NEW MEXICO SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Annual Business Meeting
April 18, 2009
ADDRESS BY ROGER MOORE, MD, PRESIDENT OF ASA
Dr. Moore’s talk was succinct, to the point and well received. He talked about health care reform and ASA’s support of universal healthcare. He strongly suggested that all anesthesiologists need to involve themselves with the legislative process. The scope of practice issue with the CRNAs is becoming more and more critical. Anesthesiologists must contribute to the ASA PAC and/or the AMA PAC and get personally involved in campaigns of both their state and national legislators.
The Business Meeting was called to order by Dr. Philip Owen at 12:34 pm.
MINUTES
The minutes from the April 12, 2008 meeting were approved as read.
FINANCIAL REPORT:
A. Membership and Financial Report:
Membership Report: there are 225 members: 154 Active 32 residents, 5 affiliate, 31 retired and 4 AA’s.
There are 5 new members since the last annual meeting, all active.
The balance in the checkbook is $24,470 and in the PAC fund the balance is $3,434.12. Income from April 1, 2008 to April 17, 2009 was $21,977.50. Expenses were $38,993.98 with a net loss of $18,016.48.
B. Dues:
For the first time in memory, a Budget for the year was set up. After looking at the financial report for last year and the current year budget, a motion was made and seconded for a dues raise of $50 making the dues for Active members $200 a year. Affiliate members and AAs pay half that amount. The Board approved the motion.
The annual meeting has lost roughly $7,000 to $8,000 each of the last two years. Much of this is due to decreased sponsorship. Legal and lobbying fees have been high, administrative billings have increased and the web site is not free. However, 45% of the annual expenses are from the annual meeting.
This year, for the first time in several years, a resident who could attend the Leadership and Legislative day in Washington DC was not found.
The Budget does include some outreach – NMSA still supports the Regional Science Fair and sends awards to the 1st Place through 3rd place winners and the teacher of the 1st Place winner. Contributions to FAER and APSF are being considered as NMSA has supported those organizations in the past.
C. NMSA PAC ACCOUNT
There is a bank account for the NMSA PAC that holds contributions for several years. A PAC was never properly set up and this would be a very expensive and time consuming process. Both NMMS and ASA have well established PACs and are willing to help with legislative issues. The Board approved a motion that this account will be closed and the money folded into the operating account. It cannot be sent to the ASA PAC because there are severe restrictions on donations to PACs by organizations. Everyone was encouraged to contribute to the ASA PAC and/ or NEMPAC.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Legal/Lobbyist Report –
To allow time for the address by Dr. Moore, it was suggested that John Anderson submit his report in written form only and that report is attached to these minutes.
B. NMSA Website –
The person who supported the web site for NMSA no longer wishes to do this. A knowledgeable person is needed to take it over. No one volunteered.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Resident Support for ASA Meetings
In the recent past, NMSA has supported a resident to go to Leadership Day and the ASA Annual Meeting for up to $1000. each meeting. It was moved and seconded that NMSA continue this support with the stipulation that the Resident so supported come to the NMSA Annual Meeting and give a report to the membership. The motion was approved with one opposed.
B. BATCAVE – John Rask, MD
Dr. Rask is applying for an endorsement by ASA as a recommended center for CME education. He needs to document simulation training provided to community doctors to send to ASA. He has a flyer which he handed out and it was requested that he send the flyer to Sally electronically so she can send it out to the membership.
The ACLS is set up for tomorrow morning is the BATCAVE. It is located in the basement of the UNM Cancer Center.
ELECTIONS:
A. DELEGATES – 2 – Three Year Term – Board Member
Nominated by the Board were Ruth Burstrom MD and John Rask MD. There were no nominations from the floor. Ballots were handed out and both were elected without opposition.
B.- ALTERNATE DELEGATES – One Year Term – One Year Term
Nominated by the Board were Margaret Charsley MD and James Scott MD.
There were no nominations from the floor. Ballots were handed out and both were elected without opposition.
It was noted that rather than being staggered as in the past, both delegates were elected in the same year. This occurred because the person elected for the second slot last year was unable to fill the office, so there was only one delegate in actuality last year. The Board was asked to remedy this situation.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS:
Through the efforts of Dr. Siegel, finger printing and notarizing for the renewal of medical licenses is being offered at no charge to members at this meeting. The membership thanked him.
AAs in New Mexico
There was considerable discussion about the soon to come efforts of the AAs to expand their area of practice to cover the entire state, not just UNM. There will be considerable opposition from the CRNAs. Dr. Moore commented that the AAs have ASA’s full support – out of 1000 total AAs in the country, 700 are members of ASA. It was recommended to have an anesthesiologist on the Medical Board to get them to go along with proposed legislation. Dr. Moore said that NMSA needs to support the AAs in their efforts.
It was moved and seconded that the next time the AA expansion of practice bill comes up that NMSA will support it and them. The motion was approved. Dr. Moore suggested that when the time comes that NMSA ask for support from ASA and AAAA.
The meeting adjourned at 1:22 pm.