MiSHE Board Meeting Overview

 

 

 

 


for December 2012


Terry Bennett, 2012 MiSHE President, opened the first meeting of the new board and asked for everyone’s help to achieve the goals of:


  1. streamlining board meetings
  2. ensuring transparency throughout the society with every member understanding what is done and why
  3. encouraging the use of YAK and web-based educational opportunities for members
  4. promoting and growing the membership of MAHE, our affiliate chapter
  5. encouraging growth in membership (especially long-term health facilities)

He stated that “We need to help people to understand the value of MiSHE as they continue to struggle with the stresses of their facilities, management and careers.”


In keeping with the goal of transparency, Bob Grutter, Immediate Past-president, asked if there could be more information in the treasurers report. Formerly, the only MiSHE accounting is presented. Since, all of the regional chapter officers are on the board, it would be a help to them, and information to all, if the regional chapter accounting is presented at the board meeting. Future treasurer reports will show regional chapter accounting.


The Advocacy committee reported that discussion continues toward adopting the 6 year fire damper inspection rule, but that it will take more time, since Ron Farr has left his position and a new Fire Marshall will be appointed.


The comment period for the FGI guidelines for hospitals was closed at the end of October. Several comments were submitted, but MiSHE members need to work toward sending comments, too. It was stated that the number of comments is important, not that they came from any one person or organization. After volume, the comments are reviewed for variety .


Minimum state design standards will be adopted “someday”. MiSHE should look at the minimum design standards and comment on the document for clarifications, mistakes, etc. Comments may motivate the adoption and corrections.


On Dec. 10th ASHE sponsored a meeting of Advocacy representatives from platinum and gold award winners. MiSHE is a platinum chapter. Liaison members were invited to Chicago. Bob Grutter, our ASHE Advocacy representative, could not attend, but Gary Denslow volunteered to take his place and report back.


Tim Tinney, Fire Safety Board representative, will be stepping down in July 2012 when his tenure has expired. MiSHE has identified three potential candidates that are interested in filling the seat. The board will review candidates at the March board meeting.


Board members were reminded to gather input for any changes to the bylaws. The MiSHE bylaws are reviewed each year. Amendments to the bylaws must be sent to the Secretary, Mark Zimmerman, for discussion, recommendation, and vote by the June board meeting. Bylaws changes are ratified by the membership at the September Annual Membership Meeting, held at the conference.


The new membership brochure was passed around and discussed. Plans for a membership campaign were discussed. The board liked the new brochure and encouraged its use. It was suggested that Associate members be given the new brochure to take to healthcare institutions they call on. Associate members are considered to be ambassadors to new members for MiSHE.


Education committee, consisting of Brian Scully, Terry Bennett, and Bob Grutter, will be working to identify training topics for the year. Webinars were discussed and it was suggested that more of these be scheduled for 2012. Various training topics mentioned were: infection control for engineers, boiler rules, ADA signage rules, and CHFM. The committee members welcome ideas and suggestions from the membership.


The Newsletter editor is always looking for articles. Board members are encouraged to write articles and send them to Pier-George Zanoni. Additionally, the Digital Dispatch, continues to be used for immediate new and information. If there are topics that would fit this medium, they can also be forwarded to Pier-George.


Review and discussion of the MiSHE Business Plan concluded the board meeting. The updated plan for 2012 was reviewed for past activity and for future projections. The plan attempts to take two years of past statistics and project what the next 5 years might look like, financially. Board members agreed that it provides insight, but that projections cannot accurately indicate the accounting at the end of the year. The MiSHE Business Plan is a tool to help “check” how well the year is progressing. The plan is reviewed, mid-year, at the June board meeting. Any adjustments to the plan are always discussed and/or implemented at that time.