RCSW Annual Business meeting
April 28, 2009
36th Annual Pacific Northwest Regional Respiratory Care Conference and Scientific Assembly
Red Lion at the Park - Spokane, WA
Call to Order: 07:30
Roll Call:
Dennis Archer
Lisa Bennett
A quorum was present
President - Dennis Archer
President Elect – Carl Hinkson
Immediate Past President – Dennis Bing
Vice President – Earl Moore
Secretary – Lisa Bennett
Treasurer – Steve Andersen
AARC HOD Delegate - Gary Wickman
BOD 2009 - Scott Mahoney
BOD 2009 - Thomasa McCown
BOD 2010 - Sharon Linquist
BOD 2011 - Celeste Stubbs
BOD 2011 - Garth Arkell
Cascade Chapter – Ty Sauve
Central Chapter – Tom Utigard
Puget Sound Chapter – Jon Jahns
Mt Rainier Chapter – Jackie Ray
Absent/Excused
AARC HOD Delegate - Eric Anderson
BOD 2010 - Carol Benner
Eastern Chapter – Denny Duncan
Committee Members :
Webmaster Terry Smith, - present
Co-chair, Annual Program Dee Arkell - present
Program Committee, Scholarship/Education Garth Arkell , - present
Program committee, Reg Online Bill Nehring - present
AdHoc committee member Paula Nehring - present
Sleep Ad Hoc committee member Nicki Bly – present
Dr. Josh Benditt, Co-Medical Advisor-excused
Dr. Donald Howard, Co-Medical Advisor-excused
Reading & approval of Annual Business Meeting minutes 4/27/08 : Minutes were read/reviewed
silently and approved
Opening Remarks Dennis Archer Dennis recognized the program committee and thanked them for an
excellent conference, acknowledging that these are difficult economic times and the attendance has still
been good. The attendance reflects slightly different demographics with our alternating conference
sites. Advised the members of the work being done by the RCSW to get a bachelor’s program for RT and
that last year, with the help of the membership, congress passed the Pulmonary Rehab reimbursement
bill. Still outstanding and needing member support is the Medicare Part B initiative to get RTs into
alternate sites. Dennis encouraged RTs to access Capital Connection through RCSW or AARC website
and send letters to congress people.
Email and voting Thomasa McCowan Recruiting nominations for upcoming elections/officers and
board members. Please provide RCSW with current email addresses for communication purposes. This
ballot will be a mail ballot, but next year the plan is to have e-voting in place. For anyone interested in
running for a position and wanting to know what the responsibilities and expectations are, ask any of
the current officers. (editor: Our goal is to have complete job descriptions developed and available by
the end of 2009.)
Treasurer’s Report Steve Andersen For the year ending 2008, $27,272 cash on hand in savings and
checking. This is a $6400 increase over 2007. Our net revenue from our main source of income, the
annual conference was $15K, reflecting good management on the part of our program committee. We
paid out $6K for our legislative efforts, $3500 in scholarships and grants, $970 to Webmaster but the job
site provided $770 income for a net of $200 for the Website which has been praised by AARC, ATC, and
others as one of the best. Thanks to Terry Smith for his good work.
Membership Earl Moore Earl has BIG PLANS. Reminder to members that we get reimbursed a portion
of your AARC dues for our general fund. Look for membership recruiting activities to come.
Program Dee Arkell The conference this year has met all of its goals. Vendors filled the exhibit area to
overflowing, and the attendance exceeded the goal of 300. We have 80 students, who are our leaders
of tomorrow. All of the activities work together to make the conference what it is, the education, the
vendors information and the fun.
Scholarship/Continuing Ed Garth Arkell 12 papers were submitted for the scholarship program
representing all four RT schools. Winners were: Jennifer Oneall $500 Spokane Community College;
LeAnn Garcia $1500 Spokane Community College; and Jennifer Clark $1500 Seattle Central Community
College. The 3 top papers were very close in voting responses, so the BOD voted to approve an
additional $500 scholarship for the 3rd place winner.
Communications/Webmaster Terry Smith Terry has had the web page up since 1990 and continues to
improve it. Terry will have the conference presentations, in PDF format, posted on the website by May
3. Remember to market the jobsite as an economical job posting for any institution. Cost is $110 for 30
days. RCSW gets 40% of that amount. Top access for the website 1million hits for the CEU page and
about 1million for the conference presentations. Notify Terry of any broken links. If any educational
activity is available, notify Terry to have it posted on the website. ATS and WTS have links from the
website.
Chapter Affairs Dennis Bing Dennis is committed to visiting all chapter meetings. Notify him of dates,
and he will bring, as available, either Carl or Gary for legislative contacts and Dennis Archer as
available. Dennis is the liaison for chapter presidents.
Eastern Chapter Dennis Archer for Denny Duncan Planning a fall meeting on Ped/Neonatal issues and a
fun even, maybe bowling.
Puget Sound Chapter Jon Johns 2008 Annual Critical Care conference with Margaret Neff as
speaker. Also, getting a groundswell with Bob Bonner and others to take to Olympia on some issues
affecting Respiratory Care practice.
Cascade Chapter Ty Sauve 2008 - Bipap workshop with RT/CCU nurses. Plan 2-3 miniconferences. June on OSA treatment and equipment, one on CO2 monitoring. Watch the RCSW website
for information.
Mt Rainier Chapter Jackie Ray 2008, conference in Silverdale work 5-6 CEUs well attended. Plans to
focus on building membership over coming year.
Central Chapter Tom Utigard 2009 One day meeting end of July with physician speaking. Info will be
forthcoming.
Legislative Gary Wickman Gary and Carl Hinckson attended the PACT meeting in D.C. working on the
Medicare Part B bachelors’ degree for reimbursement in alternate sites. Current 435 Activation to have
members ask their legislators to support funding $1million for CDC to study COPD, the #4 leading cause
of death in this country. May 1 is deadline to get legislators to sign on to the bill.
On the Washington State level, changes at the DOH in organization and personnel. RCSW is there to
help clarify scope of practice issues, question increase in licensure rates and remain available to answer
any questions. Currently there are approx 2500 practicing RTs in the state, with approx 900 members of
the RCSW. This is less than 30% of our profession and, to be a stronger voice, we need to have greater
% of membership.
Delegate Gary Wickman Gary is head of the “Chartered Affiliate Committee”, of which we are one. This
committee awards “Summitt Award” to the affiliate that does the most to support its members and the
profession. The HOD meets twice a year at the Summer Forum and at the yearly congress. The
delegates are the liaison with membership to the AARC about any issues. Contact Gary or Eric Anderson
about any issues you want them to present.
Strategic Planning Carl Hinkson Goal of RCSW is to get a 4-yr bachelor’s degree program. U of W
(Tacoma) is developing a program in Health Care leadership and are interested in providing an RT track
for this. Despite the economy, this is still a viable program but is a multi-year effort to achieve our
goal. Currently there are on-line bachelors programs.
Sleep Nicki Bly There are some growing concerns about sleep in health care. We are watching the
development of rules with regard to RTs in the sleep lab and the RPSGT credentialing. There are issues
with CPAP and O2 titration. A program has been developed in WA state offering an Assoc degree in
Sleep. Nicki will be attending the Focus conference for more information and networking.
Flaming Carinas from Highline Community College won the sputum bowl.
07:20 Meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Bennett, Secretary
Minutes review and accepted as written by RCSW Annual Business Meeting, 04/17/2010