Alliance of Air National Guard Flight Surgeons s1

Alliance of Air National Guard Flight Surgeons Annual Business Meeting:

1400 November 11, 2002 Room 207/208 Louisville KY Convention Center

President, BGen Annie Sobel called the meeting to order. By consensus, format was informal, collegial and results/consensus oriented.

Vice president & historian, LtCol Brett Wyrick, SAS, Hawaii encouraged Alliance membership. He also encouraged senior members to get their junior members into the organization. He suggested bringing younger docs to HSM/AsMA. As historian, he also requested records. Richard Terry has done an outstanding job of compiling and organizing information that he then passed on to Brett. Brett also announced that there will be a picture party at AsMA for which he will schedule the time and provide the pizza.

Secretary, LtCol Bill Pond reported that minutes from prior meetings are available for inspection. Minutes will also be available on the website. LtCol Pond distributed (at no cost to the AANGFS) CDs to officers and Board members and other interested members. These CDs contain the current AANGFS database in Access 2002, database converted to Access 2000 and newsletters to back to 1998.

Newsletter Editor, LtCol Bill Pond reported that the newsletter is in excellent health. Outstanding contributors make for an outstanding publication. Technical improvements continue since the editor now has access to a duplexing tabloid sized laser printer that allows color printing on high gloss paper. Printing costs are substantially less ($0.098 per page) than commercial ($0.87 per page) since the AANGFS is charged only for paper and ink. Mailing costs is $0.37-0.60 depending upon the number of pages. With the permission of the Board, during the summer a mailing was sent to update the database. This has saved substantial AANGFS funds by eliminating unnecessary mailings. With the permission of the Board, membership solicitation with an enclosed, addressed return envelope was a resounding success. LtCol Pond delivered membership checks of almost $2,000.00 to VP Brett Wyrick. BGen Gerry Harmon emphasized the importance of contributions to the newsletter.

Col Kirk Martin, Treasurer had to leave before the meeting but he left the information to be presented by Brett Wyrick. Balance in the account is $12,519.49. (Prior to receipt of membership dues and prior to paying for Newsletter printing and mailing.)

Multiple Issues Forum: BGen Harmon talked about recruitment, PME. AWC may not be required for Col in the medical corps. General Jumper now requires AWC or senior service school, but this may not be the case in the future. The issue is being studied. AWC is required for promotion to general officer. PME may need to be tailored for the particular field. All advanced education is not the same. Col Terry echoed thoughts regarding recruiting new flight docs. The flight docs may be more inclined to come to HSM. BGen Sobel tasked Col Terry to look into the issue. One member expressed concern about losing people to the army guard due to bonuses. Another talked about getting the senior docs and commanders to recruit. Another talked about difficulty in getting docs to school. LtCol Wyrick talked about Maj Pinkston being the POC for docs wanting to go to school. Col Pasternak talked about giving new flight docs a 1 year membership. The Alliance is still talking about the same issues of recruitment. Unless people have a buy in, there is no reason to participate. Participation in the organization is what gets members fired up. Get docs to AsMA, get them involved, and make them leaders. Jim Nelson from Ohio talked about PME, multiple organizations, perception of the AANGFS as a club, the value of the organization, the difficulties that other organizations experience. The organization must have value. The issue is one of money, but younger members cannot come because they do not have experience to bring it.

Action: BGen Sobel appointed Membership Task Force Chairman: Richard Terry with report at next meeting.

Col Bruce Guerdan reported on the educational program for AsMA on the Sunday. Speakers will be combination of operational and educational. Hanger 9 Barbeque on the Sunday evening. Anniversary dates are usually formal. Formal banquet is usually held with the change of officers. Annie suggested keeping informal at AsMA 2003 but the formalities be saved for AsMA 2004. Whinnery lecture Col David Jones & Dr. Bob Rosano(?) re post traumatic stress. Col Guerdan re CCATT training. Col Falk then commented.

ADFAC: Col Terry is the flight doc representative. This is a line function. Bruce Guerdan is the “belly button” for operational issues (SME, CCATT), Mike Poletta for team aerospace. The line has needs that are similar to the medics. Change is coming. AANGFS nominating committee is composed of Col Terry (chairman) and the past presidents. No nominations yet since terms are for 2 years. Work with the FEMA regions for synergy.

Brett Wyrick moved to recognize lecturers with a plaque up to $200.00.

Reid Muller from New York talked about website www.angfs.com. Current version of flight surgeon’s guide updated to include EMEDS, WMD.

Final Issue: AMSUS discussion.

Guard CCATT Organization: Gerry Doyle, William Pond & Bruce Guerdan will look into it.

Respectfully Submitted,

LtCol William W. Pond, MD Secretary, AANGFS AANGFS Board of Governors Meeting:

1730 November 11, 2002 Room 207/208 Louisville KY Convention Center

Educational Meeting Effort Expenditure and Logistics: Background: Preparation for an educational meeting requires significant time and energy. Dividing energy between AMSUS & HSM/AsMA is difficult. The program at AMSUS 2002 is a transition year. Due to logistical issues, more Guard activities and education is transferring from autumn AMSUS to spring HSM/AsMA. HSM/AsMA will be the focus of energy for the AANGFS. Action: AANGFS will prepare the educational program at HSM/AsMA with Air Force Reserve Flight Surgeons invited. AANGFS will no longer provide an educational program at AMSUS.

Educational Meeting Content: Background: All flight surgeons including junior ones must have continued skill education and verification as specified by the RSV (Readiness Skills Verification) skill set for 48G3. Because of the small number of flight surgeons at each unit and lack of unit-level training, such training is best accomplished at a central location. Commanders must have justification to send flight docs to meeting. Periodic RSV skills sets must be accomplished, some as a minimum of every 2 years. The Air Force Reserves had for several years an Aeromedical Sustainment Course that was then merged with the Team Aerospace Meeting (TAOS), but the number of positions available for Guardsmen was very limited. Action: Consideration will be given to formulating the Educational program to meet Air Force Readiness Skills Verification requirements as part of the AsMA/HSM program. Documentation will be given to each flight doc.

Interchange of information: Background: Members felt that an open exchange of information among commanders, advisors, assistants, and flight docs is beneficial. The session with LtGen Taylor was very productive. Action: AANGFS President, BGen Sobel will communicate request by AANGFS. BGen Harmon will relay this to the Advisors & Assistants. A 2-hour time block will be scheduled at HSM/AsMA, probably best left to MGen Higdon.

Social Event: Background: The annual social event should be accomplished at the location attended by the most AANGFS members. More, especially the younger ones, will be attending HSM/AsMA. Action: AANGFS will host the social event at HSM/AsMA. The formal social event will be scheduled for the change of AANGFS officer years, i.e., 2003 will be informal, 2004 will be formal.

Respectfully submitted,

LtCol William W. Pond, MD Secretary, AANGFS