MINUTES
MICHIGAN CHAPTER, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORKING MEETING
Red Rooster/Makuch's Restaurant / Flint, MI
August 17, 2000

PRESENT:
Andrew W. Saxe, MD, President
Verne L. Hoshal Jr., MD, President-Elect
Farouck Obeid, MD, Secretary
Duane Freier, MD, Past President
John C. Eggenberger, MD, Website Manager

ALSO PRESENT:
William DeCourcy, Manager, Computer Operations
F.B. "Tom" Plasman, Chapter Administrator

ABSENT:
Cheryl Wesen, MD, Treasurer
Mark Puls, MD, Councilor

  1. CALLED TO ORDER. Andrew W. Saxe, MD, President, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

  2. REVIEW OF 2000/2001 MC, ACS MEETING SCHEDULE. The 2000/2001 meetings schedule for the Program Committee, Issues Committee, Council Meeting, and Annual Meeting was presented. After review, it was determined to change February 7, 2001 Program Committee Meeting to February 21, 2001. There was agreement by the Directors on the remaining dates of Committee Meetings. Mr. Plasman will proceed with securing meeting rooms at the MSMS Headquarters, East Lansing, Michigan for the Committee Meetings. Copies of the final schedule will be mailed to each member of each committee.

  3. REVIEW May 2000 ANNUAL MEETING. Verne L. Hoshal, Jr., MD, President-Elect and Program Committee Chair then reported he had reviewed the financial statements from the hotel and other services for the meeting and found them, upon adjustment, to be acceptable. He also stated that this was one of the lesser costly annual meetings that the Society has conducted. Regarding problems experienced during the meeting there was general concern regarding the absence of control, usually accomplished by the issuance of tickets, for the various dinner meetings. This matter will be addressed by staff so that the situation will not occur during the May 2001 meeting.

    The report of this meeting which is to be submitted to the American College of Surgeons, Chicago Headquarters, was next reviewed with appropriate additions and corrections.
    MCACS Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 8/17/00 - 2

    Doctor Hoshal Jr. then reviewed the meeting arrangements and the proposed hotel contract for the Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn, Michigan, for the May 10,11,12, Annual Meeting. Upon review of this proposed contract it was determined to proceed with signing of this contract.

  4. COMPOSITION OF Council, Issues, and Program Committees. There was then a review of the master listing of memberships wherein it is noted that the membership to the Issues Committee and Program Committee are annual appointments, whereas the Council appointments are for a three year term of office each member being eligible to serve more than one term. It was noted that the BYLAWS are silent on the number of terms each director may serve in sequence. Discussion ensued on the review of past minutes to confirm the terms and year of term for the council and committee memberships.

    It was also determined that the Secretary will archive correspondence from the ACS calling to the attention of the council or appropriate committee those items of information that are pertinant to the function of those committees.

  5. FINACIAL. Doctor Andrew W. Saxe initiated discussion regarding the 501 (c)(6) status of the Michigan Chapter. There was then discussion of the ACS Chapter Guidebook, Section, Lobbing Political Action and Political Contributions, for tax exempt organizations indicating the activities in which MC, ACS being a 501 (c)(6) may become involved. After a brief discussion it was determined that should the Chapter become interested in pursuing lobbing efforts that it would undertake the preparation of a detailed program proposal outlining the advantages and disadvantages to the Chapter, for consideration by the Board of Directors and the Membership.

    Doctor Hoshal then reviewed the Chapter financial statement pointing out that in the Statement of Operations for various meetings, for example expenses for the Issues Committee Meeting, had been miscategorized to the Annual Meeting expense section rather than the Committee Meetings expense section. With this correction the budget report is in order.

  6. REVIEW CHAPTER ANNUAL CALENDAR. The calendar was next reviewed pointing out that the functions specified for July and August are on target while some of the functions identified for September are already in process.

  7. DATABASE. William DeCourcy, Manager, Computer Operations spoke regarding the database and the various opportunities for using this information in creating list server options for officers, committee members, and manipulating the database in comparison with the Surgeons Licensed to practice in the State. Mr. Plasman has initiated efforts to obtain from Doris C. Foley Licensing Administrator, Health Licensing division, State of Michigan the list of surgeons practicing in the State regardless of specialty. If this is successful a computer comparison could be possible.

  8. WEBSITE. Doctor John C. Eggenberger then discussed the Website identifying the changes that he had made to the site since the May Annual Meeting. He then offered many suggestions regarding information that could be included on the Website for benefit of ACS officers and members. For example, there was consideration of a printable application for membership in the Society available on the Website. After discussion it was determined that this should not be implemented. There was also discussion of the Website containing a directory of MC,ACS members and upon further consideration it was determined not to undertake this function on the Website. There was however very positive response regarding separate pages on the Website for Cancer and Trauma Committees and there reports. The current officer and committee chair/membership listings would also be included on the Website.

  9. NEW ACTIVITIES. There was discussion regarding State political activity and as previously discussed in the meeting it was determined that should there be an interest, a proposal would be sought that would discuss the pros and cons and expense of lobbing involvement for consideration by the membership and board. There was also thought of a "Day in Surgery" program for the state which could be not only for Legislators, but also for Education Programs in the schools. Discussion ensued.

  10. REPORT OF CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR. Mr. Plasman's report included a review of the Exhibitor's List, efforts to obtain the listing of surgeons licensed in the State of Michigan, plus a review of the protocol for implementing a letter to collect unpaid dues for the Calendar year 1999.

  11. ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business to become before the committee the meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:

Farouck Obeid, MD, FACS Secretary

ATTEST:

Andrew W. Saxe, MD, FACS President