LABORATORY NEWS. President s Letter. The newsletter of the Minnesota State Society of American Medical Technologists IN THIS ISSUE...

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1 VOLUME ISSUE SPRING 2016 Photo taken by Bobak Ha Eri LABORATORY NEWS The newsletter of the Minnesota State Society of American Medical Technologists President s Letter BEING PART OF the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and our state society, AMT-Minnesota, continues to be a truly valuable experience. Our organization promotes the value of our profession in the provision of quality healthcare. The opportunity to actively support our profession, and our members, has led me on a journey of learning and service. NILAM PATEL, PRESIDENT The 2016 Collaborative Laboratory Conference recently took place at the Earl Brown Center in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. This conference provided educational sessions to choose from, in addition to opportunities to network with other professionals and meet with many vendors. We ve included some photos on page 3. The 78th Educational Program and National Meeting will be held in Memphis Tennessee, July 17 July 21, 2016, at The Peabody Memphis. I hope all who plan on attending have watched their or visited the AMT website and taken advantage of the reduced registration fees. Please make your reservation early at the Peabody Hotel. This is going to be an awesome 1 continued on page 3 IN THIS ISSUE... President s Letter 1 Great Lakes District Convention 2 Collaborative Laboratory Conference Photos 3 Bylaws & Upcoming Vote 3 Councillor s Message 6 Upcoming Events 6 MN AMT Leadership 6

2 Great Lakes District Convention October 6-8, 2016 Bavarian Inn Frankenmuth, Michigan Looking for fun activities to enjoy in Frankenmuth? Frankenmuth definitely delivers! Frankenmuth is the home of Bronner s, the world s largest Christmas store, and two of the largest independently owned restaurants in the country the Bavarian Inn and Zehnder s that serve world-famous chicken dinners. The fun continues with the best indoor waterparks in Michigan, arcades, riverboat cruises, zip-line adventures, aqua cycles, petting farms, and so much more. While you are there you will experience the sights while all the foliage is in bright yellow and orange hues. A beautiful place to earn continuing education credits! View registration forms, pricing, and details on continuing education via the AMT website Select "About Us" on the left-hand side and then select "State Societies." You then can select any state website in the Great Lakes District (i.e Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana). There will be top-notch speakers with current and up-to-date information! All convention sessions will be held at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. Area hotels can be booked directly using the information below. Hotel Reservations Rooms can be booked at any of the following hotels... They are all within walking distance of the meeting location. Please BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM EARLY! We will not have any rooms blocked off at any of the hotels! Drury Inn & Suites Frankenmuth 260 South Main Frankenmuth, MI (989) Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott 430 South Main Frankenmuth, MI (989) Marriott Madison West 530 South Main Frankenmuth, MI (989) For additional information contact: Sieglinde Wilde at (810) or 2

3 Scenes from the Clinical Collaborative Meeting, April 25-27, Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Minnesota State Society of American Medical Technologists Bylaws By-laws will be voted on at the fall meeting this year. PREAMBLE This organization shall be known as the Minnesota State Society of the American Medical Technologists (AMT). It shall be an unincorporated constituent state society of AMT, which is organized as a not-for-profit corporation. The society s purposes shall be to advance the mission and principles of AMT at the State level, to advance the standards and advocate the professional interests of its member certificants, and to promote educational and social advantages and functions for its members. ARTICLE I: MEMBERS All members in good standing of AMT residing in this state holding any class of membership in AMT shall be members of the same class of this society. The voting members of this society shall be the members whose current AMT dues are paid. This society may accord affiliate membership to a person, and provide for dues for such persons, pursuant to guidelines established by the AMT Board of Directors but such members may not vote or hold office. 3 ARTICLE II: DUES 1. The annual state society membership renewal fees for AMT members are included with AMT annual dues. State dues are refunded to the State Society by AMT. The State Society shall not assess its members for dues in addition to the amount refunded by AMT. 2. The society s use and expenditure of dues received by rebate from AMT shall be subject to such National regulations and policies as may be prescribed under Article VII, Section 2 of the AMT National Bylaws. All dues and other revenues of this society shall be used only for the purposes of this society and no part of such revenues shall be used for the private benefit of any member. ARTICLE III: MEETINGS 1. There shall be at least one meeting of the membership each calendar year, held at a place and time determined by the Board of Directors. 2. Meeting notices shall be sent by regular or electronic mail to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. 3. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the President or the Board of Directors. All State Society members shall be notified by regular or electronic mail fourteen (14) days in advance of the meeting. continued on page 4

4 4. The society may schedule business and board meetings out of state in conjunction with a joint meeting or regional meeting. All such meetings are subject to the required notification criteria. 5. The society may conduct official business by way of electronic communication which may include, but is not limited to, telephone conferencing, electronic mail ( ), web meetings via the Internet, or any other reliable method of electronic communication. The Board of Directors will determine the manner in which meetings will be conducted, which may include both in-person and electronic participation simultaneously. All such meetings are subject to the required notification criteria. 6. Whenever the society conducts meetings by electronic means (either exclusively or in conjunction with an in-person meeting), it shall establish a system to account for participants who attend via electronic means. The system shall allow for official business to be conducted electronically including attendance verification, presentation and discussion of resolutions, voting, and other items of business. ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 1. The officers of this society shall include a President, Vice President/President-elect, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board of Directors may combine the offices of Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall have the duties and powers usually exercised and held by such officers in associations of this type and such as shall be given them by AMT and the Board of Directors of this society. 2. The President, and Vice-President/President-elect shall have been a member in good standing of AMT for at least two years prior to taking office. The other officers shall have been members in good standing of AMT for at least one year prior to taking office. 3. The officers shall be elected by majority vote at the annual business meeting every other year. 4. All officers shall be elected for a two year term, which term shall begin immediately upon adjournment of the annual business meeting in which elections were held. 5. The Board of Directors shall plan, manage, and conduct all business affairs of this society in accordance with established AMT policy. 6. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of this society, the editor of the state society publications, and at least two at-large directors. continued from page 3 7. The at-large directors shall have been members in good standing of AMT for at least one year prior to their election, and shall be elected for a two-year term by a majority vote every other year at the annual business meeting. The editor shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board. 8. In the event of vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President/President-elect shall succeed to the presidency. Any other vacancies of Board members, including elective officers, shall be filled by presidential appointment with approval of the Board of Directors. Should any director be absent from two consecutive Board meetings (either regular or special) without valid cause in the opinion of the Board, or be guilty of acts or omissions detrimental to the best interest of the Society and/or AMT, his office may be declared vacant on the vote of the majority of the Board. 9. At least two regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in each calendar year; such meetings may be held in conjunction with the meetings of the membership, and shall be preceded by at least 30 days notice to the Board members via regular or electronic mail. The Board of Directors shall conduct special meetings at the call of the President, or any three directors, on ten days notice by regular or electronic mail. When it is impractical to meet in person, special meetings may be held by teleconference. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for any regular or special meeting. 10. The Nominating Committee shall prepare and submit a slate of candidates for election at each annual business meeting at which an election of officers and/or at-large directors will occur. Candidates selected by the Nominating Committee shall be automatically placed in nomination at the business meeting. Additional nominations shall be open to the floor. ARTICLE V: DELEGATES 1. Representation. The society shall be entitled to representation at the AMT Annual Business Meeting by membership class. The quota of delegates from each membership class shall be determined by the number of such members in good standing residing within the jurisdictional boundaries of the society in accordance with Article IV, Section 2 of the AMT National Bylaws. 2. Qualifications. a. All delegates (primary and alternates) shall have 4

5 attended, within the past year, at least one business meeting of the society prior to the AMT Annual Business Meeting. Delegates must be AMT members in good standing and be duly elected at the state meeting to represent the society. b. Members in good standing of the Society who attend the AMT Annual Business Meeting but have not met all of the qualifications in subsection (a) above may nevertheless be seated as delegates at the Annual Business Meeting if the society is unable to fill its delegate quota from members duly elected. Members seated as delegates who have not met all the requirements set forth in (a) above shall not be eligible for the Assistor Fee provided for in item (d) of this Article. c. Responsibilities. Delegates shall fulfill all of their responsibilities as defined in the AMT State Officers Manual. In addition, a written report by the delegates is to be submitted to the President thirty days after the close of the AMT Annual Business Meeting. d. Assistor Fee. If the society s funds allow, delegates who meet the qualifications set forth above and who fulfill all of their responsibilities as defined in the AMT State Officers Manual shall be given an assistor fee. The society s Board shall determine the amount of the assistor fee subject to such guidelines as may be established in the AMT State Officers Manual. ARTICLE VI: PUBLICATIONS The society shall publish an official society publication at least [twice] annually and shall send a copy of the publication (or a notice that said publication has been posted on the society s website) by electronic or regular mail to all AMT members in good standing residing in Minnesota in accordance with the AMT Bylaws and any publication policies prescribed by the AMT Board or Council. ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES 1. The standing committees of this society may consist of: a. Membership Committee b. Scientific Committee c. Publicity Committee d. Publications Committees e. Proctoring Committee f. Legislative Committee g. Auditing Committee h. Nominating Committee i. Such other committees as the Board may from time to time create to facilitate the proper functioning of this society. 2. The President shall appoint the members of all standing committees subject to the Board s approval. The functions and responsibilities of each committee shall be as described in the current version of the AMT State Officer s Manual, or in the absence of such a description, as described in the resolution of the society s Board of Directors creating such committee. 3. In addition to standing committees, the President, with Board approval, may appoint such ad hoc committees as may be deemed necessary or desirable to address specific matters that may arise from time to time. ARTICLE VIII: LAW OF THE SOCIETY 1. The rules contained in the most current edition of Robert s Rules of Order, shall govern the society unless the Robert s Rules are in conflict with these bylaws or AMT directives. 2. The society shall in all things be governed by the bylaws, policies, and directives of AMT. ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS The bylaws may be amended only by a vote of twothirds of the members in good standing present at a duly called state society meeting, provided that all members are given thirty (30) days notice of the proposed amendments, and provided that the amendments have received prior approval by the AMT Judiciary Councillor. ADOPTION CLAUSE These bylaws were adopted by a two-third vote of the members of the Minnesota State Society of the American Technologists present at a duly called and held meeting of such state society in xxxxxxxxxxx, Minnesota on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. APPROVED: Kimberly Cheuvront Judiciary Councillor Kimberly Cheuvront, MT PhD Date Approved : xxxxxxxxxxx 5

6 Councillor s Message HAPPY SPRING! I truly hope that 2016 is going great so far. We have some great news to share regarding our 78 th AMT Educational Program and National Meeting that will be CLARA BOYKIN, COUNCILLOR in Memphis, Tennessee, July 17-21, 2016, at the Peabody Hotel. The program is online at Choose AMT Meetings under the Be Involved tab. Workshops will be held on Sunday, July 17, It s not too early to plan for next year s event! The location for the 2017 Convention will be in Kansas City, Missouri, July 9 13, 2017, at the Intercontinental Hotel. There will be a new program format in More information will follow. With all the focus on continuing education, please remember the Certification Continuation Program (CCP) cycle and also AMTrax, a member service designed to help you track your continuing education and other related activities online. Keeping accurate records of your continuing education is crucial in the event that you are audited. We are told that about 10 percent of the membership gets audited. A member was recently decertified because they were unable to prove the continuing education they had taken. Please stay on top of this important matter. Last but not least, another great opportunity to earn continuing education credits is coming up! Mark your calendars for the Great Lakes District Convention, October 6 8, 2016, in Frankenmuth, Michigan. We will have a social event on Thursday evening. Our educational classes will last all day on Friday and continue for a half day on Saturday. More about this event can be found on page 2. Please join us! In closing, please continue to support your state officers, and attend the spring meetings that some of you will be having soon. Clara Boykin, MT, (cell) MINNESOTA STATE SOCIETY LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT/LEGISLATIVE CHAIR & EDITOR Nilam Patel, MT nilam.patelmn@yahoo.com VICE PRESIDENT Open SECRETARY/TREASURER & GREAT LAKES DISTRICT COUNCILLOR Clara Boykin, MT 1023 Dayton Ave. St. Paul, MN claraboykin1023@msn.com JOB INFORMATION/ NLW&NMAW Open BOARD MEMBERS Heather Herring, MT, RMA Edith Tefft, MT Lesa Elliot, RMA UPCOMING EVENTS 78th AMT Educational Program and National Meeting JULY 17 21, 2016 Memphis, Tennessee MN - AMT Fall Meeting SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 More info soon! President s Letter from page 1 opportunity to gather those valuable CEUs and get re-acquainted with old friends. All the information about the convention is on the AMT website. Our organization is nothing without the support of our members. Regards, Nilam Patel, MT, nilam.patelmn@yahoo.com 6 Great Lakes District Convention OCTOBER 6 8, 2016 Frankenmuth, Michigan Convention JULY 9 13, 2017 Kansas City, Missouri