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Washington State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists
Summer Newsletter August 2017
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Meet your WSA Board:
Officers:
President-Ronda Armstrong, CST
Vice President-Monica Seneker, CST
Treasurer-Libby McRae, CST
Secretary-Valerie Smith, CST
Board of Directors:
Iris Garcia, CST
Mark Martin, CST
Sherridan Poffenroth, CST, CRCST, FAST
Tavaris Shandle, CST
Juan Suarez, CST
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Everyone that attends our Fall workshop will have an opportunity to win an Echo Dot!! Drawing will take place at the end of Saturday's session.
See you in Spokane October 14-15, 2017. Find our registration link below. |
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President's Message
Hello Washington State Assembly,
I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past year with you all.
This is my second year as your President and it has been an exciting one for me.
If you have never been to a National Conference, you should put it on your career list of things to do. There is so much going on. I felt like the conference was really focused on supporting it members and students. There were many classes and conversations going on about how to get the Surgical Tech more recognition.
I was able to witness the newly appointed National Board of Directors and Officers be sworn in. Their statements were very moving and made me excited about their next two years in office.
The Washington BOD was able to meet with the SALC committee for a short time to talk about how to keep improving our state assembly. We are hoping to bring some fresh new things to the state assembly. The meeting was very productive. So, stay tuned for new exciting things to start happening!
The weather was hot, the people were inviting and the food was amazing. I was able to take to the streets when the day was over and experience many events in New Orleans.
Our 2016 Fall Workshop was held in Yakima and there were 64 attendees. The Washington State Assembly is getting stronger and stronger. Your BOD works hard to give you the best educational opportunities.
October 14 & 15, 2017 our Fall Workshop and Elections will be held at Spokane Community College. I would like to thank Becky Scheid and Tina Jones for continuously providing us a place to meet. This will be our two day event. Please let your facilities know you would like to come to earn CE's and bring a friend.
We will also be raffling off an ECHO Dot at the fall workshop as well as holding fundraisers with baskets, the 50/50 raffle, and our newly designed cling! See below for more details.
Don't forget to celebrate National Surgical Technologist Week.
Mark your calendars September 17-23, 2017 and share pictures with us on how you celebrated. The challenge is on! Post your pictures on our assembly Facebook page or email to [email protected].
Did you know that Washington State Assembly has 755 members? We would like to hear from you and get some feedback on where you would like to hold future workshops. We are here to support you.
We are always looking for new ideas for the Washington AST. If you know someone who would like to speak at a workshop, please feel free to get a hold of us. We can help get them involved.
If you are interested in getting involved in the Washington AST and helping with putting these fun events together, please get a hold of one of your BOD. It is a very rewarding.
I hope to see you at the Fall Workshop.
Ronda Armstrong, CST
WSA of AST, President
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11th Annual Scrub Bowl
1st place-Jennifer Whitworth, Spokane Community College
2nd place-Maria Munguia, Yakima Valley College
3rd place-Jamie Meagher, Clover Park Technical College
A great time was had by all! Congratulations, you've earned it!
National Conference Updates~~~News Orleans 2017!!
VALERIE SMITH:
New Orleans 2017 National Conference was wonderful! This was my first time to the "Big Easy", and I fell it was a time of great learning and growing for me. I enjoyed the many speakers and subjects presented at the conference, as well as mingling with many CSTs from all over the States. The food was delicious, Bourbon Street was like none other I had experienced, and the night life was interesting to watch.
Conference was a time for learning how to better lead and grow our Washington State Assembly. We met with members from the SALC Committee to discuss matters relivant to our state and talk about the future of our state assembly. Several people from Washington State met together and had dinner at the Palace Cafe; it was great to talk to them and get to know them better. It will be awesome to reunite with them at our workshop this fall in Spokane! It was exciting to come together as a profession at conference, but was even better to get to know some of the folks "right at home," so to speak.
It was an honor to have the priviledge of representing Washington and serve as a delegate for the state. In doing so I was able to talk to and vote on several positions on the National Baord. It was great to see their deisre to serve, chat with them about the future of Surgical Technology, and also get to know a bit more about the process of democracy on a national level, and see the Association at work for as an individual as well as all of us as a whole. I can't wait to attent next year in Orlando! I am already saving my pennies!
SHERRIDAN POFFENROTH:
Due to others' schedules, I was moved from an alternate to a delegate just a few weeks before national conference. I loved New Orleans and all the excitement it offered. Routinely, I attended all the required delegate forums, spoke with national candidates and participated in the voting for our national board. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. It is always an honor to represent and I feel strongly about always having all six positions filled. I enjoyed the opening ceremonies where a band of hometown New Orleans music marched in followed by Indians dressed in ceremonial costumes and the throwing of thousands of Mardi Gras beads.
I had the privilege to travel with Libby McRae, Valerie Smith and Jan Olmsted. We met up in the Seattle airport, took the same flight to NOLA and shared a cab to the hotel. We shared several meals together (crab cheesecake, charbroiled oysters and a bowl of shrimp and grits!) and walked several miles viewing the city. One of my favorite walks was Friday night. Libby, Valerie, Craig Thurston, Doug Hughes and I trekked through some dark streets stopping at a few spots. We were thoroughly entertained by Craig and Doug's ghost stories. At one corner, another couple stopped to ask questions and to listen to their stories!! More than once I thought that Doug was going to jump out and say, "Got You!!" I was sure he was messing with us. We stopped at multiple souvenir shops, watched a midnight bicycle parade and listened to traditional Bourbon Street music. We ended our late night adventure at Café Du Monde and enjoyed beignets and coffee. Thanks to each of you for a wonderful memory.
Thanks again so much,
Sherridan Poffenroth, CST, CRCST, FAST
GAYLIN LUCE:
Thank you for including me as a Delegate for Washington State. The conference was so good. So many good subjects. I especially liked the surgeries they are doing to improve the lives of the military personnel coming back from the battlefield, so life changing.
Thank you again,
Gaylin Luce, CST
LIBBY MCRAE:
Hello fellow members of Washington State Assembly! I get the opportunity to tell you about my experience at national conference this past June in New Orleans! Now, AST conference is amazing in and of itself, but New Orleans?? Come on!! It was great. I always enjoy seeing friends I've made across the country and talking about our great profession with everyone. This year I had the honor of speaking and it was fabulous. Though I was nervous, the audience was interactive, receptive and appreciative.
We had the opportunity to vote as a delegation on items that may potentially affect you as a WA state assembly member. This is one of my favorite parts of being a delegate. I enjoy the parliamentary process and the ability to take part in the national level of voting is an honor, one I truly hope each of you take the opportunity to embrace. I encourage you each to consider going to a national conference and also representing Washington as a delegate.
We voted in a new AST president, Holly Falcon, and board of directors! This was absolutely history in the making, I can't wait to see what this BOD will do!
Thank you for reading, please get involved, enjoy your profession on so many levels! As always, it is an honor and a joy of mine to be a part of your state assembly.
Respectfully submitted,
Libby McRae, CST
Your 2017 Delegates to National Conference in New Orleans: Sherridan Poffenroth, Valerie Smith, Libby McRae, Ronda Armstrong, Gaylin Luce and Tavaris Shandle. Thanks for your representation.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
FALL 2017 WORKSHOP & ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Saturday, OCTOBER 14-15, 2017
Spokane Community College
SPOKANE, WA
HOTEL: Mirabeau Park Hotel
1100 N. Sullivan Rd.
Spokane Valley, WA
509-924-9000
$91 Executive Double Rooms
Early and Free Breakfast Vouchers avail!
Ask for the "Surgical Technologist of Washington State" group rate.
Meet & Greet Fall 2017~Impromtu gathering in the hotel lounge Friday evening, October 13th!
WORKSHOP: 10-11CE~$110 if registered in advance ($120 at the door) (Continental Breakfast both days & lunch on Saturday included) Limited opportunity for a credit hour at dinner Saturday night. You must pre-register.
Here is a link to the maps, directions, and parking page at Spokane Community College
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH Fall 2017
To help support those Spokane Community College students in need, cash donations and small personal hygeine items will be collected for the SCC Student Services on Saturday, October 14th.
In honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, cash donations will be collected at the workshop on Sunday, October 15th.
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FALL 2017 ELECTIONS CALL FOR CANDIDATES
During our Annual Business Meeting at the Fall workshop, we will be holding elections for the following positions:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Board of Directors - 2
6 Delegates & 6 Alternates to National Conference in Orlando, FL, June 2018
FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT - OPEN
FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT - OPEN
FOR THE OFFICE OF TREASURER - LIBBY McRAE, CST
FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD OF DIRECTOR (electing 2)
MONICA SENEKER, CST
CATHY RIORDEN, CST
Nominations from the floor will be accepted. Please submit completed paperwork upon arrival to the fall workshop.
All positions are 2 year terms, with 2 term limits. We would love to have you on the board or helping in a committee! Candidates must be current active members for at least one year and have a CV and Consent to Serve completed and turned in by October 14, 2017.
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National Surgical Technologist Week
Let us know how YOU ARE CELEBRATING!
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2018 Spring Workshop and 12th ANNUAL SCRUB BOWL
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN SEATTLE FOR THE SPRING WORKSHOP. IT WILL BE HELD AT
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
ON
MARCH 10-11TH, 2018. SCH IS A WONDERFUL VENUE WITH GREAT FACILITIES, FREE PARKING , EASY ACCESS AND
3
STARBUCKS
ON SITE!! MAKE PLANS EARLY AND DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THS EVENT. HOTEL GROUP DISCOUNTS AND OTHER DETAILS COMING LATER THIS YEAR!
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49TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
ORLANDO, FL
MAY31-JUNE 2, 2018
AT THE
SWAN AND DOLPHIN RESORT!
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE 2/1/2018.
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Committee updates
Membership: As of July 1, 2017, our state membership is 742! This includes 129 students; 45 first time, new CST's; 44 military, and 68 that have been members of AST for 20 or more years!! Thank you for your dedication to our profession!!
Fundraising: We are so excited to see everyone this October at Fall Workshop! Don't forget to bring cash! We will have hats, raffles and more. Show your pride in our profession with our new "Scrub Life" decals! These can be placed on your car, locker, favorite mug; practically anything! All proceeds go directly back to the Washington State Assembly. With your support, we can continue to provide these wonderful education and networking opportunities we have all come to love.
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Washington State Legislative Update
Though Washington State is not actively pursuing another legislative push at this time, we are working to develop and implement a PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN that will naturally lead into legislation within the next 10 years. We will keep you updated on developments as well as how you may be involved. Call us, email us, attend our workshops and corner us for a chat, Face Book us!!
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