications of our society. These forms and templates help each new VSRC BOD avoid having to start from scratch. It provides visually consistent and professional information which is relevant to the daily tasks at hand. It also provides direction to the new BOD members as to what is expected. We feel this has been very useful to our society and will be very helpful for future boards. The VSRC accepts that we have an obligation to provide mentoring and leadership training to our incoming boards. The VSRC expects that this is a “form of mentoring” - no pun intended. The VSRC is happy to share this information with you. Please feel free to contact us with any specific questions that you may have. [Top] |
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Membership Figures (as of 10/21/08)
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For Your Information Please check out the following sites: http://www.aarc.org/state_society/ http://www.aarc.org/state_society/aarc_hod/ |
