Editor's Note: This version is modified from the edition
mailed to our membership because of
updated or duplicate information that may be found elsewhere on our web site.
Fall 1998
Membership Plans
The WSRT passed
several motions at this year‘s annual conference which will change operations into
the new millennium. The first issue was granting student technologists as well as
non-registered technicians in Wyoming the right to full voting status in the organization.
"We recruit our students when they start into their college careers to join the WSRT,
yet we have never allowed them to vote or hold office. We decided that they really
deserved a right to voice their opinions in the WSRT, as well as hold several
offices," said Linda Holden, WSRT’s incoming president.
"Non-technologists, or technicians as
they are defined legally, are those individuals in Wyoming that are licensed to do limited
radiologic procedures with a minimum of training. Although we believe that all persons
administering ionizing radiation to humans should be licensed and registered
technologists, we understand the need for the technicians in our state and encourage them
to join with us in our society." Students and technicians will be permitted to hold
offices of secretary and treasurer, however the by-laws of the national organization, the
American Society of Radiologic Technologists prevents them from holding offices of
vice-president, president-elect or president as these officers at the affiliate levels are
also those individuals that serve as delegates to the ASRT House of Delegates.
The WSRT also passed a motion to raise dues
25%. "We’ve had the dues at such a low rate for years and the board felt that
they must raise them to stay in-line and in front of ever increasing costs to the
society," said outgoing president Mike Lewis. "I applaud the support of the
membership in voting to raise the dues as it demonstrates the cohesiveness and dedication
of our society to their mission."
The WSRT Board of Directors has decided to
eliminate the membership incentive programs due to an apparent lack of participation.
"We wanted to induce people to join the WSRT by offering special discounts to new
members and then discounts for current members to get other to join. Jeff Tammen had a
good degree of success during his term when he offered the Spring Conference for free to
WSRT members but when the WSRT was not able to financially support a second conference for
free, membership dropped off again," said Mike Lewis. "It’s a shame, so
Linda has suggested that we concentrate our efforts in the future to bring benefits to
existing members in the future, and spend less effort and money towards those individuals
who wish to remain non-members."
WSRT Elects New Officers
and Board Members
The WSRT installed new officers at their annual banquet. Linda Holden of Cheyenne was installed as president, Lesli Troastle, also of Cheyenne takes the reins as president-elect, Peggy Jereb of Casper was installed as vice-president and Kristy Nystrom from Casper as well will begin this year as secretary. Cheri Hale of Sheridan starts her term as treasurer. Mike Lewis of Cheyenne stepped down as president of the WSRT and into the position of past-president which is also a board position.
Awards and Honors The WSRT gave the
following awards to people at the annual conference. First, the Mallinckrodt Award is given to those persons who have
made an outstanding contribution to the WSRT. One does not necessarily have to be an RT or
a member to receive the Mallinckrodt Award.
Jim Larson
is a GE Service Rep and has attended many, many meetings of the WSRT. He has contributed a
great deal of time, money and effort to ensure that each one of our functions is a
success.
Paul Trowbridge
is a member from Colorado. Paul hasn’t missed a meeting since he joined in 1988 and
has also been quite anxious to help out at our conferences. He has also donated money and
paid for prizes out of his own pocket many times.
Mike Lewis
is the outgoing President of the WSRT. Mike contributed beyond the call of duty as
president with several projects and ideas that helped not only WSRT members but RT’s
all over the state.
The Lifetime
Membership Award is awarded to those persons who have been members of
the WSRT for over 15 years and have contributed a great deal of service to our
organization. The Board is very proud to honor Starla Mason
of Cheyenne and Barb Jordan of Wheatland
with Lifetime Membership Awards for their continued dedication to not only the WSRT but to
their professions. Starla is an instructor at LCCC in Cheyenne and Barb is a technologist
in Wheatland as well as the member RT of the Wyoming Board of Radiologic Technologist
Examiners.
The WSRT also awarded several education awards
and we’ll cover these in a later article in this edition of the Cowboy Cathode.
President’s
Message
Linda K. Holden
For those who were in
attendance at the conference in Thermopolis, the board and I want to thank you for your
continued support. Your support made it a great success. It was also so good to see our
radiography family again. Many folks came for the first time and others came and visited
us from as far away as Texas to be a part of a very special group.
The board came away with some great direction
to work on in the coming year. I would like to share some of the more important issues
that were worked on so you will understand and appreciate the changes that will be shaping
the WSRT in the years to come.
The WSRT created and approved a new mission
statement to better solidify the position the WSRT holds in the state of Wyoming.
Along with the mission statement the
participating members created some strategic goals that should not only improve the
services to members, but demonstrate the WSRT's continued involvement in the radiography
services that are provided in this state and hopefully will also assure that the WSRT will
continue to be in the forefront of good medical care in the coming millennium in this
state.
Those finalized strategic goals were:
1. To promote professional standards
2. To promote continuing education for the Wyoming technologist
3. To investigate a position on how we can improve the salaries of the Wyoming
technologist
4. To increase the availability of adding skills for the Wyoming technologist who
is working in a department where multi skills are demanded
5. To promote continued radiation safety
6. To increase the communication between not only the WSRT and its members but
among the entire state of Wyoming' s health care community
7. Maintaining a watchful eye on all key legislation
8. Public awareness
9. Increase Non RT, student and all non WSRT members
10. Networking among managers, physicians and rural health care to ensure that we
are meeting the needs of the technologists in these areas.
To implement some of these new goals this is
what as President I will be doing:
1. Create an informational flyer that will promote the profession across the state.
2. Send the flyer to the Wyoming Hospital Association, the Wyoming Radiological
Society, to the Managers of hospital radiology managers and clinic managers, and to all
licensed non RT's to remind them the WSRT is a mechanism that is opening up to aid them in
building their professional life in a positive and creative manner.
3. Create an informational flyer that will be used for all
incoming students who will become the members of the fiture. In the flyer will be
information that should educate them on all of the services that is provided for students
during their entire scholastic tenure.
4. Evaluating and acquiring board liability insurance. This was
an issue that was brought out in the leadership conference in Houston that all affiliate
boards should have liability insurance
5. Send out an informative letter of the educational
opportunities to those licensed non RT's who are practicing the profession but are not
involved in a continuing education program. * Invite them to join the WSRT and build on
their skills and be a part of the professional growth process.
To those of you who voted for me in the last
election, I thank you for your support and I hope that I can lead this fine group of
people:and this wonderful association into the new millennium a stronger and more
progressive group of health care professionals.
If there is anyone in the state who is having
problems, misunderstandings or issues with the legislation issues, please call me. The
ASRT is preparing to submit a bill to congress to work towards minimum educational
standards for radiographic technologists and technicians and we should all be READY to do
what we can to influence those people who represent us in Washington to vote for this
resolution. This is the time to be vocal and be empowered to stand up for ourselves and
our profession. If you do have questions, my number is in the front of the cathode and I
will be more than happy to answer questions and get answers if I don't have them.
The last thing I wanted to share with you is
National RT week. I hope that all of you will do something that will promote your career
and let the community where you live know who you are and what you do. If we don't get out
there and make our place, we will never get where we need to be and it all begins at home.
If you do have a special event that you’re doing, PLEASE, let Mike Lewis, the Cathode
editor know and we will tell the entire state of your event. Send some pictures too. Now
that is tooting your horn, and it is high time we did. – LKH
The membership
files have been updated since the last Cowboy Cathode. If we have made an error we
apologize and if you have or know of any problems or questions regarding memberships
including address changes, please don’t hesitate to contact Mary Bond at execsecretary@wsrt.org .
It’s
important that we have a current listing of ALL of our members. I encourage you to pass
your copy of the Cathode around to other techs in your departments that may not have
received a copy so that we have a chance to correct any errors and also a chance to
encourage prospective members to join. If you have paid your membership but have not
received a card, if you need to pay and haven’t received notice, or if you can help
us locate other members, please write to or call Mary ASAP!
WSRT Members pass
Advanced Registries
The WSRT is also well
represented in the advanced registry categories: Jennifer Layland passed her CV Registry
in March, Julie Montoya passed her QM Registry in July, Starla Mason passed her QM
Registry in July, Kristy Nystrom passed her QM Registry in March.
If you pass your advanced registry or know
someone who has, please contact the Cowboy Cathode so that we may include them in future
issues!
WSRT Annual Conference
The Wyoming Society of
Radiologic Technologists held their Annual Conference and Business Meeting September 17
– 20 in Thermopolis, Wyoming. The Annual Conference provides a means for Radiologic
Technologists in Wyoming and surrounding areas to maintain necessary continuing education
requirements of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Technologists in attendance enjoyed a diverse
array of subjects in diagnostic radiology, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine,
quality management and business subjects from local and area physicians, nurses and
technologists as well as radiology managers. Nationally known speakers Randy Vollrath of
Picker International and Phil Ballinger, the author of the RT bible, Radiographic
Positions and Radiologic Procedures also presented several sessions which were enjoyed by
everyone.
Lunches were provided on Friday and Saturday
during the business sessions, and buffet dinners were also provided on Thursday, Friday
and the Saturday Banquet. As a new idea this year, evening courses were also offered on
Thursday and Friday for those arriving in Thermopolis later in the day.
Special Thanks to
Our Conference Sponsors
The Wyoming
Society of Radiologic Technologists wishes to thank the following sponsors in Thermopolis
for their contributions to the Annual Conference – Fremont Radiology, TePee Pool, Ben
Franklin Store, The Ritz Theater, NuVogue Salon, The Clothes Closet, Canyon Sporting
Goods, Don’s IGA, Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Ramblin’ Rose, The County Emporium,
The Werehouse, Hot Rocks & Molten Metal, the technologists of Hot Springs County
Memorial Hospital, Stumps Outpost, and the Wild Bunch Gallery.
Additionally, we want to thank these sponsors
as well – Cheyenne Radiology and MRI (Scott
Hayden, MD; James Hubbard, PhD, MD; D.M. Kellam, MD; Michael Sloan, MD; John Wright, MD;
and Jim Hueber, MBA, Adm.), Toshiba (Terry Durham), Nycomed (Joe Murray), GE Service (Jim
Larson), United Medical Center, Associates in Orthopedics PC (Mark Rangitsch, MD; Richard
Torkelson, MD), Carrie Ann Thoms, MD (General, Vascular and Laparoscopic Surgery), GE
Sales (Dave Mosby), Gibson 's Pharmacy in Cheyenne (Melissa Hargraves, John Tucker), ADAC,
Dupont, Xray Specialties, Diagnostic Imaging (Gary Hartke), Dr. Carlton Reckling (Spine
and Orthopedic Surgery), Michael Bohl (Casper Imaging).
We also want to thank the following
contributors of our raffle and door prizes - Extraordinary Baskets – Cheyenne,
Natural Lites – Cheyenne, Merry X-Ray – Craig Spain, Rocky Mountain Professional
Uniforms - Toni Brinkle, Hitching Post - Linda Chasson, TG X-Ray - Max Goodwin, Phil
Ballinger, Imation - Morris Glover, Linda Kay Holden, Barbara Jordan, Phillips - Tom
Perkins, Siemans - Bob Carothers, Starla Mason, Cheyenne
Radiology and MRI.
We appreciate everything that you did
to contribute to a successful conference!
WSRT Approves New Vision
and Mission Statements
The WSRT formulated and approved a new mission plan for the coming millennium. "Actually, we hadn’t written a mission statement before now and I strongly felt that one was needed to give us specific direction into the next century. I had attended the first ASRT Leadership Academy and determined that both a mission and vision statement was needed. Linda supported the idea and through the effort of several people and finally the general membership’s input and approval, we got it through." The mission reads as follows:
Mission of the WSRT
The Wyoming Society of Radiologic Technologists exists as the professional organization of radiologic technologists in the state of Wyoming. We strive to elevate the status of our profession by providing educational opportunities for our members as well as non-members, advocacy for our membership as well as our profession, and promotion of quality in the science and practice of radiologic technology.
Vision of the WSRT
The
Wyoming Society of Radiologic Technologists (WSRT) is the member society for all
radiologic technology professionals in the state of Wyoming. The WSRT is an affiliate of
the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and as such we exist to continually
elevate the status of our profession within the guidelines of their doctrines.
We will provide educational opportunities to
all registered technologists by conducting educational conferences as well as other
services as requested and approved by our membership. We strive to be responsive to the
professional needs of our members and will maintain effective communication with our
members to meet those needs.
We recognize the radiologic
technologist’s role in providing quality health care and that they are an essential
component of a continuously evolving system of health care.
We are committed to
ensuring that professional standards of quality are maintained and continually improved
for the field of radiologic technology. Therefore, we are also committed to maintaining
the integrity of this profession and its ethical standards as well. We will not sacrifice
those values.
Teleconference in ‘99.
The general
membership of the WSRT turned down the prospect of having a teleconference for the annual
Spring Seminar, which is usually held in March. The teleconference has been put on for
several years, allowing techs from all over the state to get together for a one-day
conference. However, the teleconference has been somewhat expensive to produce and has
been consistently losing money for the society.
"We explained that we were happy to put
on another conference but also made clear that we would have to increase the cost to those
attending quite a bit to cover our costs in the future," said Linda Holden. "The
techs here have either been unable or unwilling to support the program to the degree
necessary to just break even, let alone show a profit. I felt it was necessary to at least
give us a year off from it, then if everyone wants to try again in two years we can
certainly give it a shot."
The Spring board meeting is slated for March
13 in Casper and presumably, those areas wishing to hold localized seminars will try to
hold them on that day, or within a week or two of that date. The WSRT will still sponsor
and assist any groups wishing to have a seminar in the spring.
Update
– Casper Technologists have scheduled a day long conference for Saturday April 24,
1999 at Casper College. Everyone is welcome!
WSRT Education Committee
Congratulations to all
of our competition winners at the WSRT Conference in Thermopolis! We were pleased with the
participation level this year as we had entrants in all of the categories of competition.
The recipients of this year's awards are as follows:
WSRT Student Grant
Competition: ($300 each) - Keri Lovelett - Laramie County Community College;
Heather Thompson - Casper College; Jennifer Praska - Laramie County Community College.
WSRT Technologist
Exhibit Competition:Honorable Mention: Kay Laub, R.T.(R) - Cheyenne ($50).
WSRT Student Exhibit
Competition: ($100)Heather Thompson - Casper College.
WSRT Student Paper
Competition: 1st Place:Gemini Janas - Laramie County Community College
($100); Runner-up: Tara Wyatt - Laramie County Community College ($50).
WSRT Student Bowl
Competition: ($25 to each winning team member) Tie for 1st
Place:Scattered Electrons: Keri Lazz – Cody, Anita Backus – LCCC, Jackie
Sparling – Casper, Vera Trimble – LCCC; RoentRen Rebels: Renee Pike –
Casper, Keri Lovelett – LCCC, Jennifer Erickson – LCCC, Lori Detsch – LCCC.
Kudos to all of these
great and compassionate sportswomen - rather than run another match to break the tie, they
all decided to donate their prize money to Renee Coppinger, a WSRT member who is seriously
ill.
In
addition to these competitions, we also usually award a technologist education grant, the
Mickey Patch Scholarship. However, there were no qualified applicants this year. So if you
are an R.T. and continuing your formal education, seriously consider applying for this
scholarship next year.
Applications for the 1999 grants, papers, and
exhibits will be due July 1, 1999. Mark your calendars and start planning now, because it
will be here before we know it!
For Next Year
The following people have been nominated for office in the WSRT for the next year. If you are interested or know someone who would make a great addition to our board, please contact Peggy Jereb who is the chairman of the nominations committee or another current board member. Remember, students and non-RT technicians are welcome to run for secretary. The position of treasurer will not be up for election until the following year.
President-Elect - Dan Nystrom
Starla Mason
Vice-President - Devon Honea
Kristy Nystrom
Shelly Breazeale
Secretary - Gemini
Janas
Clarise Fogie
Jennifer Praska
Nominations are open until April of 1999. We will be requesting a short bio from each nominee as to their history as a tech and why they want to run for office.
Congratulations to the
following new RT’s
The following graduates
of LCCC's radiography program all passed the ARRT in July:
Jay Arnold. Paige Fisher, Patricia Haldeman,
Gemini Janas, Tina Jaquess, George Pechulis, Angela Raybuck, Milixa Schluter, Daran
Tallarida, Tara Wyatt.