Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Friends! Who cares about our cheesy website right now? Nobody in their right mind. The finest website in Internetdom won't help us unless we have MEMBERS. Our website is good enough right now to get you the application you need to join. DO IT. We can finish fixing the website later. What's past is past about our board. THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. Are we going to bitch and moan like we always have about this faction or that, or are we for once going to bond together and get something done for our profession? Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. It only costs you $35 to become a paid member for a year and add your weight to our membership. Folks, if we could tell our legislators that we have 5,000 members, we could do anything we wanted. If we had 10,000 members, they would be groveling at our feet to see what we wanted. Where do you stand? Will you step forward and make your weight count? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Department of Public Safety? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners? Do you want there to be NO agency that has responsibility ONLY TO EMS? That's where we're headed at warp speed, folks. We're already 90% there, and it's going to be a hard landing. We must get an EMS Commission through the next legislature, and that means we needed to start YESTERDAY. Gene G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Friends! Who cares about our cheesy website right now? Nobody in their right mind. The finest website in Internetdom won't help us unless we have MEMBERS. Our website is good enough right now to get you the application you need to join. DO IT. We can finish fixing the website later. What's past is past about our board. THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. Are we going to bitch and moan like we always have about this faction or that, or are we for once going to bond together and get something done for our profession? Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. It only costs you $35 to become a paid member for a year and add your weight to our membership. Folks, if we could tell our legislators that we have 5,000 members, we could do anything we wanted. If we had 10,000 members, they would be groveling at our feet to see what we wanted. Where do you stand? Will you step forward and make your weight count? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Department of Public Safety? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners? Do you want there to be NO agency that has responsibility ONLY TO EMS? That's where we're headed at warp speed, folks. We're already 90% there, and it's going to be a hard landing. We must get an EMS Commission through the next legislature, and that means we needed to start YESTERDAY. Gene G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Friends! Who cares about our cheesy website right now? Nobody in their right mind. The finest website in Internetdom won't help us unless we have MEMBERS. Our website is good enough right now to get you the application you need to join. DO IT. We can finish fixing the website later. What's past is past about our board. THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. Are we going to bitch and moan like we always have about this faction or that, or are we for once going to bond together and get something done for our profession? Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. It only costs you $35 to become a paid member for a year and add your weight to our membership. Folks, if we could tell our legislators that we have 5,000 members, we could do anything we wanted. If we had 10,000 members, they would be groveling at our feet to see what we wanted. Where do you stand? Will you step forward and make your weight count? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Department of Public Safety? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners? Do you want there to be NO agency that has responsibility ONLY TO EMS? That's where we're headed at warp speed, folks. We're already 90% there, and it's going to be a hard landing. We must get an EMS Commission through the next legislature, and that means we needed to start YESTERDAY. Gene G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Okay, Gene, I'll bite. Tell me how to join EMSAT, and what, exactly y'all are doing to move Texas EMS forward (or EMS as whole). I have been watching the debate for quite sometime now (if EMSAT is worth the effort or not). Prove to me EMSAT has the initiative to move this beast forward. I'm there, if y'all are serious about progressing. Talking is great, but show me that " walk. " No doubt, Texas, and EMS as whole needs a huge push. I would love to be one of many voices that makes this happen. Anxiously awaiting your response. , LP, RN, FP-C Clinical Manager PHI Air Medial - Texas (SKYMED) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Gene, I think it is important to tell everyone exactly what EMSAT has done and can do for EMS. It was posted as a question earlier with no specific explanation, so I will ask it again. What has EMSAT done since its existence? Many hear you say that increasing membership will look good to the legislators, but what the majority of the providers don't know is how EMSAT works. How each members voice can be heard and what individuals are already in place that will assist EMS as a whole to obtain our goals. I am for a change and I do believe that we need a strong board to stand up for EMS just like the Board of Nursing or any of the other Boards that are well established. I do believe that a " campaign " type speech would help individuals to know that this is what HAS to happen. Just my Thoughts, , LP Flight Paramedic Memorial Hermann Life Flight Houston, Texas Re: EMSAT Friends! Who cares about our cheesy website right now? Nobody in their right mind. The finest website in Internetdom won't help us unless we have MEMBERS. Our website is good enough right now to get you the application you need to join. DO IT. We can finish fixing the website later. What's past is past about our board. THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. Are we going to bitch and moan like we always have about this faction or that, or are we for once going to bond together and get something done for our profession? Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. It only costs you $35 to become a paid member for a year and add your weight to our membership. Folks, if we could tell our legislators that we have 5,000 members, we could do anything we wanted. If we had 10,000 members, they would be groveling at our feet to see what we wanted. Where do you stand? Will you step forward and make your weight count? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Department of Public Safety? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners? Do you want there to be NO agency that has responsibility ONLY TO EMS? That's where we're headed at warp speed, folks. We're already 90% there, and it's going to be a hard landing. We must get an EMS Commission through the next legislature, and that means we needed to start YESTERDAY. Gene G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Mr. Reynolds, I did not take your post as a personal attack, it was clear to me that it wasn't. I would like to address a couple of things you have said, though. I wished I could comment on all that you have said, but don't have the time this a.m. to address all of it. You are obviously a very passionate man about EMS and firefighting. For this I'm glad. Most people in the EMS Community share your passion, and those who don't usually will not stay in this field for very long. I will gladly support an association that has a strong presence. By strong presence, I'm referring to the leadership, or board, not just the number of people. What do the leaders of this association have planned to push EMS forward? What are they thinking? What, specifically, are they trying to accomplish? I generally like to have a clear understanding of exactly what I'm supporting before jumping in. You wrote: " For that $35.00, I am represented by one of the few, if not the only EMS lobbyist at the State Capitol, and each member will now receive a $10,000 insurance policy; forgive me, but I don't remember the particular flavor of insurance right off hand. " I'm older now and tend to have memory loss, but the above is the only thing I've seen that specifically states what EMSAT has done thus far. However, I feel certain EMSAT has probably accomplished many things (or has a clear agenda to), I just haven't heard about them. This is the information I'm looking for. What is on the EMS Lobbyist's task list? It's not about the money. I would gladly pay way more than $35.00 to support a strong organization (I'd pay it every month). For me, it's about the time. And, because of time, I rely on the leaders of the association to have specific agendas and make them happen. If you and Gene and others are making things happen, that's what I'm looking to support, but, again, I would like to know what those things are. I believe this is a fair request. You wrote " Please join EMSAT. It's the only voice for Texas EMS. " I will gladly join EMSAT if you could give me just a couple of things specifically that helps me understand what the only voice for Texas is saying. I will not only support EMSAT, but will promote it every chance I get! Let me make this clear, I am not asking what can EMSAT do for me, what I'm asking is what can EMSAT do for EMS? Thanks for your time Mr. Reynolds, and I look forward to your answers. More than likely, a future EMSAT member In a message dated 1/20/2004 12:16:20 AM Central Standard Time, preyn2@... writes: Ms. , please don't take this as a personal attack on you, because I honestly do not intend this letter as such. I have read this question so many times it sickens me, and your letter was the proverbial straw that broke my back. Your question is " What are y'all (meaning EMSAT) doing to move Texas EMS forward? " To that, I must answer that WE can't do anything without YOUR support. The Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas (EMSAT) is the only statewide organization working to improve the lot of the EMS provider in the state of Texas, regardless of whether that provider is volunteer or paid; regardless of whether that provider is an ECA, EMT, EMT-I, EMT-P, or LP; regardless of whether that provider works in the largest metro area or the smallest town. Everybody who provides EMS in Texas needs to be a member of EMSAT. All of us must take active roles in determining what happens to EMS in Texas. Many people express concern over spending $35.00 every year to join and maintain a membership in EMSAT. Let me explain how I think of that $35.00: **In a good week, I spend that much money eating fast food at work. **It's less than my monthly cell phone bill. **It's about what it costs me to fuel my truck for a week. **It's less than one night out with my wife and kids. **It's a little more than one case of Girl Scout Cookies. **It's a carton of cigarettes. For that $35.00, I am represented by one of the few, if not the only EMS lobbyist at the State Capitol, and each member will now receive a $10,000 insurance policy; forgive me, but I don't remember the particular flavor of insurance right off hand. It probably doesn't sound like much bang for the buck, but right now, it's the ONLY bang, and the bang only gets louder with each member. There are something like 50,000 EMS providers in Texas, and if we could get even a fraction of those people to join, that would definitely be a good sized bang. I think the biggest problem with Texas EMS is that, because EMS is largely a local issue, few EMS providers ever stop to look at the big picture, and that big picture is about to bite us where the sun don't shine. We're too busy looking at the bugs on our own windshields to see the cliff in front of us. Do you know what I love about people like Medics, Firefighters, and Cops? People we meet off duty ask us what we " do " for a living, and we tell them what we " are " . Do you understand the difference? God knows none of us is a Medic because of the excellent pay; we do it because we love helping others. I could no more be an accountant than jump over the moon. In my DNA, there are markers that determine that I am a caucasian male, 5'11 " , brown hair, hazel eyes, and nearsighted. Some time in the future, I honestly believe that somebody will find a genetic marker that signifies that I was born to be a Medic. You won't find anybody who is more passionate about what they are than a Medic or a Firefighter. God help us, we wear shirts proclaiming for all the world to see that this is what we are. You don't see people wearing shirts that proudly scream " Accountant " or " Garbage Hauler " or " Car Salesman " , but I'll bet you see lots of people wearing shirts that say " Firefighter " or " Paramedic " or " EMT " . We're fighters. Day in and day out, we see people who we KNOW are dying and there's nothing we can do about it, and yet we fight to save their lives. You've done it and I've done it, even though we knew it was futile. Because of what we do, when we do it, and the conditions under which we must do it, we are held in the highest esteem in society. People trust us more than they trust teachers, and we trust our beloved children to teachers every day. Accountants don't help the guy in front of them in the checkout line balance their checkbook. Garbage men don't stop to pick up garbage when they're off work. Why? Because they all have a " job. " We have a " calling. " We DO stop to help people at collisions when we're off. We DO run into our neighbor's houses to make sure they're all out safely if there's a fire. It's not what we do, it's what we are. It's a sad statement, but it's true: The people who write the laws the affect EMS in Texas (or anywhere, for that matter) will probably never need our services. They are, for the most part, educated, affluent, insured, and healthy. They have access to personal physicians. The only time they'll ever see a trauma surgeon is on the golf course. For them, EMS legislation is merely a political exercise. Legislators don't know that EMS is the primary healthcare provider for a huge segment of the population. Legislators don't know how many people are laying on an EMS stretcher when they meet the ER doc. Legislators don't know how difficult it is for some of our most selfless dedicated public servants, the rural volunteers, to obtain and maintain the education and training necessary to provide basic services. We're in a fight right now. I believe, as do many others, that Texas EMS is on the brink of falling into a legislative abyss that will take years to get out of if WE, you and I, don't pull it back from the edge. Well, for me, what I ***am*** means I have to be more involved in EMS than going to work every third day and collecting a pay check every couple of weeks. It means I have to let the people who write the laws know what the effect of those laws will be. I'm Phil Reynolds. I'm a Firefighter with the City of Austin Fire Department, and I'm a Captain with the Jollyville Fire Department just outside Austin. I've been a Paramedic for something like 10 years, and was an EMT before that. I've been a volunteer firefighter in suburban and rural areas, and I've worked transport EMS in urban, suburban, and rural areas. I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas in November. I can't promise that I'll be the best EMSAT Board Member, or the wisest, and I'm definitely not the most experienced at anything. Maybe the current Board isn't made up of people who are the best people for the jobs. But at least we're willing to stand up and be heard when it's important. Please join EMSAT. It's the only voice for Texas EMS. Thank you for reading this, and I sincerely hope you'll join us. Stay safe - Phil Reynolds, EMT-P EMSAT BoD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Excellent reply Phil. I'll be taking a packet of application to our RAC meeting this week. Barry Meffert TSA-D In a message dated 1/20/2004 12:16:24 AM Central Standard Time, preyn2@... writes: Ms. , please don't take this as a personal attack on you, because I honestly do not intend this letter as such. I have read this question so many times it sickens me, and your letter was the proverbial straw that broke my back. Your question is " What are y'all (meaning EMSAT) doing to move Texas EMS forward? " To that, I must answer that WE can't do anything without YOUR support. The Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas (EMSAT) is the only statewide organization working to improve the lot of the EMS provider in the state of Texas, regardless of whether that provider is volunteer or paid; regardless of whether that provider is an ECA, EMT, EMT-I, EMT-P, or LP; regardless of whether that provider works in the largest metro area or the smallest town. Everybody who provides EMS in Texas needs to be a member of EMSAT. All of us must take active roles in determining what happens to EMS in Texas. Many people express concern over spending $35.00 every year to join and maintain a membership in EMSAT. Let me explain how I think of that $35.00: **In a good week, I spend that much money eating fast food at work. **It's less than my monthly cell phone bill. **It's about what it costs me to fuel my truck for a week. **It's less than one night out with my wife and kids. **It's a little more than one case of Girl Scout Cookies. **It's a carton of cigarettes. For that $35.00, I am represented by one of the few, if not the only EMS lobbyist at the State Capitol, and each member will now receive a $10,000 insurance policy; forgive me, but I don't remember the particular flavor of insurance right off hand. It probably doesn't sound like much bang for the buck, but right now, it's the ONLY bang, and the bang only gets louder with each member. There are something like 50,000 EMS providers in Texas, and if we could get even a fraction of those people to join, that would definitely be a good sized bang. I think the biggest problem with Texas EMS is that, because EMS is largely a local issue, few EMS providers ever stop to look at the big picture, and that big picture is about to bite us where the sun don't shine. We're too busy looking at the bugs on our own windshields to see the cliff in front of us. Do you know what I love about people like Medics, Firefighters, and Cops? People we meet off duty ask us what we " do " for a living, and we tell them what we " are " . Do you understand the difference? God knows none of us is a Medic because of the excellent pay; we do it because we love helping others. I could no more be an accountant than jump over the moon. In my DNA, there are markers that determine that I am a caucasian male, 5'11 " , brown hair, hazel eyes, and nearsighted. Some time in the future, I honestly believe that somebody will find a genetic marker that signifies that I was born to be a Medic. You won't find anybody who is more passionate about what they are than a Medic or a Firefighter. God help us, we wear shirts proclaiming for all the world to see that this is what we are. You don't see people wearing shirts that proudly scream " Accountant " or " Garbage Hauler " or " Car Salesman " , but I'll bet you see lots of people wearing shirts that say " Firefighter " or " Paramedic " or " EMT " . We're fighters. Day in and day out, we see people who we KNOW are dying and there's nothing we can do about it, and yet we fight to save their lives. You've done it and I've done it, even though we knew it was futile. Because of what we do, when we do it, and the conditions under which we must do it, we are held in the highest esteem in society. People trust us more than they trust teachers, and we trust our beloved children to teachers every day. Accountants don't help the guy in front of them in the checkout line balance their checkbook. Garbage men don't stop to pick up garbage when they're off work. Why? Because they all have a " job. " We have a " calling. " We DO stop to help people at collisions when we're off. We DO run into our neighbor's houses to make sure they're all out safely if there's a fire. It's not what we do, it's what we are. It's a sad statement, but it's true: The people who write the laws the affect EMS in Texas (or anywhere, for that matter) will probably never need our services. They are, for the most part, educated, affluent, insured, and healthy. They have access to personal physicians. The only time they'll ever see a trauma surgeon is on the golf course. For them, EMS legislation is merely a political exercise. Legislators don't know that EMS is the primary healthcare provider for a huge segment of the population. Legislators don't know how many people are laying on an EMS stretcher when they meet the ER doc. Legislators don't know how difficult it is for some of our most selfless dedicated public servants, the rural volunteers, to obtain and maintain the education and training necessary to provide basic services. We're in a fight right now. I believe, as do many others, that Texas EMS is on the brink of falling into a legislative abyss that will take years to get out of if WE, you and I, don't pull it back from the edge. Well, for me, what I ***am*** means I have to be more involved in EMS than going to work every third day and collecting a pay check every couple of weeks. It means I have to let the people who write the laws know what the effect of those laws will be. I'm Phil Reynolds. I'm a Firefighter with the City of Austin Fire Department, and I'm a Captain with the Jollyville Fire Department just outside Austin. I've been a Paramedic for something like 10 years, and was an EMT before that. I've been a volunteer firefighter in suburban and rural areas, and I've worked transport EMS in urban, suburban, and rural areas. I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Emergency Medical Services Association of Texas in November. I can't promise that I'll be the best EMSAT Board Member, or the wisest, and I'm definitely not the most experienced at anything. Maybe the current Board isn't made up of people who are the best people for the jobs. But at least we're willing to stand up and be heard when it's important. Please join EMSAT. It's the only voice for Texas EMS. Thank you for reading this, and I sincerely hope you'll join us. Stay safe - Phil Reynolds, EMT-P EMSAT BoD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Phil: As a founding member of EMSAT I agree with you said, That says it all Brett Coghlan EMT-P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Ms. , Your question was asked of Mr. Reynolds, but I hope you don't mind too much if I offer mi dos centavos worth of explanation. You write: > I will gladly support an association that has a strong > presence. EMSAT does not have a strong presence (yet) and the reasons for this have many roots. One is the ever pervasive " What is in it for me? " attitude. Medics seem to have trouble with the concept that change will come slowly, but that membership in a professional organization is still the right thing to do. Another reason was the philosophical gap perceived between many of the EMSAT board members and most of the rest of Texas EMS. Following the recent elections that argument no longer holds water. EMSAT has warts, I agree, but good folks are working to make it right. They are forced to do the work with little resources. EMSAT is caught in the Catch-22 of low credibility due to low membership, low membership due to little clout, and little clout due to low credibility. Medics everywhere should understand that it is better for us individually and much better for the profession as a whole to maintain membership in professional organizations and to participate in the political process as much as possible. We have to get beyond asking " what is in it for me? " , and we have to get beyond the concept of immediate gratification. Texas EMS is in crisis. We face a bigger challenge today than we have ever faced. What we do (or fail to do) today affects our profession in this state for years to come. Organization, participation, compromise and consensus are needed if we want to improve our lot. Warts and all, we simply must embrace EMSAT as our professional association, or else reconcile ourselves to the knowledge that EMS will forever be the bench warmers - the side show. > What do the leaders of this association have planned to > push EMS forward? What are they thinking? This list has seen that question asked in various ways a hundred times and I'll bet those involved in EMSAT get weary of having to repeat themselves. The answers have been posted to this forum many times. A quick search of the Yahoo archives will tell you what each of these folks thinks and feels. I think you will find that the majority of what is posted to be positive and forward-thinking. The EMSAT Board of Directors listing is below. You will notice my name is not there - not yet at least. - President Tx1@... Gene Gandy- Vice-President wegandy1938@... Donna Gomez-Treasurer dgems2emtp@... Scarborough sremtp20@... williamn@... Jane Hill je.hill@... Randell Pitts agfltmedic@... Al wffireems@... Phil Reynolds preyn2@... Regards, Donn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ D.E. (Donn) , LP, NREMT-P ....your educators can be only your liberators... - Friedrich Nietzsche, " Untimely Meditations " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Don great post. What is happening to EMS has caught us blindside, but it shouldn't have. We should have started paying attention when BEM could no longer support the State Testing process. We should have guessed that there was a problem when we started seeing a continues rule changing process, we should have guessed when BEM started the rate hike process, but we missed it, (all EMS, not just EMSAT). I know hindsight is 20/20, but we cannot be put off by what is in the past. At this time the future is much more important than the past. If we are to have a chance to grow in the future, and do not want to be governed by an unrelated agency we must come together now, and move fast. Mine is not the best Mind in EMS, there are much better minds out there. Those minds need to be working full time to find a solution to our common problem. It is not just EMSAT that must act. We all must act at the local, regional and State level. In addition to working with our political leaders, we must also let the public know what is happening. We in common need to issue press releases with a common them. We must let the voters know of our concerns, and what the the outcome might be. We do not want to return to that old days method of EMS where each agency did EMS as he, she, or they chose. For the public safety, and the health care concerns of the general public we must shoulder the yoke and move this beast forward. If you have friends in the legislature, or judges or county/city commissioners, or well connected physicians bring them up to date on the situation and ask for their support. Sorry for the soap box, but I feel very strongly about this issue, and moved to try and make a difference. Nacogdoches County EMS EMSAT Board Member " D.E. (Donn) " wrote: > Ms. , > > Your question was asked of Mr. Reynolds, but I hope you don't mind too much > if I offer mi dos centavos worth of explanation. > > You write: > > I will gladly support an association that has a strong > > presence. > > EMSAT does not have a strong presence (yet) and the reasons for this have > many roots. One is the ever pervasive " What is in it for me? " attitude. > Medics seem to have trouble with the concept that change will come slowly, > but that membership in a professional organization is still the right thing > to do. Another reason was the philosophical gap perceived between many of > the EMSAT board members and most of the rest of Texas EMS. Following the > recent elections that argument no longer holds water. > > EMSAT has warts, I agree, but good folks are working to make it right. They > are forced to do the work with little resources. EMSAT is caught in the > Catch-22 of low credibility due to low membership, low membership due to > little clout, and little clout due to low credibility. > > Medics everywhere should understand that it is better for us individually > and much better for the profession as a whole to maintain membership in > professional organizations and to participate in the political process as > much as possible. We have to get beyond asking " what is in it for me? " , and > we have to get beyond the concept of immediate gratification. > > Texas EMS is in crisis. We face a bigger challenge today than we have ever > faced. What we do (or fail to do) today affects our profession in this state > for years to come. Organization, participation, compromise and consensus are > needed if we want to improve our lot. Warts and all, we simply must embrace > EMSAT as our professional association, or else reconcile ourselves to the > knowledge that EMS will forever be the bench warmers - the side show. > > > What do the leaders of this association have planned to > > push EMS forward? What are they thinking? > > This list has seen that question asked in various ways a hundred times and > I'll bet those involved in EMSAT get weary of having to repeat themselves. > The answers have been posted to this forum many times. A quick search of the > Yahoo archives will tell you what each of these folks thinks and feels. I > think you will find that the majority of what is posted to be positive and > forward-thinking. > > The EMSAT Board of Directors listing is below. You will notice my name is > not there - not yet at least. > > - President > Tx1@... > > Gene Gandy- Vice-President > wegandy1938@... > > Donna Gomez-Treasurer > dgems2emtp@... > > Scarborough > sremtp20@... > > > williamn@... > > Jane Hill > je.hill@... > > Randell Pitts > agfltmedic@... > > Al > wffireems@... > > Phil Reynolds > preyn2@... > > Regards, > Donn > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > D.E. (Donn) , LP, NREMT-P > > ...your educators can be only your liberators... > - Friedrich Nietzsche, " Untimely Meditations " > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Don great post. What is happening to EMS has caught us blindside, but it shouldn't have. We should have started paying attention when BEM could no longer support the State Testing process. We should have guessed that there was a problem when we started seeing a continues rule changing process, we should have guessed when BEM started the rate hike process, but we missed it, (all EMS, not just EMSAT). I know hindsight is 20/20, but we cannot be put off by what is in the past. At this time the future is much more important than the past. If we are to have a chance to grow in the future, and do not want to be governed by an unrelated agency we must come together now, and move fast. Mine is not the best Mind in EMS, there are much better minds out there. Those minds need to be working full time to find a solution to our common problem. It is not just EMSAT that must act. We all must act at the local, regional and State level. In addition to working with our political leaders, we must also let the public know what is happening. We in common need to issue press releases with a common them. We must let the voters know of our concerns, and what the the outcome might be. We do not want to return to that old days method of EMS where each agency did EMS as he, she, or they chose. For the public safety, and the health care concerns of the general public we must shoulder the yoke and move this beast forward. If you have friends in the legislature, or judges or county/city commissioners, or well connected physicians bring them up to date on the situation and ask for their support. Sorry for the soap box, but I feel very strongly about this issue, and moved to try and make a difference. Nacogdoches County EMS EMSAT Board Member " D.E. (Donn) " wrote: > Ms. , > > Your question was asked of Mr. Reynolds, but I hope you don't mind too much > if I offer mi dos centavos worth of explanation. > > You write: > > I will gladly support an association that has a strong > > presence. > > EMSAT does not have a strong presence (yet) and the reasons for this have > many roots. One is the ever pervasive " What is in it for me? " attitude. > Medics seem to have trouble with the concept that change will come slowly, > but that membership in a professional organization is still the right thing > to do. Another reason was the philosophical gap perceived between many of > the EMSAT board members and most of the rest of Texas EMS. Following the > recent elections that argument no longer holds water. > > EMSAT has warts, I agree, but good folks are working to make it right. They > are forced to do the work with little resources. EMSAT is caught in the > Catch-22 of low credibility due to low membership, low membership due to > little clout, and little clout due to low credibility. > > Medics everywhere should understand that it is better for us individually > and much better for the profession as a whole to maintain membership in > professional organizations and to participate in the political process as > much as possible. We have to get beyond asking " what is in it for me? " , and > we have to get beyond the concept of immediate gratification. > > Texas EMS is in crisis. We face a bigger challenge today than we have ever > faced. What we do (or fail to do) today affects our profession in this state > for years to come. Organization, participation, compromise and consensus are > needed if we want to improve our lot. Warts and all, we simply must embrace > EMSAT as our professional association, or else reconcile ourselves to the > knowledge that EMS will forever be the bench warmers - the side show. > > > What do the leaders of this association have planned to > > push EMS forward? What are they thinking? > > This list has seen that question asked in various ways a hundred times and > I'll bet those involved in EMSAT get weary of having to repeat themselves. > The answers have been posted to this forum many times. A quick search of the > Yahoo archives will tell you what each of these folks thinks and feels. I > think you will find that the majority of what is posted to be positive and > forward-thinking. > > The EMSAT Board of Directors listing is below. You will notice my name is > not there - not yet at least. > > - President > Tx1@... > > Gene Gandy- Vice-President > wegandy1938@... > > Donna Gomez-Treasurer > dgems2emtp@... > > Scarborough > sremtp20@... > > > williamn@... > > Jane Hill > je.hill@... > > Randell Pitts > agfltmedic@... > > Al > wffireems@... > > Phil Reynolds > preyn2@... > > Regards, > Donn > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > D.E. (Donn) , LP, NREMT-P > > ...your educators can be only your liberators... > - Friedrich Nietzsche, " Untimely Meditations " > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 " The only voice of EMS " as it has been put right now is, as we all are, facing a huge crisis in EMS in Texas. What will we do??? We don't know yet. That is probably going to be the biggest agenda item on the meeting on February 11th. We want to hear the thought processes of each Board member AND of each person that attends the meeting so we can hopefully DESIGN a game plan to respond. It is impossible at this juncture to tell you what we as a Board plan to do because we have not heard all the information yet and have not heard all the voices of the members yet. EMS in Texas has really never faced a crisis of this magnitude since its inception, so we all need to get together face-to-face if possible and discuss this issue before any rash judgements or decisions are made. I also hope that the EMSAT lobbyist is present so that we can get his input. The purpose of EMSAT is to help EMS in Texas have the opportunity to have a voice and to attempt to push through needed changes as a group. Some changes have gone through and have been mentioned in various posts over the last week. Others have not. Some changes were good, some weren't as good. But the " purpose " has remained the same. Each and every one of the current Board members wants to help the EMS community push forward in this and other issues. But it is no good if you are not there to help make those decisions and to help decide what is the best plan to push forward. That is the reason I finally joined and that is the reason that I now sit on the Board. I do think that we are not going to be able to derail what is happening because it is legislatively mandated. However, I DO think we could use this to our advantage in the not so distant future to help GET things like we want and need. But, if you don't want to join until you see what is going to transpire at the meeting, then I encourage you to show up and bring your money. Observe and listen. Then, if you think that it is " worth it " , pay your money and become a member and HELP us to work on this and other issues. Folks, EMSAT is NOT going to be the answer to all our problems, and I don't think that anyone is saying that. But right now, it is the ONLY vehicle we have that is structured for this purpose and ready to go once given the support and direction that it needs - from YOU. Jane Hill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Throughout the years, there were copmplaints of how the TDH bureaucracy worked. But at least everything was together under one program specialist or director, reporting to the same most reverened grandest poobaa. Looking at plan, it seems will be worse than dealing with the IRS or trying to fix your dial-up internet by talking to three different software companies. WE MUST STAND TOGETHER ¯-NOW JOIN EMSAT!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Throughout the years, there were copmplaints of how the TDH bureaucracy worked. But at least everything was together under one program specialist or director, reporting to the same most reverened grandest poobaa. Looking at plan, it seems will be worse than dealing with the IRS or trying to fix your dial-up internet by talking to three different software companies. WE MUST STAND TOGETHER ¯-NOW JOIN EMSAT!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 , Go to this site and print out the application and send it with your check. Simple as that. http://www.emsatoftx.org/ Pay no attention to the " under construction " sign and click on " Join Emsat " in the list on the left hand side of the page. EMSAT can only succeed in promoting EMS if it has EMS members. The reason we have been limited in our efforts is lack of members. Legislators laugh at you when you tell them you represent a couple of hundred out of 50,000+ members. Other than that, EMSAT has done much for EMS over the years, among the things we have done being keeping bad legislation from being passed year after year, getting some of our initiatives passed, including the license plate bill last session. (Yes, I know some say that's trivial, but we did a survey and it was the hottest issue among the troops, so that's what they wanted--that's what we did.) We employ a lobbyist, Frazier, who also has clients like Texas Utilities and so forth, and he has done a great job of keeping us apprised of legislation that concerns us. Dozens and dozens of bills that are filed each session affect us in some way, many in ways we would never know until they were passed unless we had . One of the bills we killed was one that would have allowed a police officer to order us to draw blood from a person or patient at an EMS scene. Order. Not request. We did not want to be in that situation. You can imagine trying to take care of a patient and get them out of there and to the trauma center and a Trooper coming up and ordering you to draw blood from a driver before you left and threatening to arrest you if you didn't. We got that bill killed. We do lots of other stuff that's mostly behind the scenes, like getting the wording of bills that affect us changed to correct problems, and so forth. As for " proving " that we can do something, again, we can only do that if we have strength in numbers. If we had 10% of the certified/licensed EMS personnel as members, we could really get a politician's attention. If we had all 55,000, they'd be crawling on their hands and knees to us to see what we needed. So before we can " walk the walk " we must have a membership base to back it up. Hope you'll join and bring some others with you. Best, Gene In a message dated 1/19/2004 9:43:03 PM Central Standard Time, lisawhir@... writes: Okay, Gene, I'll bite. Tell me how to join EMSAT, and what, exactly y'all are doing to move Texas EMS forward (or EMS as whole). I have been watching the debate for quite sometime now (if EMSAT is worth the effort or not). Prove to me EMSAT has the initiative to move this beast forward. I'm there, if y'all are serious about progressing. Talking is great, but show me that " walk. " No doubt, Texas, and EMS as whole needs a huge push. I would love to be one of many voices that makes this happen. Anxiously awaiting your response. , LP, RN, FP-C Clinical Manager PHI Air Medial - Texas (SKYMED) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 , Go to this site and print out the application and send it with your check. Simple as that. http://www.emsatoftx.org/ Pay no attention to the " under construction " sign and click on " Join Emsat " in the list on the left hand side of the page. EMSAT can only succeed in promoting EMS if it has EMS members. The reason we have been limited in our efforts is lack of members. Legislators laugh at you when you tell them you represent a couple of hundred out of 50,000+ members. Other than that, EMSAT has done much for EMS over the years, among the things we have done being keeping bad legislation from being passed year after year, getting some of our initiatives passed, including the license plate bill last session. (Yes, I know some say that's trivial, but we did a survey and it was the hottest issue among the troops, so that's what they wanted--that's what we did.) We employ a lobbyist, Frazier, who also has clients like Texas Utilities and so forth, and he has done a great job of keeping us apprised of legislation that concerns us. Dozens and dozens of bills that are filed each session affect us in some way, many in ways we would never know until they were passed unless we had . One of the bills we killed was one that would have allowed a police officer to order us to draw blood from a person or patient at an EMS scene. Order. Not request. We did not want to be in that situation. You can imagine trying to take care of a patient and get them out of there and to the trauma center and a Trooper coming up and ordering you to draw blood from a driver before you left and threatening to arrest you if you didn't. We got that bill killed. We do lots of other stuff that's mostly behind the scenes, like getting the wording of bills that affect us changed to correct problems, and so forth. As for " proving " that we can do something, again, we can only do that if we have strength in numbers. If we had 10% of the certified/licensed EMS personnel as members, we could really get a politician's attention. If we had all 55,000, they'd be crawling on their hands and knees to us to see what we needed. So before we can " walk the walk " we must have a membership base to back it up. Hope you'll join and bring some others with you. Best, Gene In a message dated 1/19/2004 9:43:03 PM Central Standard Time, lisawhir@... writes: Okay, Gene, I'll bite. Tell me how to join EMSAT, and what, exactly y'all are doing to move Texas EMS forward (or EMS as whole). I have been watching the debate for quite sometime now (if EMSAT is worth the effort or not). Prove to me EMSAT has the initiative to move this beast forward. I'm there, if y'all are serious about progressing. Talking is great, but show me that " walk. " No doubt, Texas, and EMS as whole needs a huge push. I would love to be one of many voices that makes this happen. Anxiously awaiting your response. , LP, RN, FP-C Clinical Manager PHI Air Medial - Texas (SKYMED) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 , Read my reply to Philips' post as to what EMSAT has done. Much of our work has been behind the scenes with legislation. We have tried to stay on top of bills that affect us and help along the ones that are good and stop the ones that are bad. Much of that sort of work in intangible in terms of pointing to something that has our name or imprint on it, but suffice it to say that the laws, rules, and regulations that have governed us have been influenced for the better through EMSAT's vigilance and efforts. Many times our President has been the only person from the EMS community to show up and testify for or against a bill that affects us. Nobody knew about those things. We intend to become a louder voice with the politicos with every member that we gain. Politicians care about one thing and one thing only: votes. If you represent an organization with thousands of members, suddenly everybody wants to listen to you. Without members, they couldn't care less and most won't give you the time of day. We are luck to have a very few state legislators who know something about EMS and our issues, but not many, and we have lost several good ones who didn't get reelected. As we grow in membership and strength, we'll be able to set an agenda that all will be proud of. But we can't do it without members. It is not reasonable to ask EMSAT to prove its worth and relevance when it is a fledgling organization struggling to grow. So many say, prove to me that EMSAT is relevant and I'll join. I say, join and help to MAKE US RELEVANT. Hope this, together with my other post, adequately addresses your concerns. If not, please let me know and I'll go at it again. Best, Gene In a message dated 1/19/2004 10:38:19 PM Central Standard Time, jtmedic@... writes: Gene, I think it is important to tell everyone exactly what EMSAT has done and can do for EMS. It was posted as a question earlier with no specific explanation, so I will ask it again. What has EMSAT done since its existence? Many hear you say that increasing membership will look good to the legislators, but what the majority of the providers don't know is how EMSAT works. How each members voice can be heard and what individuals are already in place that will assist EMS as a whole to obtain our goals. I am for a change and I do believe that we need a strong board to stand up for EMS just like the Board of Nursing or any of the other Boards that are well established. I do believe that a " campaign " type speech would help individuals to know that this is what HAS to happen. Just my Thoughts, , LP Flight Paramedic Memorial Hermann Life Flight Houston, Texas Re: EMSAT Friends! Who cares about our cheesy website right now? Nobody in their right mind. The finest website in Internetdom won't help us unless we have MEMBERS. Our website is good enough right now to get you the application you need to join. DO IT. We can finish fixing the website later. What's past is past about our board. THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. Are we going to bitch and moan like we always have about this faction or that, or are we for once going to bond together and get something done for our profession? Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. It only costs you $35 to become a paid member for a year and add your weight to our membership. Folks, if we could tell our legislators that we have 5,000 members, we could do anything we wanted. If we had 10,000 members, they would be groveling at our feet to see what we wanted. Where do you stand? Will you step forward and make your weight count? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Department of Public Safety? Do you want EMS to be under the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners? Do you want there to be NO agency that has responsibility ONLY TO EMS? That's where we're headed at warp speed, folks. We're already 90% there, and it's going to be a hard landing. We must get an EMS Commission through the next legislature, and that means we needed to start YESTERDAY. Gene G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Go to this link: http://www.emsatoftx.org/join_emsat.htm Print the form and mail it in with your membership dues. Barry McClung, EMT-P Re: Texas EMS:Past Medical Hx..EMSAT > how can we join? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 In a message dated 1/20/2004 11:33:26 PM Central Standard Time, wegandy1938@... writes: , Go to this site and print out the application and send it with your check. Simple as that. Gene, Thanks for the info. Through my private emails today with Phil, I will do just that. You have my full support for EMSAT. Phil answered privately, with honesty, my questions regarding EMSAT. As I stated to him, all I'm asking for is a strong leadership with this group. As one of my favorite persons always says " get 'er done. " Thanks, Randy. I needed some education on EMSAT and where it's going. Phil provided that for me. I am complete support of EMSAT and will do whatever I can to promote the positive future of EMS. I'm all about the " do " and not just the talk. Don't work so hard, Gene. Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 In a message dated 1/20/2004 11:33:26 PM Central Standard Time, wegandy1938@... writes: , Go to this site and print out the application and send it with your check. Simple as that. Gene, Thanks for the info. Through my private emails today with Phil, I will do just that. You have my full support for EMSAT. Phil answered privately, with honesty, my questions regarding EMSAT. As I stated to him, all I'm asking for is a strong leadership with this group. As one of my favorite persons always says " get 'er done. " Thanks, Randy. I needed some education on EMSAT and where it's going. Phil provided that for me. I am complete support of EMSAT and will do whatever I can to promote the positive future of EMS. I'm all about the " do " and not just the talk. Don't work so hard, Gene. Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 THANK YOU Jane. that is what I wanted to know money coming soon and if you are unlucky and I can weasel out of a shift I'll be at the meeting. The only voice of EMS " as it has been put right now is, as we all are, facing a huge crisis in EMS in Texas. What will we do??? We don't know yet. That is probably going to be the biggest agenda item on the meeting on February 11th. We want to hear the thought processes of each Board member AND of each person that attends the meeting so we can hopefully DESIGN a game plan to respond. It is impossible at this juncture to tell you what we as a Board plan to do because we have not heard all the information yet and have not heard all the voices of the members yet. EMS in Texas has really never faced a crisis of this magnitude since its inception, so we all need to get together face-to-face if possible and discuss this issue before any rash judgements or decisions are made. I also hope that the EMSAT lobbyist is present so that we can get his input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 THANK YOU Jane. that is what I wanted to know money coming soon and if you are unlucky and I can weasel out of a shift I'll be at the meeting. The only voice of EMS " as it has been put right now is, as we all are, facing a huge crisis in EMS in Texas. What will we do??? We don't know yet. That is probably going to be the biggest agenda item on the meeting on February 11th. We want to hear the thought processes of each Board member AND of each person that attends the meeting so we can hopefully DESIGN a game plan to respond. It is impossible at this juncture to tell you what we as a Board plan to do because we have not heard all the information yet and have not heard all the voices of the members yet. EMS in Texas has really never faced a crisis of this magnitude since its inception, so we all need to get together face-to-face if possible and discuss this issue before any rash judgements or decisions are made. I also hope that the EMSAT lobbyist is present so that we can get his input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 I'm inclined to agree with Mike here. I joined EMSAT one year and all I received was a welcome letter and pin and, months later, a ballot asking me to vote for board members. Aside from recognizing a few names from this e-mail list, I didn't know who any of them were and didn't vote. I will admit that I am ignorant in the matters of running an organization like this and that I don't know how to go about fixing or improving it. But I don't mind saying that I expected more when I sent in my check. Perhaps part of the problem is that I never wrote EMSTAT and expressed my concerns in this instance. My two cents, PS I like Mike's idea of local chapters. That is something I could get involved in. In a message dated 3/18/2004 11:55:45 AM Central Standard Time, mreed_911@... writes: You're not having any effect. You're not fixing anything. And you're certainly not communicating to anyone about it in any sort of effective manner. You're making things WORSE. Please STOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 , Things are rapidly changing. We have a new website in the works. It's going to have lots more stuff on it. You'll be able to go there and find out what's going on. Take a preview look at www.emsatoftx.org. It's still being worked on, but it's taking shape rapidly. Mailing costs prohibit sending out newsletters, but we'll eventually have a newsletter online so you can see what's happening. You'll also be able to see who the Board Members are. These major changes began on February 24, and they are moving along rapidly. So stay tuned. Things will improve. GG In a message dated 3/18/2004 2:46:05 PM Central Standard Time, troutinthebath@... writes: I'm inclined to agree with Mike here. I joined EMSAT one year and all I received was a welcome letter and pin and, months later, a ballot asking me to vote for board members. Aside from recognizing a few names from this e-mail list, I didn't know who any of them were and didn't vote. I will admit that I am ignorant in the matters of running an organization like this and that I don't know how to go about fixing or improving it. But I don't mind saying that I expected more when I sent in my check. Perhaps part of the problem is that I never wrote EMSTAT and expressed my concerns in this instance. My two cents, PS I like Mike's idea of local chapters. That is something I could get involved in. In a message dated 3/18/2004 11:55:45 AM Central Standard Time, mreed_911@... writes: You're not having any effect. You're not fixing anything. And you're certainly not communicating to anyone about it in any sort of effective manner. You're making things WORSE. Please STOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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