Re: One thing wrong with EMSAT

March 22, 2004

Again, more rah-rah chatter. I'm still not seeing the concrete reasons why

EMSAT is worth a medic's money. I'm not talking about giveaway items like

membership cards or bumper stickers. I'm talking about showing how EMSAT is an

effective voice for its members, both individually and collectively.

If EMSAT is a political group, show the positive results of the lobbying

efforts. If EMSAT is an educational group, show the great educational

opportunities that it offers.

I think one of the problems that any organization is going to have is that

many providers in urban systems feel more of an affinity with their local system

than they do the community as a whole. That explains why there's a city of

XYZ police association (which is probably affiliated with one of the statewide

police associations). And of course, most of the firefighter's associations

are actually a local of the IAFF.

Another problem as I see it is that it's human nature to look for individual

benefits that can be readily shown. Lobbying the Legislature is spectacular,

but what about the medic who wants to know if EMSAT will provide representation

when his job is in jeopardy? Will EMSAT lobby local governments for pay

raises?

Finally, since Texas has a bit of reputation as a nonunion friendly state

(slight understatement), many people have an aversion to joining a union. That

might be another problem with the low membership numbers.

-Wes

March 22, 2004

> EMSAT. It already exists. It's the best thing we've ever had, and

> essentially all we've got. It is recognized as the Texas affilliate

> chapter of the NAEMT.

Ron,

My argument from eons past about why I wasn't joining EMSAT was 'as a

Republican, if there were no Republican party, would I join the Democratic

party? Just to have an affiliation? " The answer then was no, and the answer

remains no.

Am I rejoining? Sure am, I mailed my renewal check yesterday. I hope

has it within a day or two. But I joined because I saw new faces on the

board, and hoped that some changes would be in the pipeline.

There are better reasons to join than " It's the only thing we've got " .

> It's direction is determined by the majority vote of its members.

> What other organization offers that? Could it be more representative

> than that? Could it be more fair?

I am gonna hear about this one, but if this were the case, the membership

would have been asked about the bylaw amendment which was omitted on

November 23rd prior to it being amended in the first place. It was the furor

that was raised AFTER the fact that caused it to be changed. I ask that if

such things are about to happen, to poll your members, than take a stand.

As an outsider, the only reference I had to EMSAT's stand on issues were Ron

H.'s posts, many of his stands I disagreed with, I could only assume that as

he was the President, he spoke for EMSAT, if such has changed, then perhaps

we should know that.

Gene recently said that an electronic newsletter is in the works, that would

be great, I see the website is being updated, that's great as well, so I see

things changing on the outside, but the core is waht I worry about.

>

> The only thing its members cannot change is the purpose for which it

> was originally chartered.

I don't want to change the reason it was chartered, I would like to see it's

ideals explained so that it appeals to more and more of the younger incoming

medics and other personnel, as they are the ones who will most likely

benefit from it. It needs to appeal to

> EMSAT doesn't have a suggestion box. It is not designed to anything

> for you. It is merely a vessel for you to use to do something for

> yourself, and for your profession.

I beg to differ, EMSAT wants to use me, by way of saying to legislators, " We

represent X number of EMS professionals " if you do that, I do want to know

what your going to do for me, if you are going to successfully represent me

to State level politicians, than that's fine, that's what you are going to

do for me. I can' and have' faxed and written and called my legislators on a

myriad of issues involving EMS, with specifics to rural EMS in Texas.

>

> If you think that there should be local chapters- join. Present your

> idea, and be willing to offer compelling reasons as to why it's a

> good idea, and perhaps a plan to implement your idea.

I was a bit gunshy of the idea of local chapters at first, but I have

quickly warmed up to it. I think the correlation between the successes of

IAFF and other organizations show at least one compelling reason. On the

other hand, can you offer any compelling reasons why we should not break

down into local chapters?

> I'm there, and so are a few others. We're waiting for you, so we can

> get this thing started. I for one am tired of talking about it.

>

> Come on already.

So let's talk about the local chapters issue, as I said before, I think

we're on the right track with it, so lets fire up a locomotive and go to

work.

I need a Macaduno and a brandy...............

Regards,

'Tater Salad' Hatfield EMT-P

" I had the 'right' to remain silent......but I did not have the 'ability'. "

Mark your calendar!! EMStock 2004!!

www.EMStock.com

March 23, 2004

I think we have beat this one to death already. Next topic?

Salvador Capuchino Jr

EMT-Paramedic

Valley EMS

www.valleyems.com