May 2005 | Vol. 23, No. 5

President’s Message

By George L. Berdejo, BA RVT FSVU

Be a Part of SVU’s Success This Year – See You in Chicago!

As I write this letter, I am in the midst of my preparation for this year’s SVU Annual Conference in Chicago. I would like to personally invite you to attend the Society’s 28th Annual Meeting from June 16–18, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The Program Committee has developed an excellent program covering all areas of vascular testing. I encourage you to make your plans to attend so that you don’t miss out on this exciting meeting. The SVU Annual Conference is the best way to network with your fellow SVU members from across the United States and abroad.

In an effort to reach out to its members, the Society has decreased the registration fees for the conference. However in order to take advantage of the new reduced registration fees, you need to register prior to May 10. The new discounted fees apply to members, nonmembers, and students. In addition, SVU has reduced the registration fees for all the Tutorials before May 10 to $10.00 per tutorial. Your general registration will allow you admission to ALL SVU and most SVS sessions and exhibits this year.

Among the many highlights of this year’s conference is the pre-conference “Lab Management Session,” moderated by SVU Vice President Michael Schwebler. This will be an excellent session that will include such topics as the importance of “mentoring” younger professionals, your image as a professional, goal setting, staffing and productivity, degree completion, and research and other career enhancing activities. I am very excited about this session and plan to be there to take in all of it. You will not want to miss this session! We are also proud to present this year an excellent group of scientific papers covering a wide range of topics in vascular testing. The Alex Chao - Young Investigators Scientific Award Session will be an exciting one and includes four excellent papers.

Once again and equally exciting we have included a provocative “ Key Issues” session to give you the opportunity to discuss critical issues such as screening in vascular disease, downstaffing and productivity issues, reporting issues as they relate to the Sonographer’s Scope of Practice and the ageing of the workforce, and the shortage of certified sonographers and technologists especially in light of the increase in population that will be needing our services. I am privileged to moderate the “Key Issues” session this year.

Many of the coffee breaks and all of the lunches each day, as well as the SVU Technical Showcase on Friday, will be in the Exhibit Hall to provide you with plenty of time to spend with our industry colleagues.

The Vascular Annual Meeting 2005 will, for the second year in a row, be held in conjunction with the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Annual Meeting. The SVU invites you to join us for a Combined Opening Night Reception on Thursday evening, June 16, 2005, in the Exhibit Hall.

More information regarding the SVU Annual Conference can be obtained by going to www.svunet.org/events/annual/index.htm. The Society for Vascular Ultrasound’s Annual Conference has always been an interesting and worthwhile experience.We look forward to sharing this wonderful experience with you. Please invite your co-workers, residents, fellows and potential new members to attend. I look forward to personally greeting you in Chicago.

Before I close, I refer you to Dave Parlato ’s Membership Committee Report in this issue and ask you to do your part in our “EACH ONE REACH ONE” membership recruitment campaign. This, I believe, is the most critical component of the Society’s strategic plan, Vision 2005. Dave’s passion is obvious in his letter. In order for the Society to provide for your needs we need your support. That is best reflected in your commitment to the Society through your membership. However we are asking you to go a step further by identifying those around you who are not members and talking to them about the benefits of SVU membership; benefits that accrue both the members and to the Society as a whole by virtue of the increased membership numbers.

The “EACH ONE REACH ONE” campaign and Vision 2005 have been a common theme of every one of my President’s Message Communications — why do I keep focusing on the message? Two reasons:

• Restlessness is discontent — and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man – and I will show you a failure. — Thomas Edison

I am restless. Although I am happy about the progress that was made in calendar year 2004, I will not be content to sit on that success in 2005. The leadership of the SVU has set a goal and we are calling it the “The Drive for 2005”. Our goal is 1400 new members this year.

• Anytime you let up, expect a let down. — John Maxwell

You can’t expect, what you don’t expect. That is why the New Member Progress chart has been added to the home page of the SVU website as a constant reminder as to the status of our challenge to the membership. I expect that we will reach our goal. We believe that we can do it, but we know that we will need you to make it happen. Take the challenge! Be part of the success. We will make it together— there is no Plan B.

Let’s continue to climb the SVU Ladder of Success. Thanks for your support of the SVU. See you in Chicago!