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June 2007
| Vol. 25, No. 6
 President's
Message
by Melissa A. Vickery, LPN-B, RVT
President’s Message
By Melissa Vickery, LPN-B, RVT
Let The Celebration Begin!
Beginning June 7, 2007, SVU will be holding its 30th Anniversary
Annual Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center. As you know
we have been meeting in conjunction with the Society for Vascular
Surgery (SVS), the Peripheral Vascular Surgical Society (PVSS),
and the Society for Vascular Medicine & Biology at what is called
the Vascular Annual Meeting for three years. This year the Society
for Vascular Nursing (SVN) joins all of the groups in Baltimore
to give us five participating societies.
In addition to the annual conference highlights, which include
the D. E. Strandess, M.D. Scientific Session, the Alex Chao, M.D./Young
Investigators Scientific Session, the popular Morning Tutorials,
the interactive Skills Lab Session, the SVU Annual Business Meeting,
the SVU Annual Election, and the Poster Session, activities and
displays have been planned by the 30th Anniversary Subcommittee
to enhance the conference and recognize this unique milestone for
our Society. I hope that you have taken the opportunity to view
the Program Schedule on the SVU website (www.svunet.org). Pre-conference
lectures include an Abdominal Vascular Lecture/Hands-on Workshop,
an ICAVL Accreditation Workshop, and a SVU Special Vascular Laboratory
Testing and Management Course which provides requested educational
opportunities to our attendees.
During the Annual Conference Program, we will also be recognizing
SVU Charter Members, Founding Members, Past Presidents, SVU Fellows,
and Honorary Members. The opportunity to participate in the recognition
of our past and the direction of our future is an exciting prospect,
and one in which I feel honored to be involved. I believe that the
Annual Conference Committee has prepared a wide variety of timely
topics that will provide you with several practical applications
as you return home to your workplace at the end of the Annual Conference.
One of the events that will give those attending a wonderful opportunity
to celebrate together will be the SVU 30th Anniversary Gala Reception
that will be held at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel on Friday evening,
June 8. Many of you have already responded that you will be attending,
and I hope that others will take this opportunity to participate
at this special reception which promises several surprises. I hope
to be able to meet and greet many of you at the conference and our
celebratory reception of our 30 years of service to the vascular
ultrasound profession.
Membership
Many members have determined that SVU does provide needed benefits
to them and to their profession by renewing their membership for
2007. I suspect they have also been participating in the “Each
One -- Reach One” membership drive that George Berdejo initiated
during his Presidency, as we have had a significant increase in
new members to our Society so far this year. SVU continues to serve
its membership and potential members by searching for ways to provide
benefit and support in this dedicated profession.
How Can I Be Involved?
Glad you asked. Over the years we have discussed that our dedicated
profession has many individuals who are approaching retirement,
so the need to mentor and nurture enthusiasm in those who are entering
the field is great. SVU, through committee work and participation
in the Society and on the Board of Directors, can provide opportunities
for the next generation of leaders in this field. I have in the
past asked members to share their talents and knowledge with others
in order to preserve and expand the knowledge in our field. Due
to the changes in Medicare reimbursement, many vascular labs are
being impacted by reductions in staff, reduced funds for educational
growth, and creating a challenge for those in our field to remain
current and grow. SVU continues to search for creative opportunities
to help those in the field, and support them to be our future. If
you have wanted to share your time and talents, now more than ever
is the time and I again urge you to become more involved with your
Society and your peers. I promise you that the interaction and sharing
of knowledge is well worth the time spent.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the SVU Annual Conference
in Baltimore! Thank you again for your support of SVU.
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