To Oregon Chapter Members, Colleagues and Partners,

 First off, Happy New Year to all of you!!  Hope you were able to spend valuable time with family and friends.  My family, unfortunately, did not make the trip to Pasadena, but will look forward to the opportunity next year. Go Beavs!!!

 One of the objectives of our Strategic Plan was to evaluate the current leadership structure of the Oregon Chapter for maximum potential of involvement.  We identified two strategies/tactics to assist the board in this decision:

1.      Compare and contrast other chapters’ leadership structure within Region XI

·        Update: At the Fall President’s meeting, I led a discussion describing our current structure with the other chapter Presidents and President-Elects.  We also had the benefit of our Regional and National leadership representatives.  Many of the other larger chapters like Southern Cal and Northern Cal have very similar structures as Oregon which include years of service within the committee structure which progresses to Board Members and finally the Officer track.  Smaller chapters like San Diego and Nevada have a very short term to President.

·        Concluding theme was that all of the chapters were evaluating the terms in leadership and how to make their chapters as viable looking forward.

2.      Consider the position of Treasurer as not a requirement to succeed to President

·        Update: We had a special board meeting in December to evaluate the pros and cons of this issue.  Some of the “pros”  included:

                                                                i.     Stability in the position for more than a one year term

                                                              ii.     Attracts the “accountant” experts to an officer position that does not necessarily require the succession to President

                                                            iii.     Reduces the terms in the leadership structure by one year

·        Conclusion was that we approved that the Treasurer position would NOT be part of the succession to President.  The position would still remain an officer and fill for a two year term.  Our By-Laws do NOT need to be amended for this change but wanted to ensure that the membership was fully informed of this Board decision.

 Lastly, we are looking forward to our winter meeting which will be held on the campus of OHSU in Portland, February 17-19, 2010.  Key themes will focus Hospital Provider Tax to implications of Provider Based Billing models.  We will be offering some additional sessions on Wednesday afternoon particularly focused on reimbursement related issues.  Hope to see you all there!!

 Until we meet again,

Diana Gernhart

Oregon Chapter President, FY09-10