Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 EMSAT Well, I am disgusted that EMS continually gets left out of significant legislation changes. However, I have never been the least bit disappointed that Fire Departments and Police Departments gain through it. M> Me too. My point is, there is no EMS community. Just a bunch of EMS folks. We need a community. If you don't like EMSAT, do one of two things... join and run for a seat on the board, or start your own organization. At this point, even splintered organizations would be better than nothing, as it would get people in the right frame of mind (and the splinter groups would iron themselves out when memberships started changing between groups, etc. - just ask the labor unions how *they* got started). I joined EMSAT! I don't know how you could possibly get the 40,000 plus, certified personnel to join..unless maybe you promised all the things that the organization is supposed to work toward. You know, it is much easier to get members once you are established and have some significant gains already on the books. That is very much a problem. M> Yes, it is. But we need *enough* of a group to get a foothold. Need *enough* people being willing to take part, even if only to be a name on a roster (if that's what they want to be). For Ron to be able to walk up to a lawmaker and say " EMSAT represents 10% of EMS in Texas, which is more than any other group ever has and we're still growing " would be a *HUGE* step forward. So would 5%. Or 1%. Get the picture? By the way Mike, are you a member? I don't think EMSAT holds much promise for Fire Service Medics, since they are already generally supported by the Fire Organizations. How do you get those medic to join? M> Yes, I am. And you probably don't. What you get is those organizations supporting you - having them " auto-join " their membership at some affiliated rate, etc. Give them input into EMSAT, as they have valid (albeit different, at times) concerns. Don't know the answer, just voicing my disgust when the bus passes by without so much as a honk! M> Nothing wrong with that! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Yes Tom, I am a Member. Mike EMSAT Well, I am disgusted that EMS continually gets left out of significant legislation changes. However, I have never been the least bit disappointed that Fire Departments and Police Departments gain through it. I joined EMSAT! I don’t know how you could possibly get the 40,000 plus, certified personnel to join….unless maybe you promised all the things that the organization is supposed to work toward. You know, it is much easier to get members once you are established and have some significant gains already on the books. That is very much a problem. By the way Mike, are you a member? I don’t think EMSAT holds much promise for Fire Service Medics, since they are already generally supported by the Fire Organizations. How do you get those medic to join? Don’t know the answer, just voicing my disgust when the bus passes by without so much as a honk! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Just out of curiosity...what is the number of members joined in EMSAT... This has probably been posted and I just haven't seen it.. Jeff EMT-I (PS. sorry for not signing the last post before I get chastised by someone) > Yes Tom, I am a Member. > > Mike > EMSAT > > > Well, I am disgusted that EMS continually gets left out of significant > legislation changes. However, I have never been the least bit > disappointed > that Fire Departments and Police Departments gain through it. > > I joined EMSAT! I don't know how you could possibly get the 40,000 plus, > certified personnel to join….unless maybe you promised all the things that > the organization is supposed to work toward. You know, it is much easier > to > get members once you are established and have some significant gains > already > on the books. That is very much a problem. > > By the way Mike, are you a member? I don't think EMSAT holds much promise > for Fire Service Medics, since they are already generally supported by the > Fire Organizations. How do you get those medic to join? > > Don't know the answer, just voicing my disgust when the bus passes by > without so much as a honk! > > Tom > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in Texas. Why don't we? Bledsoe, DO Midlothian, Texas > Well, I am disgusted that EMS continually gets left out of significant > legislation changes. However, I have never been the least bit disappointed > that Fire Departments and Police Departments gain through it. > > M> Me too. My point is, there is no EMS community. Just a bunch of > EMS folks. We need a community. If you don't like EMSAT, do one of two > things... join and run for a seat on the board, or start your own > organization. At this point, even splintered organizations would be better > than nothing, as it would get people in the right frame of mind (and the > splinter groups would iron themselves out when memberships started changing > between groups, etc. - just ask the labor unions how *they* got started). > > I joined EMSAT! I don't know how you could possibly get the 40,000 plus, > certified personnel to join..unless maybe you promised all the things that > the organization is supposed to work toward. You know, it is much easier to > get members once you are established and have some significant gains already > on the books. That is very much a problem. > > M> Yes, it is. But we need *enough* of a group to get a foothold. > Need *enough* people being willing to take part, even if only to be a name > on a roster (if that's what they want to be). For Ron to be able to walk up > to a lawmaker and say " EMSAT represents 10% of EMS in Texas, which is more > than any other group ever has and we're still growing " would be a *HUGE* > step forward. So would 5%. Or 1%. Get the picture? > > By the way Mike, are you a member? I don't think EMSAT holds much promise > for Fire Service Medics, since they are already generally supported by the > Fire Organizations. How do you get those medic to join? > > M> Yes, I am. And you probably don't. What you get is those > organizations supporting you - having them " auto-join " their membership at > some affiliated rate, etc. Give them input into EMSAT, as they have valid > (albeit different, at times) concerns. > > Don't know the answer, just voicing my disgust when the bus passes by > without so much as a honk! > > M> Nothing wrong with that! > > Tom > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Tony: Unclear about your " why. " Why did I post that story or why should Texas have a good association and conference? The Texas EMS conference, God bless em', doesn't offer much from out of state. We are the greatest state in the Union, but we don't have the market on EMS methodology and systems cornered. EMSAT Excellent point..Why? >> I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in Texas. Why don't we? >> In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about the importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first encounter with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't care if he helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with him. I think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we mentor those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try my best to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to achieve an organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession because I love it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something else. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Tony: Unclear about your " why. " Why did I post that story or why should Texas have a good association and conference? The Texas EMS conference, God bless em', doesn't offer much from out of state. We are the greatest state in the Union, but we don't have the market on EMS methodology and systems cornered. EMSAT Excellent point..Why? >> I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in Texas. Why don't we? >> In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about the importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first encounter with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't care if he helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with him. I think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we mentor those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try my best to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to achieve an organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession because I love it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something else. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I pay over $400.00 per year just to maintain " inactive " memberships in the two bar associations I belong to. Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I pay over $400.00 per year just to maintain " inactive " memberships in the two bar associations I belong to. Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Geesh!! I knew what I was thinking, I don't know why you can't know what I was thinking........ E-mail is great, but often leaves out my entire thought process.. I'm in agreement about Texas having the biggest, best, " Potential " EMS organization in the World. I know the secret, but I don't know how to get it done. Automatic enrollment at certification. Can you imagine the strength of an organization with 40,000 members? However, that automatic enrollment must also be accompanied with the " Fee " and therein lies the problem. Anytime you start trying to pry additional money away from an already poorly paid profession, the fur starts flying. I am the director of a rural service with 8 full-time and 12 part-time personnel. I am currently the only member of EMSAT, even though I crow about the possible benefits of a strong organization. We even pay fairly well. EMT Basic $6.25/hour EMT-I $7.25/hour EMT-P $9.90/hour Sorry about the confusion, Tom Re: EMSAT Tony: Unclear about your " why. " Why did I post that story or why should Texas have a good association and conference? The Texas EMS conference, God bless em', doesn't offer much from out of state. We are the greatest state in the Union, but we don't have the market on EMS methodology and systems cornered. EMSAT Excellent point..Why? >> I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in Texas. Why don't we? >> In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about the importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first encounter with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't care if he helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with him. I think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we mentor those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try my best to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to achieve an organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession because I love it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something else. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Geesh!! I knew what I was thinking, I don't know why you can't know what I was thinking........ E-mail is great, but often leaves out my entire thought process.. I'm in agreement about Texas having the biggest, best, " Potential " EMS organization in the World. I know the secret, but I don't know how to get it done. Automatic enrollment at certification. Can you imagine the strength of an organization with 40,000 members? However, that automatic enrollment must also be accompanied with the " Fee " and therein lies the problem. Anytime you start trying to pry additional money away from an already poorly paid profession, the fur starts flying. I am the director of a rural service with 8 full-time and 12 part-time personnel. I am currently the only member of EMSAT, even though I crow about the possible benefits of a strong organization. We even pay fairly well. EMT Basic $6.25/hour EMT-I $7.25/hour EMT-P $9.90/hour Sorry about the confusion, Tom Re: EMSAT Tony: Unclear about your " why. " Why did I post that story or why should Texas have a good association and conference? The Texas EMS conference, God bless em', doesn't offer much from out of state. We are the greatest state in the Union, but we don't have the market on EMS methodology and systems cornered. EMSAT Excellent point..Why? >> I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in Texas. Why don't we? >> In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about the importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first encounter with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't care if he helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with him. I think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we mentor those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try my best to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to achieve an organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession because I love it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something else. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Why is the Bar powerful? Mandatory membership. Imagine how powerful EMSAT would be if every EMT, EMT-I, EMT-P, LP, etc was REQUIRED to join. Of course, it's coercive, but no one ever said life was fair. -Wes Ogilvie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Why is the Bar powerful? Mandatory membership. Imagine how powerful EMSAT would be if every EMT, EMT-I, EMT-P, LP, etc was REQUIRED to join. Of course, it's coercive, but no one ever said life was fair. -Wes Ogilvie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 The reason the Bar Associations are powerful is, as Wes says, membership is mandatory. If we were to get a Board of EMS Examiners and get a portion of yearly dues set aside for such an organization, we would suddenly be one of the most powerful lobbies in Austin. Did you read that the Houston FF have endorsed a candidate in the Senate election? Think that doesn't mean anything? Politicos seek out organizations that can help them. Think the DPS officers don't have clout? I happen to know that they actively campaign for people they like, in terms of putting up yard signs and so forth. Soo who gets the ear of the lege? Politics is all about money and power, and EMS ain't got none of either. Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 The only reason DPS isn't more powerful is because they are split amongst several associations. If you don't think PD and FD associations are powerful - watch how politicians scramble all over themselves to list endorsements from various PD and FD associations. Wonder why your FD is considered a group of local heroes and gets new engines which never respond unless they're backing EMS up? Simple politics. They have an association to endorse candidates and give money. EMS doesn't. Sorry for any who are offended by tonight's bluntness. (Picking up Gene's No Spin Zone) -Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Well lets see....$1.00 x 40,000 people/members.... lets see how that figures up, I don't think people would complain too much about a dollar fee per year although that wouldn't help a bunch but it would be a start to funding a orginazation. Jeff > Geesh!! I knew what I was thinking, I don't know why you can't know what I > was thinking........ > > E-mail is great, but often leaves out my entire thought process.. I'm in > agreement about Texas having the biggest, best, " Potential " EMS organization > in the World. I know the secret, but I don't know how to get it done. > Automatic enrollment at certification. Can you imagine the strength of an > organization with 40,000 members? However, that automatic enrollment must > also be accompanied with the " Fee " and therein lies the problem. > > Anytime you start trying to pry additional money away from an already poorly > paid profession, the fur starts flying. I am the director of a rural > service with 8 full-time and 12 part-time personnel. I am currently the > only member of EMSAT, even though I crow about the possible benefits of a > strong organization. We even pay fairly well. > > EMT Basic $6.25/hour > EMT-I $7.25/hour > EMT-P $9.90/hour > > Sorry about the confusion, > > Tom > > Re: EMSAT > > Tony: > > Unclear about your " why. " Why did I post that story or why should Texas > have a good association and conference? The Texas EMS conference, God bless > em', doesn't offer much from out of state. We are the greatest state in the > Union, but we don't have the market on EMS methodology and systems cornered. > > > > EMSAT > > > Excellent point..Why? > > >> > I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in > Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 > instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) > and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national > speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was > opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We > could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in > Texas. Why don't we? > >> > > In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about the > importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first encounter > with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't care if he > helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. > > That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a > tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with him. I > think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we mentor > those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. > > I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try my best > to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to achieve an > organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession because I love > it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something else. > > Tom > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Well lets see....$1.00 x 40,000 people/members.... lets see how that figures up, I don't think people would complain too much about a dollar fee per year although that wouldn't help a bunch but it would be a start to funding a orginazation. Jeff > Geesh!! I knew what I was thinking, I don't know why you can't know what I > was thinking........ > > E-mail is great, but often leaves out my entire thought process.. I'm in > agreement about Texas having the biggest, best, " Potential " EMS organization > in the World. I know the secret, but I don't know how to get it done. > Automatic enrollment at certification. Can you imagine the strength of an > organization with 40,000 members? However, that automatic enrollment must > also be accompanied with the " Fee " and therein lies the problem. > > Anytime you start trying to pry additional money away from an already poorly > paid profession, the fur starts flying. I am the director of a rural > service with 8 full-time and 12 part-time personnel. I am currently the > only member of EMSAT, even though I crow about the possible benefits of a > strong organization. We even pay fairly well. > > EMT Basic $6.25/hour > EMT-I $7.25/hour > EMT-P $9.90/hour > > Sorry about the confusion, > > Tom > > Re: EMSAT > > Tony: > > Unclear about your " why. " Why did I post that story or why should Texas > have a good association and conference? The Texas EMS conference, God bless > em', doesn't offer much from out of state. We are the greatest state in the > Union, but we don't have the market on EMS methodology and systems cornered. > > > > EMSAT > > > Excellent point..Why? > > >> > I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association Conference in > Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, 176 > instituitional members. They have a great web site (www.wisconsinems.com) > and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 national > speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The conference was > opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 exhibitors. We > could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than this in > Texas. Why don't we? > >> > > In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about the > importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first encounter > with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't care if he > helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. > > That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a > tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with him. I > think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we mentor > those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. > > I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try my best > to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to achieve an > organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession because I love > it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something else. > > Tom > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 There's an old adage that says, " Be careful what you wish for---you might get it. " That stated, I think the idea of an independent licensing agency for EMS people deserves serious thought and study. It must be recognized that the legislative climate is utterly hostile to the creation of new agencies unless it can be shown that they will creat revenues over and above their expenses. It MIGHT be possible to do this, but it will take much work and study. There are many facets of such an organization that would have to be studied, not the least of which would be the makeup of the Board and how members would be appointed or elected. The Supreme Court of Texas essentially governs the practice of law, but the Bar Association's Board is elected by the members. Following the model of the Bar Association, the Board would hire an Executive Director who would be the administrative CEO of the organization. The Board would set the rules for licensing, practice, and so forth. I think we ought to examine the concept that ALL EMS people from the EMT level up should be licensed. We must grow our profession according to some new models if we expect to ever gain widespread acceptance as a profession rather than a technical vocation. Many in EMS have no real understanding of the meaning of being a professional, unfortunately. For starters, it assumes that the practitioner assumes responsibility for her/his actions and competence, adheres to the highest standards, and devotes professional life to continuous improvement and re-education without having to be coerced into doing so. All professions " coerce " their members to keep up their " continuing education " to some degree, but the best in all professions don't have to be coerced. My physicians and my accountants and my dentist and my lawyer and even my stock broker and insurance person maintain the highest level of proficiency that they can because, guess what? THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS!!! They also happen to earn lots more than EMS professionals do, because they have DEGREES and LICENSES. Welcome to the REAL world. It takes a long time to become a licensed journeyman plumber or electrician, and once achieved, that status pays off big time. We need to develop our profession along those lines. What we do is so vital to the wellbeing of the public and so difficult and complex that we ought to be among the biggest earners. Why are we not? Because we, ourselves, don't respect our profession. We suffer those among us who treat what they do as a " job " to be endured until retirement time. (Apologies to NY and NY where that means " a run. " ) We must be the masochists of all time, because we constantly put up with discomfort in the workplace, bad employment practices, abuse from other medical professionals including ourselves, starvation wages, lack of recognition, and a myriad of other stuff just to have the joy of carrying a 450 pounder down 6 flights of stairs and then get fired for complaining of back trouble. If we had ONE BODY we could rule the world. The world WANTS to love us. The world DOES love us, but they don't know much about us. Up until 9-11 they thought we all rode around in nice shiny trucks, ate lots of donuts and fried chicken, and had it made. Now they're forgetting about us once again. Taliban is bigger news than who delivered a baby today or defibrillated a lady at the Mall. That's a yawn, now. It's expected. And the public STILL hasn't been educated to the fact that we get paid wages that place us below the poverty level in many instances. And we won't band together to stop it. It's easier to herd tomcats ahorseback across an open field than to get EMS people together. Here kitty. Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 There's an old adage that says, " Be careful what you wish for---you might get it. " That stated, I think the idea of an independent licensing agency for EMS people deserves serious thought and study. It must be recognized that the legislative climate is utterly hostile to the creation of new agencies unless it can be shown that they will creat revenues over and above their expenses. It MIGHT be possible to do this, but it will take much work and study. There are many facets of such an organization that would have to be studied, not the least of which would be the makeup of the Board and how members would be appointed or elected. The Supreme Court of Texas essentially governs the practice of law, but the Bar Association's Board is elected by the members. Following the model of the Bar Association, the Board would hire an Executive Director who would be the administrative CEO of the organization. The Board would set the rules for licensing, practice, and so forth. I think we ought to examine the concept that ALL EMS people from the EMT level up should be licensed. We must grow our profession according to some new models if we expect to ever gain widespread acceptance as a profession rather than a technical vocation. Many in EMS have no real understanding of the meaning of being a professional, unfortunately. For starters, it assumes that the practitioner assumes responsibility for her/his actions and competence, adheres to the highest standards, and devotes professional life to continuous improvement and re-education without having to be coerced into doing so. All professions " coerce " their members to keep up their " continuing education " to some degree, but the best in all professions don't have to be coerced. My physicians and my accountants and my dentist and my lawyer and even my stock broker and insurance person maintain the highest level of proficiency that they can because, guess what? THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS!!! They also happen to earn lots more than EMS professionals do, because they have DEGREES and LICENSES. Welcome to the REAL world. It takes a long time to become a licensed journeyman plumber or electrician, and once achieved, that status pays off big time. We need to develop our profession along those lines. What we do is so vital to the wellbeing of the public and so difficult and complex that we ought to be among the biggest earners. Why are we not? Because we, ourselves, don't respect our profession. We suffer those among us who treat what they do as a " job " to be endured until retirement time. (Apologies to NY and NY where that means " a run. " ) We must be the masochists of all time, because we constantly put up with discomfort in the workplace, bad employment practices, abuse from other medical professionals including ourselves, starvation wages, lack of recognition, and a myriad of other stuff just to have the joy of carrying a 450 pounder down 6 flights of stairs and then get fired for complaining of back trouble. If we had ONE BODY we could rule the world. The world WANTS to love us. The world DOES love us, but they don't know much about us. Up until 9-11 they thought we all rode around in nice shiny trucks, ate lots of donuts and fried chicken, and had it made. Now they're forgetting about us once again. Taliban is bigger news than who delivered a baby today or defibrillated a lady at the Mall. That's a yawn, now. It's expected. And the public STILL hasn't been educated to the fact that we get paid wages that place us below the poverty level in many instances. And we won't band together to stop it. It's easier to herd tomcats ahorseback across an open field than to get EMS people together. Here kitty. Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 $35 isn't unreasonable, considering most professional orgs are 100+. $35 is a dinner for two at a modest restaurant, or the cost of a computer game, or $1 a day for a month, or a little under a dime a day for a year. Mike EMSAT > > > > > > Excellent point..Why? > > > > >> > > I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association > Conference in > > Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, > 176 > > instituitional members. They have a great web site > (www.wisconsinems.com) > > and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 > national > > speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The > conference was > > opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 > exhibitors. We > > could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than > this in > > Texas. Why don't we? > > >> > > > > In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about > the > > importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first > encounter > > with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't > care if he > > helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. > > > > That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a > > tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with > him. I > > think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we > mentor > > those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. > > > > I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try > my best > > to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to > achieve an > > organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession > because I love > > it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something > else. > > > > Tom > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 $35 isn't unreasonable, considering most professional orgs are 100+. $35 is a dinner for two at a modest restaurant, or the cost of a computer game, or $1 a day for a month, or a little under a dime a day for a year. Mike EMSAT > > > > > > Excellent point..Why? > > > > >> > > I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association > Conference in > > Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, > 176 > > instituitional members. They have a great web site > (www.wisconsinems.com) > > and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 > national > > speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The > conference was > > opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 > exhibitors. We > > could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than > this in > > Texas. Why don't we? > > >> > > > > In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about > the > > importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first > encounter > > with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't > care if he > > helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. > > > > That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a > > tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with > him. I > > think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we > mentor > > those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. > > > > I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try > my best > > to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to > achieve an > > organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession > because I love > > it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something > else. > > > > Tom > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I think $ 35.00 is resonable. ACEP is $745.00 per year, Texas Medical Association is about $ 450.00 per year. The National Association of EMS Physicians is $ 250.00 per year. B Bledsoe EMSAT > > > > > > > > > Excellent point..Why? > > > > > > >> > > > I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association > > Conference in > > > Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, > > 176 > > > instituitional members. They have a great web site > > (www.wisconsinems.com) > > > and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 > > national > > > speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The > > conference was > > > opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 > > exhibitors. We > > > could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than > > this in > > > Texas. Why don't we? > > > >> > > > > > > In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about > > the > > > importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first > > encounter > > > with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't > > care if he > > > helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. > > > > > > That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a > > > tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with > > him. I > > > think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we > > mentor > > > those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. > > > > > > I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try > > my best > > > to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to > > achieve an > > > organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession > > because I love > > > it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something > > else. > > > > > > Tom > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I think $ 35.00 is resonable. ACEP is $745.00 per year, Texas Medical Association is about $ 450.00 per year. The National Association of EMS Physicians is $ 250.00 per year. B Bledsoe EMSAT > > > > > > > > > Excellent point..Why? > > > > > > >> > > > I just returned from speaking at the Wisconsin EMS Association > > Conference in > > > Milwaukee. What an incredicle organization. Over 4,000 members, > > 176 > > > instituitional members. They have a great web site > > (www.wisconsinems.com) > > > and a very good magazine. The conference drew 2,000 and had 10 > > national > > > speakers (Baxter Larmon, Mike , Ken Bouvier, etc.). The > > conference was > > > opened with all you can drink champagne. There were 40 > > exhibitors. We > > > could do a conference and have an organization 10 times better than > > this in > > > Texas. Why don't we? > > > >> > > > > > > In my opinion, Texas EMS has become increasingly complacent about > > the > > > importance of our service to the public. As I recall my first > > encounter > > > with EMS training, my first preceptor was a burn-out. He didn't > > care if he > > > helped anyone, so long as he drew a paycheck. > > > > > > That lack of enthusiasm didn't affect me, but I'm sure it has had a > > > tremendous affect on those personnel that have had to work with > > him. I > > > think we often forget that we mentor each other just as much as we > > mentor > > > those wide-eyed students that come to learn from us. > > > > > > I choose to be helpful. I choose to be friendly. I choose to try > > my best > > > to set a good example. I choose to join EMSAT in any attempt to > > achieve an > > > organized voice for MY profession. I choose this profession > > because I love > > > it and when I don't..God, give me the strength to choose something > > else. > > > > > > Tom > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 The bar issues what is essentially a license to practice. If EMS had its own agency in Texas, that agency would be powerful in its own right. Then, by proxy, EMSAT would be the " non-governmental " representatives of those involved in EMS, like the IAFF is to fire fighters. Mike Re: Re: EMSAT > Why is the Bar powerful? Mandatory membership. Imagine how powerful EMSAT > would be if every EMT, EMT-I, EMT-P, LP, etc was REQUIRED to join. Of > course, it's coercive, but no one ever said life was fair. > > -Wes Ogilvie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 The bar issues what is essentially a license to practice. If EMS had its own agency in Texas, that agency would be powerful in its own right. Then, by proxy, EMSAT would be the " non-governmental " representatives of those involved in EMS, like the IAFF is to fire fighters. Mike Re: Re: EMSAT > Why is the Bar powerful? Mandatory membership. Imagine how powerful EMSAT > would be if every EMT, EMT-I, EMT-P, LP, etc was REQUIRED to join. Of > course, it's coercive, but no one ever said life was fair. > > -Wes Ogilvie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2002 Report Share Posted January 30, 2002 Gene: Opportunity to be the brunt of lawyer jokes.... priceless Re: Re: EMSAT > I pay over $400.00 per year just to maintain " inactive " memberships in the > two bar associations I belong to. > > Gene > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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