I had mentioned in the last newsletter that our annual conference would be held in Twin Falls.  That has since changed and will be held in Jackpot, Nevada, August 22-23, 2002.  Elections for the 2003 Board of Directors will be held during the conference.  Offices that need to be filled are:  President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director at Large.  Nolan Bybee is the nominations/elections chair, so please contact him if you know of someone who is interested in running for one of these offices. 

The ISRC will be awarding a scholarship to an RT student.  If you know of any student that could benefit, please get the application form from our website at http://www.idasrc.org/scholarship_application.htm or contact me and I will get one to that student.  The deadline is August 1.

Nancy

   Note:  Contributions can be made to Nancy Roberts, President.

Gene’s occupations varied after high school.  He worked in a lumber mill, textile mill, feed mill, and drove a concrete truck...just to name a few of his endeavors.  He even tried his hand at farming for a while. In 1976, he married his wife of 26 years, Sally (a registered nurse from the same county in North Carolina).  He still continued to search for his occupational calling in life.  In 1981, Gene and Sally were blessed with a son, Daniel (who is presently serving his country in the United States Marine Corps).

In 1989, Gene had the misfortune of experiencing the closing of the Every Ready Battery Company where he worked as a machine operator.  Without a job, he and Sally started looking into job opportunities in the western United States.  This was prompted by Gene’s love for hunting and adventure.  In 1990, the Reel family loaded up their belongings and moved west to Casper, Wyoming.

Gene and Sally found employment with Wyoming Medical Center located in Casper.  Gene had never been employed in the health care field.  He began his health care career as a Radiology Transport Aide.  Being introduced to the enormous opportunities available in health care, Gene found his vocation in life.  He was asked to attend an outreach education program from Western Wyoming Community College located in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  The outreach education program was for Respiratory Therapy and was taught at Wyoming Medical Center.  With the same competitive, winning spirit that was created during his high school sports days, Gene accepted the challenge of returning to school at the age of forty.  After two years of many sleepless nights of studying for agonizing tests and with love, support, and prayers from family and friends, Gene emerged victorious as a Respiratory Therapist.  With compassion and love for mankind, he began his vocation in life (he had found his calling).  But do not think he did not get to experience his love for hunting and adventure.  Gene stated that a man had to keep work and play within prospective.

After working for a while in Casper, Gene and Sally decided to look for adventures elsewhere in the West.  Gene set his sights on Lewiston, Idaho.  He was intrigued with the ideas that Lewiston was considered a seaport for the Pacific Ocean and that Idaho was a hunter’s paradise, so the Reel family moved once again to Lewiston, Idaho, in 1996.  Gene and Sally are employed with St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in the Cardiopulmonary Department, he as a Respiratory Therapist and she as the Cardiac Rehab Nurse.  Gene works as a clinical therapist with acute care and home oxygen patients.  He is a true asset to the profession.  He has received much positive feedback from his patients and peers regarding his compassionate caring nature.  For a man who has had many jobs in his life, he has found his one true vocation.

NOTE:  In 2000, Gene was diagnosed with colon cancer.  After surgery and during chemotherapy, Gene was determined to practice his vocation.  He only missed two days of work during his six months of treatment.  That determination speaks for Gene’s commitment to the care of respiratory patients.  In February of this year, Gene was diagnosed with recurring metastatic colon cancer.  His prognosis has a five percent survival rate.  He has begun aggressive chemotherapy.  Due to his present medical condition and status, Gene is unable to work.  He and his family would like to thank each of the Idaho Society for Respiratory Care members for their prayers and expressions of concern during this difficult time in their lives.  On May 4, the Cardiopulmonary/Neuro-diagnostic Department of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho, will be sponsoring a golf tournament to benefit Gene.  Contact Duke Richardson, RRT, at SJRMC – 208-799-5207 for further details.

If you are interested and willing to be considered as part of the AARC’s Clinical Experts, please contact Cheryl West from the AARC’s Executive Office with a brief synopsis of your background and contact information.  She can be reached at:
 

• Sepracor Achievement Award for Excellence in Pulmonary Disease State Management
• Forrest M. Bird Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award
• Invacare Award for Excellence in Home Respiratory Care
• Dr. Charles H. Hudson Award for Cardiopulmonary Public Health
• Education Recognition Awards
• Morton B. Duggan, Jr. Memorial Award
• Jimmy A. Young Memorial Award
• NBRC/AMP William W. Burgin, Jr., MD Award
• NBRC/AMP Robert M. Lawrence, MD Award
• NBRC/AMP Gareth B. Gish, BS, RRT Memorial Postgraduate Award
• William F. Miller, MD Postgraduate Award

Nancy Roberts, President, called the meeting to order.

The minutes of the previous meeting were not read.

Treasurer's Report:
The treasurer’s report was accepted. (See attached)

Committee Reports:

• PACT – Renie and Conrad will meet with the Idaho Congressman on April 12.  The issue at this time is Home Care.
• Membership – David is the new membership chair.  Nancy drafted a letter to send to persons who have not renewed their membership.
• Delegates report – Renie stated the summer forum is June 12, The resolutions needing decided upon will be addressed at the next meeting.
• Newsletter – Nancy stated we received $150 from Norco and $100 from Mednow.  The next issue goes out in April.
• Nominations – Nolan Bybee is the new chair.
• Bylaws – No report.
• Camp Super Breathers – There are 40 counselors and 10 campers signed up.  Need to look for more campers.  There are 30 scholarships available.
• Fall Conference – The Nevada Society did not wish to participate in the planning.  The new dates for the conference will be August 22-23 at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot Nevada.  David had downloaded some information on how to plan a conference.  This will be passed on to each conference chair.

• Website – A motion was passed to have Pam Lambert continue as the web master and to pay her yearly.  She will also pay the bills yearly and submit a bill for all the services yearly to be reimbursed.
• Asthma Summit is September 23-24 in Boise.
• Disaster Response – Lande stated that all persons who wish to become part of this team must pass a security check.

• International Fellow – Nola will no longer be doing this.  After Conrad volunteered BSU, a motion was made to have BSU pick up this project.
• Nominations for Life and Honorary Membership – The deadline has passed for this year, but the following names were suggested for next year,  Tom Gable, Conrad Colby and Paul Gauer.
• President’s meeting – The AARC is sending the president-elect all the information that the president gets in order to help get the president elect get ready to take over the president’s duties with a better understanding of what is expected.  David stated one of the big concerns he learned about is the societies tax status.  Duke will look in to finding this out.
• Scholarship – The deadline for application was changed to August 1.  The committee to select a winner will be composed of Nancy, David and Ramona.
• Other – Duke will look into having discussions via a private site on the internet. Duke also reported that there is a Respiratory Therapist that works at St. Joe’s in Lewiston that has colon cancer.  There will be a golf tournament benefit for him on May 4.   His name is Gene Reel.  The ISRC will send $200.00 to help him out.

Respectfully submitted,

Ramona Sailor
ISRC Secretary Elect
 

Nancy Roberts, President David Blakeman, President-elect Connie Leavitt, Past President Rob DeVinaspre, Vice President Ramona Sailor, Secretary Duke Richardson, Treasurer

Bob Rosselle, Delegate Renie Johnson, Delegate Steve Schaal, Director at Large Carmen Griggs, Director at Large Dr. Nirmal Charan, Medical Dir. Lande Lambert, SBOM Rep.

The Mountain Air newsletter editor is Nancy Roberts. If you would like to contribute information/articles, please contact Nancy by e-mail: nkroberts@earthlink.net, or fax (208) 381-2452.