Chapter News

Discount SVU Annual Conference Registration for Chapter Presidents

Online SVU Annual Conference and hotel registration for the 2008 Annual Conference in San Diego will be available on the SVU website as of March 3. The conference will run from June 5 until June 7, with pre-conference sessions on June 4. The complete conference program and online AC registration form is now available on the SVU website. We invite all of the SVU Affiliated Chapter Presidents to attend the 2008 Annual Conference. Chapter Presidents are invited to take advantage of the 50% discount on the registration fee. Your AC registration form and the discounted fee should be submitted directly to Missi McLean at the National Office.

We also would like to invite all Chapter Presidents to attend the combined Chapters/Membership Subcommittee meetings being held together on Friday, June 6, from 5 to 6 PM in the San Diego Convention Center. This is a wonderful opportunity to speak with members of the Subcommittees as well as SVU Board members. By attending this meeting, your questions and concerns regarding your Chapter or the Society will be addressed by members who can give correct and concise information.

The Chapters Subcommittee would like to invite all Chapter members to attend our Chapters Breakfast on Friday, June 6 from 7 to 8:15 AM in the San Diego Convention Center. Last year’s first Chapters Breakfast in Baltimore was a great success. Ideas and information were exchanged among Chapter Presidents. Those interested in starting a chapter are also invited to attend. The networking opportunity that is available during this breakfast is invaluable to all who attend. We are requesting Affiliated Chapters help to sponsor the Chapters Breakfast by making a contribution to SVU to help cover the food and room costs of the breakfast. Please contact Missi McLean of the National Office at mmclean@svunet.org regarding your Chapter’s contribution for the Chapters Breakfast. We thank you for your continued support and hope to see you at your breakfast.

Chapters Recognition Awards

An Outstanding Chapter recognition award will be presented at the 2008 Annual Conference. The Recognition award is given to the Chapter or Chapters that meet some or all of the criteria initiated several years ago. It includes the following: dues received by February 29; a blurb in the e-Spectrum regarding Chapter activities; increase in Chapter membership; offering 10 CME’s to their members from meetings during the past year; promotion of SVU during at least one meeting of the past year; student involvement; and contributions to an SVU committee or event. Points are given to each criteria and then totaled to ascertain the Chapter to receive the 2008 award. Last year there were three Chapters that received Recognition Awards: Red River Valley Vascular Society, Northeastern Pennsylvania Vascular Chapter, and North Jersey Vascular Association.

The Chapters Subcommittee also is soliciting nominations for the Outstanding Chapter Individual Recognition Award to be presented at the Annual Conference in San Diego. This award is given to an individual in an Affiliated Chapter who unselfishly gives of his/her time and energy to the success of a Chapter. In the past this award has been given to outstanding individuals who go above and beyond in their dedication to their Chapter and to the Society. In 2003 Rosie Munoz of the Houston Society of Non-Invasive Vascular Technology was the first recipient, followed by: 2004--Sam Wagner-Sevy of Northeastern Pennsylvania Vascular Chapter; 2005--Margaret (Koko) Park of Northern Ohio Vascular Association; 2006--Kathleen Garcia of the Houston Society of Noninvasive Vascular Technology; and 2007--Jeanette Flannery of North Jersey Vascular Association. Perhaps you know of someone who should be awarded for their dedication and outstanding contribution to an affiliated chapter. Please submit your nomination along with your justifications why this individual deserves of the award to jeflannery@sbhcs.com. All nominations must be received by May 1 for consideration.

Welcome To a New Chapter

After attending the November 2007 meeting of the North Jersey Vascular Association, several technologists from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital decided to form a Chapter to accommodate those vascular technologists in South Jersey and the surrounding area. In February 2008, the South Jersey Vascular Association (SJVA) was officially recognized as an SVU Affiliated Chapter. The officers are: Nicole Ruglio, President; Vinnie Cuerva, Vice President; Robin Gardner, Secretary; and Kellie Varner, Treasurer. When asked what Nicole hopes to achieve for the Chapter, she responded, “I want to expand the family of Chapters to include South Jersey and Philadelphia. CME’s are available on line, but the personal sharing of information, networking and education among technologists is more important then ever in these times of improving technology, credentialing and reimbursement issues.” Congratulations to Nicole and her SJVA officers. We expect to hear soon some new and exciting developments from our newest chapter. Anyone interested in joining the South Jersey Vascular Association Chapter can contact Nicole at nruglio@rwjuhh.edu.

Northern Ohio Vascular Association

The Northern Ohio Vascular Association (NOVA) will hold a Spring Symposium on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Double Tree Hotel Cleveland South, 6200 Quarry Lane,
I-77 and Rockside Road, in Independence, Ohio. Guest speakers include: Shelly Burns, RVT who is now with ICAVL as Technical Director, who will discuss “The ABC’s of Accreditation and How to Simplify the Process.” Susan Whitlow, RVT and manager of the Cleveland Clinic Vascular Lab, will discuss “Renal Artery Scan, Graft Surveillance and Complications. A live scanning demonstration will occur simultaneously during her lecture. Have you ever been faced with a deposition? Edward Taber, attorney at law, will discuss “Charting the Medical Record for Sonographers” and the legal ramifications of our profession. David Rollins, MD, will cover an arterial session. The conference program has applied for 5.5 CME’s. Multiple vendors will be onsite for equipment viewing and live scanning. Please contact Margaret Park at Parkm@ccf.org, or Angela Jagan at ambenet@aol.com for further information.