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National TS Council Representative Report
March 5, 2008

Mid-Winter Meeting SNMTS in Newport Beach Ca.

A. Called to order on February 15, 2008 at 0800
B. Quorum was established and standing orders reviewed
C. Introductions were fulfilled and review of confidentiality Policy

D. Approval of last meeting minutes were table until prior meetings minutes could be reviewed and approved. Which was done short time later
E. NCOR Speaker Report: David Perry
1. Not much was mentioned but he took on a new position as the Executive Director for the NMTCB
2. This was his last term as Speaker
F. A new Speaker was voted in, Cindi Luckett-Gilbert
G. SNMTS President Report: David Gilmore

    1. New programs being develop to establish training for new and current Technologists
    2. CT as well as MR training needs to be available to keep all technologists current with present and upcoming technology.
    3. SNMTS approved a professional entry-level curriculum and need to work out details of when and how to transition certificate and junior colleges.
    4. Increase in outreach efforts by creating presentations to use at chapter and local levels
    5. Advance practice name has been change to " Nuclear Medicine Advance Associate." ACR has been allowed to give comments until March 1, 2008
        if there are no comments, it will become the official name.
    6. Met with European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) in October. They have some of the same issues with educating and retaining technologists.
        SNMTS and the EANM have co-sponsored sessions and will both participate in Tech Tips. Which is a series of books that serve as a procedure
        guideline quick reference.
    7. Five new technologists award categories were approved for travel expense for oral presentations at annual meeting.
    8. SNMTS voted to extend free trial up to 24 months for students. Allow students free registration and encourage non-nuclear imaging professionals to
        join the society.
H. SNMTS President- Elect Report: Mark Wallenmeyer
    1. Attended variety of meetings over the last 5 months.
    2. Was asked to speak at many more chapter meeting.
    3. Continuing efforts to get Care Bill passed.
    4. Formation of a leadership academy which will include chapters
    5. 99% filled on all committee chairs for 2008-2009.
I. SNM Chief Executive Officer: Virginia Pappas
    1. We continued to be the forefront of new and innovative educational opportunities.
    2. SNM released new cases within the LLSAP modules on line
        a. 50 CT interactive cases
        b. 100 PET/CT interactive cases
        c. Cardiovascular SPECT and PET
        d. Diagnostic CT cases
        e. Radiopharmaceutical therapy for bone pain
        f. Sentinel node imaging
        g. Radioimmunotherapy of lymphoma
        h. Breast cancer and melanoma, ECT
    3. SNM Communication Department and Publication Committee are working to develop an English/Spanish guide to nuclear medicine
    4. SNM SmartBriefs was launched January14,2008 to members through email giving a summary of important news that effects nuclear medicine
    5. Record pre-registration at the Mid-Winter meeting compared to last year
    6. Annual Meeting will be in New Orleans, LA June 14-18 with a joint session with the European Society
    7. SNM was named in the " 25 Most Influential" mover and shakers in Radiology this past September.
J. Chief Operating Officer Report: Mike Nelson
    1. A 5year strategic plan was approved in June 2007 with exciting programs and goals to improve leadership and educational programs
    2. Technologist membership is steadily increasing and is up 13 %
    3. The retention rate is 90 %
    4. Develop an online renewal so technologist can renew instantaneously.
    5. Next mid-winter meeting will be at the Hilton in Clearwater FL Feb5-8
K. ARRT Report: Jerry Reid
    1. RRA currently has 65 technologists that have passed the board
    2. The RRA certification is time limited for 10 yrs. At that time you may need to retested or require certain recertification's to be taken
    3. There is discussion about changing some requirements for taking the CT exam as well as the MR exam for Nuclear Medicine/ PET staff that do not see
        all required scans needed to take exam at this time.
        a. There are currently 58 nuclear medicine technologist certified in CT
        b. There are currently 24 nuclear medicine technologist certified in MR
    4. There is collaboration between NMTCB and ARRT in the development of Advance Nuclear Medicine certification exam
    5. There is also collaboration in the development for the Advance Sonographer certification exam
    6. ARRT donated 500,000 dollars to the Royce Osborn Minority Scholarship
    7. Technologist taking exams in 2011 will be getting time limited certificate for 10 yrs only.
    8. No steps for a PET/Mammography exam.
L. ERF Report: Robert Carretta & Nancy Burchell
    1. Contributions to the ERF totaled $49,819
    2. The total gifts awarded by ERF $56,749
    3. The ERF has spent about $7,000 more than it gets in. At this rate the surplus buffer will be completely used in 2-3 years. The ERF is asking
       every one to donate what they can so there will be scholarship money and educational money in the future.
M. JRCNMT Report: Jan Winn
N. NMTCB Report: April Mann Could not make meeting report given by Scott Holbrook
    1. There is an 87% passing rate for the NMTCB
    2. There was a 62.9 % pass rate for the NCT
    3. There was a 59.8 % pass rate for the PET
    4. NCT test is now on demand and can be taken on line with in 6 month of application to the exam
    5. Dues are changed to certificate's birth date.
O. Molecular Imaging Campaign: Peter Conti
    1. Corporate gifts and pledges total $4,181,000
    2. Individual gifts and pledges total $136,241
    3. The goal was $5,000,000 which we have almost met ahead of scheduled date
    4. New PR group that will help expand public awareness and understanding of Molecular imaging.
    5. Full day molecular imaging categorical and national meeting. Speaker bureau available for the meetings
    6. The curriculum for Physicians and advance practice is set.
    7. Reaching out to other organizations to have joint meetings or CE credits for all.
P. PDEF Report: Elpida Crawford
    1. Approval of a new brochure highlighting PDEF sponsorship opportunities.
    2. They awarded four Mickey Williams Minority Scholarships($5,000), 3 one year award and 1 two year award
    3. Working with various committees to put forth fundable projects.
Q. Nominating Committee Report : Scott Holbrook
R. Advocacy Committee: Cindi Luckett-Gilbert
    1. Need to grow the SHPL program to enhance grassroots efforts
    2. Prepare to have different resources to educate public and members of upcoming issues.
    3. Need to have at least one representative from each state,
    4. Improve communication with Chapters and NCD's
    5. Successful advocating assisted in the $17.5 million restoration of the DOE
    6. USP-797 will come into effect in June 2008. This will have a major impact on nuclear pharmacies and hot labs.
S. Committee on Education: Kathy Thomas
    1. Working and planning on review courses for Nuclear Cardiology and PET
    2. Ensure educational activities meet regulatory, legislative credentialing
    3. Ensure continuing education will meet all relevant audience
T. Chapter Reports: There 4 issues that seemed to repeat through all the Chapters.
       We discussed one for extended time and two briefly and one not at all.
    1. Leadership Issues was discussed briefly and some ideas were discussed
        a. To have a booth to encourage non-members to join by showing them the benefits
        b. To have more leadership programs and Jamborees
        c. To have an internship type of program.
        d. There is no sure fire way to encourage up and coming leaders
    2. Financial Support Issues were discussed for an extended amount of time
        a. The National Chapter discussed that they also are having trouble with corporate sponsorships to the meeting
        b. They also said that the programs need to benefit the company
        c. NE Chapter and others started giving awards cash and/or trophies to students who submit posters
        d. We are giving two $500 scholarships for a student to attend
        e. A task force of the Chapters will look at how to improve this
    3. National and Chapter Relationship was discussed briefly
        a. National is striving hard to improve its communication and hopefully once they are fully staff
        b. They started a community email for all NCR
        c. They are going to try to post all committee meeting notes on the web site
    4. Training and Licensure issues was discussed in prior Reports
U. Old Business: None
V. New Business: There was a long extended discussion on a proposal that was approved in the Board of Directors Meeting.
    1. Proposal " That any employed Committee or staff can not be a voting member of the Board of Directors."
    2. It was discussed heavily both for and against the ruling
    3. The NCR voted in a tight vote to decline that ruling and have it revisited.

Submitted by David Blea, CNMT


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