SDSLHA MEMBERSHIP FORUM AND BUSINESS MEETING  NOTES

 

Friday, April 22, 2005

 

Old Business:

Call to Order – Anne Degen, President 12:25 pm.

 

Anne D. introduced the current  SDSLHA Executive Council members and Committee Chairs.    

 

Terri Kussart the current Secretary addressed the association and directed them to a copy of last year’s  2004 Business Meeting minutes on their tables.  A request for corrections was requested, however none were needed.  Minutes were approved by Jennifer  / Kirsten Timmer 2nds.

 

Cheryl Munkvold our Treasurer  reported our budget for this year.  Our budget was approved by….. /                2nds.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Committee on Publication – Penny Walker, Editor:  Penny talked about the Web Site and Newsletter.  She asked if there were any concerns or requests to please get with her.  Also, if you change your e-mail address, please notify Penny so she can change it in the database.

 

ASHA Legislative Council – Ruth Samuelsen, Legislative Councilor:  Ruth reported that the  issued with KAHAVA will be discussed at the round table.  She discussed ASHA strategies and priorities that will be set for the fall 2005

Convention in San Diego, CA. 

She also reported that ASHA is redoing the ASHA web site. 

Ruth reported that we have only one representative from our state of SD because of our speech therapist population.  We have a total of 311 ASHA members.  In the future we will an audiologist and speech therapist to represent us in ASHA.   She discussed the future trends facing our speech therapists; such as aging of Americans, changes in the schools and changes in reimbursement.

Ruth reported that ASHA reviews l/3 of ASHA programs each year…deciding whether to give more or less funding.   These programs and what type of funding they will be given will be coming out in the ASHA Leader. 

Ruth had a survey of 19 respondents from her survey.  She reported  from the survey it was found that the main issues that the SLP’s of South Dakota were concerned about were:

#1.  issue of salaries.

#2.  evidence based practice

#3.  caseload work load

#4.  and reimbursement issues.

 Miscellaneous information that she passed our way;

#1.  ASHA convention for 2005 will be in San Diego CA.  She encouraged all to

       come and attend.  In 2006 it will be in Miami FL.

#2.  There were lots of questions about continuing education. ASHA is supporting

       and lobbying for Teacher Recruitment Act of 2005.  Which is a plan for

       student loan forgiveness if you work in a Title l school for five years.

#3.  House Bill 414; Representative Jim Ryan …who is a friend of audiology to

       get a tax credit of $500.

#4.  Medicare Out Patient therapy Cap:  ASHA still fighting to get rid of it.

 

Basically in the state legislation at this …there isn’t more going on for speech and hearing. 

 

Membership Committee – Bobbi Brink, Membership Chair.  Bobbi announced that there are 218 members for this year.  This number is up 20 from last year. 

We have 256 members registered for this years convention. J 

Bobbi discussed the by laws about life time membership.  We want to honor those who are eligible.  At this time we have ten active members.    Penny also discussed that she has a section in the Newsletter…called “Bright Ideas”.  It is here you will find great ways to get new ideas for therapy or products. 

 

Scholarship Committee – Jane Clem, Scholarship Chair.  The committee stayed the same. 
For the two $500 Scholarships:  They were given to:

  1. Laura Green from Augustana  College with a 3.8 GPA working on her

           Master’s

  1. Auriel Smith from USD  with a 3.8 working on her Master’s.

 

Continuing Education – Shelly Grinde, CEB Administrator:   Shelly and Julie Carol announced that there will be 5 to 6 courses coming this year with ASHA approval.  It was announced that a course called “Returning to Life the Functional Way.”  Will be held on May 7, 2005 at Sioux Valley Hospital. 

Shelly also reminded the audience that if they are here attending the convention

to be sure to fill out both sides of the CEU form and return it back to the table. 

 

ASHA State Education Advocacy Leader -Linda Ingerson, Representative:  Linda referred the audience at the convention to the round table discussion about salary supplement and teacher certification.  If anyone worked in the school system they were given a survey and asked to please return it in the designated box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASHA State Advocates for Reimbursement – Julianne Decker and Todd Decker, Representatives:  Both of these representatives discussed what was recently occurring in the area of reimbursement.  Julieanne reported to the audience  about how Blue Cross Blue Shield is currently not accepting billing under the cognition code and explained that ASHA has recommended a specific code to allow for that billing until this issues is taken care of.   Todd also explained that a recent bill was passed that will no longer require a physican referral for an audiologist to see a patient.  Todd also explained that this new development will also affect speech therapists in the future too. 

 

Awards – Shirley Hauge, Past President:  Shirley announced honored Judy Flanigan , who is retiring from USD of 30 years.

 

Shirley also announced an honorary mention to Nicole Rice who  had returned to us from Iraq in April of 2004.

 

ACE Award Recipients – Anne Degen, President:  Anne gave awards to Shirley Albright and Melissa Hubb. 

 

Other Awards given:

 

Louise M. DiCarlo Award :  Brittany Schmidt

 

Volunteer Award:  Dorothy Drior and Jennifer Schultz.

 

Distinguished Service Award:  Bonnie Christensen and Bridget Stone from the Birth to Three Program in Rapid City, SD.

 

The Honor of the Association:  Candice Lee

 

Anne  gave a going away gift to our Past President Shirley Hauge.

Bobbi Brink was given an honor for doing an outstanding job as Membership Chair.

 

Anne D. also announced that we will be loosing our financial expert, Cheryl Munkvold.  She has been our Treasurer for the last 7 years.  And we are loosing Paul Bruegemann.  He is retiring with a new baby and has just received his Doctorate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Business:

Governor’s Proclamation – May 2005 is Better Hearing & Speech Month

 

By-laws Changes – Shirley Hauge and Candice Lee announced that the by laws have been sent in the mail and are to be reviewed by the members and voted upon.  We wanted to make sure that the by laws reflect what we actually do. 

A motion was made to approve all the 15 changes by Ruth Samuleson/ Dan   ?  2nds’.

 

Reinstatement Opportunity for Past CCC Holders – Anne Degen

 

Rolland J. Van Hattum Award Call for Nominations – Anne Degen

 

Jennifer   discussed some changes at the State Department for renewing

 teacher certification.   An approach to the board of education is going to be made so we can use 9 CEU”s  to renew the certification.

 

Nominations for 2006 Executive Council Positions – Shirley Hauge 

Julie Carl was introduced as our President Elect. for the coming term.

Shirley Albright was nominated for Vice President of Audiology.

Treasurer:  None at this time.

Bobbi Brink will stay for Membership  Chair. 

 

A call for nominations for the other offices were made. 

 

2006 SDSLHA Convention – Julie Carl, President-Elect  Julie announced that the

dates for next years speech and hearing  convention will be April 20 to 22  2006 here at the Ramkota Inn. 

 

Other Business:  Kara Stain won a free registration for our speech convention for next year. 

 

Shirley Hauge motion for the meeting to be adjourned /Cheryl Munkvold 2nds.

Meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm.