Chapter News

Onward and Upward

This past December, Paula Walsh was named Co-Chair of the Annual Conference Committee by the Board of Directors, to work with Chair Paula Heggerick. Paula Walsh had served SVU as the Co-Chair of the Chapters Subcommittee from December 2006 thru September 2007 and then as Chair from September 2007 thru December 2007. She is also the Past President of Greater Boston Vascular Technologists (GBVT) chapter. Thanks Paula for all your hard work and dedication this past year. The best of luck in your new position.

Changing of the Guard

Jeanette Flannery has been named Chair of the Chapters Subcommittee by the SVU Board of Directors. Margaret (Koko) Park will be joining Jeanette as Co-Chair of the Subcommittee. Jeanette was co-founder of the North Jersey Vascular Association (NJVA) in June 1989, Vice President from August 2001 to August 2003, and President from August 2003 to December 2007. She has been an SVU member since 1981.

Koko found that the Northern Ohio Vascular Association (NOVA) was the perfect way to enhance and expand her vascular knowledge. NOVA was her “bridge to success” in passing her RVT in 1998. She has served three consecutive terms as secretary and program director, and most recently as President-Elect for NOVA. Koko has been involved with SVU as a member of the Membership Committee (2003-2007) and Midwest regional advisor on the Chapters Subcommittee (2005-2007). In 2005 she was awarded SVU Outstanding Chapter Recognition award. Other professional involvement includes the Practice Management Committee for The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS) (second term) and DMS Advisory Board member for her local community college. She will serve as NOVA president 2008-2010.

The Chapters Subcommittee has been in a state of transition for the past few months with the resignation of Shelly Burns to join ICAVL, and now Paula Walsh moving on to the Annual Conference Committee. We ask our Affiliated Chapters to have patience as we organize the Subcommittee to better serve your needs in the coming months. I ask your help by e-mailing Koko (marpark1@sbcglobal.net) or myself (jeflannery@sbhcs.com) with the name of your Chapter’s President and other officers so we can update our records and forward information to you.

New Regional Advisors

Congratulations to Kari Olmstead and Virginia Vyniski who have been named new Regional Advisors of the Chapters Subcommittee. Kari will take over from Jill Beithon as the Northwest Regional Advisor, and Virginia will take over from Jeanette Flannery as Northeast Regional Advisor. I am sure the chapters in their area will be hearing from them shortly. Please give them your full support as the regional advisors are the Chapters Subcommittee’s liaisons with the affiliated chapters. A search is under way for an advisor for the Midwest area. If you are interested, please contact Margaret Park.

Chapter Breakfast at 2008 SVU Annual Conference

For the second year in a row SVU will be having a Chapters’ Breakfast at the 2008 SVU Annual Conference in San Diego, based on the great response we had to our Chapters’ breakfast last year in Baltimore. This was due to the wonderful work of Shelly and Paula. It will be held on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 7 am. All are invited to attend. We hope the chapters will be able to contribute some funds to help sponsor the breakfast. Jeanette Flannery will be sending reminders during the next year.

Reminder! Reminder! Reminder!

All SVU Affiliated Chapter President please send the name of your officers and your complete updated chapter roster to SVU this month along with your 2008 SVU Affiliated Chapter’s dues. We really need to update our records so all our chapter members can receive information from the national office. If you need further information, you can contact Missi McLean at the national office at mmclean@svunet.org or 800-788-8346. Congratulations to all the New Chapter Officers! Your work is important and very much appreciated.

North Jersey Vascular Association

The annual fall meeting of the North Jersey Vascular Association was held on November 3, 2007 at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ. The meeting was very well attended. The first NJVA Service Award was presented to Dr. Cliff Araki for his continuing contribution to education and his service to SVU. All of the lectures were very informative with excellent feedback from our membership. It is a pleasure to add Dr. Robert Hobson to our roster of lecturers for the Chapter. Jeanette thanked all the members for their support during her past 4 years as president. The new officers for the 2008-2010 term were announced. They are: Carol Cooper, President; Gwen Carmel, President Elect/Secretary; and Elizabeth (Betty) Peters, Treasurer. They will take office in January 2008. The best of luck to our new officers. To our fellow Chapters, best wishes for a prosperous, healthy and happy New Year!

Best Wishes to all for a Wonderful New Year!