SPA BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 10th, 2009

Present:

Michael Brandt, Brenda Bray, Chris DuVall, Bill Fassett, Andrew Harbison, Sue Marchi Kellogg, Brandy Singer, Michelle Sodorff, Marguerite Villars, and Ehren Wainwright

Absent:

Michael Glockling, and Colleen Terriff

Minutes from February 10th, 2009 were adjusted and approved.

Action/Discussion Items:

  • SPA Drug Alert
    • The Board of Directors agreed that the drug alerts are not within the mission statement of the organization and that the liability associated with a drug alert is tremendous.
    • President, Brenda Bray stressed that if the board is interested in pursuing the use of Drug Alerts the organization will need to seek professional legal advice. She also mentioned that organization sponsored education about appropriate use of the drug alert will be necessary.
    • The SPA Board of directors will solicit input from membership on the issue.
    • The board motioned to vote on the use of SPA Drug Alerts in April 2009.
    • Vice President, Bill Fassett mentioned that the SPA probably should consider sending official drug alert messages from the DEA or the Spokane Police Department via Blast-Fax even if the SPA Drug Alert is voted out.
  • Pharmacy Legislative Day
    • Brenda thanked the SPA for funding her travel to pharmacy legislative day.
    • She spoke to her experience at pharmacy legislative day and mentioned that government is very sympathetic but there will be cuts in state programs and tuition increases. Brenda asserted that the take home message from her visit to the capital is that pharmacists need to develop a stronger voice in state government.
    • To Student representative, Andrew Harbison commented on legislative day and described it as a strong success. Students were able to secure 15 minute time slots with individual senators and legislators during which one student was appointed to lead the discussion on key topics in pharmacy practice.
    • Students were able to discuss tuition caps for college students, concerns about financial aid drying up, cutting pharmacy medicaid reimbursement rates to pharmacies (AWP -20), the medicaid audit reform bill, and tamper resistant prescription pads with senators and legislators.
  • SPA Board Biographies
    • Brenda urges board members to forward the abbreviated biography form to her so that Sharon Fassett can post the biographies to the web-site.
  • Event-Brite CE Scheduling
    • Brenda mentioned that on-line CE invitations using Event-Brite will be a goal for the SPA to move towards.
  • SPA technician representative
    • Vitali declined the offer as the SPA technician representative position due to family commitments.
  • A WSPA member recommended Lori Russ for the SPA technician representative position. Lori is a pharmacy technician at Owl Pharmacy in Cheney, WA that has been an SPA member for many years and enjoys all the positive things that the SPA does. The board motioned to have Brenda approach Lori for this position.

Committee Reports:

  • SPA Annual Banquet committee report provided by Brandy Singer
    • Brandy Singer spoke about the possibility of holding next year’s banquet at Manito Country Club.
    • The board motioned to charge $500 for registration before October 1, 2009 and $600 for late registration.
    • Up-date:After touring both facilities, Brandy found that the Manito Club is actually too small for a group of around 100 people, and has made a tentative reservation for the Annual Banquet on November 4, 2009, at the Spokane Club. She recommends those who disagree with having the banquet at the Spokane Club speak with her very soon.
  • Finance committee report provided by SPA chair Michelle Sodorff
    • Michelle presented a profit and loss statement from January 1, 2009 to date and pointed out that overall net income is negative and that we should watch this. Member Michael Brandt assured that this is an expected loss that will balance out as money comes in from SPA programming in the fall.
    • Michelle mentioned that paid membership in 2009 is around $4,000, but suspects that members who have not renewed for 2009 could be bringing down the net income.
    • Michelle urges the SPA to keep driving free money into the scholarship liability so that at some point when writing a check for the scholarship fund it will be in the amount of the liability fund.
  • CE committee report reminder provided by SPA chair Michael Brandt
    • April 15th and 16th Pancreatic Enzymes: FDA Mandated Changes and Challenges in Patients with Pancreatic Insufficiency - Lisa Englert, PharmD.
    • March 26th Pharmacy Robbery Prevention and Procedures - Deputy Greg Snyder.
    • May 6th Pharmacy Resident Presentations.
  • Membership Update provided by Marguerite Villars
    • Marguerite reported that 167 members have paid for membership for 2009 and that the other 75 members who have not renewed membership will receive a final renewal form in the mail.
    • Last year at this time the SPA had around 140 members. Member Michelle Sodorff asserted that the increase in membership may be partly attributable to the payment of dues via PayPal.
    • Currently membership records are being converted from paper record to computerized record and are sub-classified as pharmacists and technicians. Marguerite will consider membership classifications for students and also new graduates as we track membership.
    • Marguerite mentioned that it would be helpful if the SPA could collect e-mail addresses for new graduates in order to offer membership renewal after graduation. It was suggested that student members create a mechanism to collect e-mail addresses from new graduates during the SPA sponsored Law Update.
  • Student report
    • Andrew Helm, recruited by student member Andrew Harbison, has accepted the position as 3rd Year SPA Student Representative.

Other Business:

  • Report from Washington, D.C.
    • Board member Michael Glockling traveled to D.C. to lobby for reimbursement for home care services and will report on his findings at the April meeting.
  • Relay for Life
    • The board motioned to support the registration costs for a group of pharmacy technicians to participate in the Relay for Life.
    • The technicians will carry an SPA banner during the Relay for Life.
  • Drug Free Communities presentation
    • Drug Free Communities coordinator Allison Sattin brought educational materials along that the organization prints with recommendations to prevent prescription drug abuse and tips for proper drug disposal.
    • Currently there is not a pharmacist on the Board for Drug Free Communities.
    • The mission of Drug free communities is education.
    • Brenda approached Allison about writing an article for the SPA Newsletter and she agreed.

 

Next meeting is scheduled for April 14th, 2009 7-8:15am @ Frankie Doodle’s.

Minutes recorded and submitted by Ehren Wainwright, B.S., PharmD Candidate 2009.