Minutes

Present: Lynn Sabo, Ted Rubel, Myrellen Merry, Ellie Zimmer, Janet Bingales, Carrie Niler, Steve Wozniak, Kathleen Jones, Abbie Brody, Bekki Bock, Susan Dahl, Steven Kantor, Ann Marie Alessi, Ronald Detres

Absent: Joe Giardina, Preeti Madan, Marc Fischer, Arkady Naginsky, Bill Weber, Maggie Doonan, Reggie Jennings

With the above individuals present there was a quorum, the meeting was called to order by Lynn Sabo at 9:30 a.m.

Opening Remarks: Lynn Sabo

Lynn Sabo welcomed everyone and had everyone introduce themselves.

Secretary’s Report: Carrie Niler

Copies of the minutes from the last council meeting of June 2005 were distributed to everyone for review. Upon review, Sue Dahl motioned to accept the council minutes. Ted Rubel seconded the motion. All voted and the minutes were accepted. The business minutes will be reviewed at the next business meeting.

Treasure’s Report: Preeti Madan

Preeti couldn’t make the meeting but copies were distributed for all to review. Ted motion to accept the minutes with Janet seconding that motion. All voted and accepted the treasurer’s report.

National Council Delegate Report: Ted Rubel

Major topics discussed at the National council were:

1- Advanced Practice - a survey of physicians in the field generated generally positive responses . Working on a curriculum and accreditation are the next steps and the time frame will be about one year. It will be a masters program only and as information becomes available it will be published in the JNMT.

2- On the PET/CT front, it has been agreed that for non-NMT's, the requirements to sit for the PET exam will require a minimum of performing 500 procedures or 2700 hours of documented clinical practice and 45 hours of didactic instruction.

3- The CARE act is still getting support amongst lawmakers, and continued help from everyone in Nuclear Medicine to get their Senators or Representatives to support the bill is needed.

4- The SNM web site is undergoing further revision, after input from the council members.

5- New SNMT President is Valerie Cronin, and the new President-Elect is Scott Holbrook.

6- The white paper on entry level requirements becoming a minimum of a 4 year degree was approved. It will take approximately 10 years to implement and would grandfather anyone prior to implementation. One major factor in approving this was that the federal government does not recognize any group as professional without a four year degree. It was also agreed that only Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologists perform Nuclear Medicine procedures.

7- The SNM handed out copies of a Needs Assessment Survey Report. Not surprisingly, it found that most members feel the major benefit of membership is educational opportunities. Both at the national and local levels. Of particular note, technologists complained of the costs of attending the national meeting. Hotels being overpriced and registration costs too high.

Membership committee: Bekki Bock

SOCIETY OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Greater New York Chapter - SNM Member Counts as of September 15, 2005

Member Type Count

AF Affiliate Member 12
AS Associate Member 34
EM1 Emeritus 1 Member 80
EM2 Emeritus 2 Member 14
FL Full Member 754
TE Technologist Member 1247
TE-V Associate Tech 85
Total Members 2226

Also submitted were the numbers from the Society of Nuclear Medicine other chapters.

Area Councilor Report
Long Island-Janet Bingales: There is a new school for Nuclear Medicine Technology. It is a 4 year program. The first class will graduate spring 2006. Some jobs are available. The next meeting scheduled is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2005.

Lehigh Valley- Kathleen Jones: Report submitted but also stating the Lehigh Valley grassroots chapter is now defunct with only one more meeting planned.

Philadelphia: Steve Kantor- Verbal given that the students and technologists were complaining about the price of National dues for the SNM. Also the job market in the area is slowing down.

Central Jersey: Steve Wosniak- not much to report, no formal ceu programs and only one opening for nuclear medical technologist.

North Jersey- Sue Dahl. The Nuclear Medicine School at Muhlenberg is back in business under the direction of a Mr. M. Soni. They will be accepting applications for students for Sept, 2006. The GSSNMT will be having our 2005 Fall Symposium this year at St. Peter's University hospital, New Brunswick, NJ on Saturday, 10/15/05. Registration & breakfast will begin at 8:00 There are 3 ceu’s to be obtained. Now would be a good time to join the Garden State Society. Not only will your $25.00 buy you a year's membership, including our Newsletter and 3 Saturday Morning meetings, but also free admission to the NJ ASNC Working
group's 2 dinner meetings.

South Jersey: Ellie Zimmer; There are very few job openings for the students.

Staten Island-Joe Giardina: Absent-no report

Brooklyn- Bill Weber- absent- no report

Queens: Arkady Naginsky- absent no report.

Westchester-Ron Detres: Gave a verbal.

Manhattan-Reggie Jennings: Absent-no report

Bronx-Maggie Doonan: Absent- Nothing to report

Website Committee Report: Abbie Brodie and Ted Rubel

The website redesign is almost finished. All information is to go through Abbie. The minutes and all reports will go on the website. Suggestions were made for including more info about the grassroots, continuing education etc. The council was informed that pretty much anything we want can be included but everything has a price. It was decided that quotes will be obtained for any special projects.

We need the mission statement as prominent as possible. It can be found in the bylaws. The website can be found at www.gnc.snm.org/.

Job opportunities will also be listed but deleted automatically after 90 days unless otherwise requested. Membership will be a link through the national site.
Lynn requested that all info be sent to Abbie by the Sept 23 so that we can have an online vote to go live when the website is ready hopefully by Sept 30th.

Spring Symposium Report 2006
Ellie Zimmer will be the program coordinator for the GNY Chapter Spring symposium at the Tropicana Casino Hotel on March 9-11, 2006. Michelle Egberts will be the scientific chair. The council voted to use Vista as the Drayage Company for the convention.

Fall Symposium 2005: Sue Dahl is the Northeast Coordinator for the conjoint meeting of the New England Chapter and the Greater New York Chapter. It will be held in Newport, RI at the Marriot on Oct 28th-30th.

New Business:
By-Laws Review and Revisions- The by-laws committee (Ron Detres will be chairperson) will have the by-laws reviewed and simplified by the next meeting. They need to be simplified and updated to reflect the current practices of the GNY Tech section. To be updated are several provisions including the mission statement, committees, online voting, term limits, etc? Any suggestions please forward to the committee so the review can be completed.

Policy and Procedures: These will also be reviewed and updated to comply with the by laws and the Tech section practices.

The next council meeting will be held on December 3, 2005.
Ellie motioned for the meeting to adjourn at 12:15 and was seconded by Janet. It was voted and accepted.