PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Happy Holidays! Hope this newsletter finds you all doing well and having had a great year and looking forward to having an even better 2009. In the year to come our legislative committee, led by Tammy Mangold, will again be working on a bill that will require certification as a condition of employment. We will be having Capitol Days on January 14, 2009. On this day we will meet in the rotunda of the capitol where we will divide up and speak with as many legislators as possible, educating them about our profession and emphasizing the need for every patient to be taken care of by a certified surgical technologist. It is a good experience and we hope to see many of you there this year.
Our state convention will be in St. Louis this year on March 6-8, 2009. Friday will be devoted to students. We will again have the Scrub Bowl, so please encourage your students to put together a team and participate. The students also participate in a poster contest. On Saturday and Sunday we will have great educational offerings and we will be voting for the offices of President, Vice-president, treasurer and 1 board member. Candidates are listed in the “Candidates for office” section. If you are interested in filling any of these positions you will need to run from the floor. Be sure to have a CV and consent to serve available for review.
This years national convention will be the BIG 40. This will be held May 25-29, 2009 in Las Vegas, at Caesars Palace. We will be deciding on delegates and alternates at the state convention. There will be some funding but in return for that funding you will be responsible to attend all business sessions.
Tammy Pearson and I exhibited again this year at the Missouri Counselors Conference. We were able to share with counselors what we do and what a great profession we have. They were very receptive. I encourage you all to become involved in YOUR state assembly.
I look forward to another great year and if I can be of assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me. My phone is 417-838-4872 and my e-mail is cindy.shortt@yahoo.com.
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE
PRESIDENT: Cindy Shortt CST/CFA
VICE-PRESIDENT: Nicole Claussen CST,BS
TREASURER: Rosa Johnson CST
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mashella Smith CST
If anyone else is interested, you may be nominated from the floor but you must have a current CV and Consent to Serve. Contact Cindy Shortt at cindy.shortt@yahoo.com for more information
CANDIDATES STATEMENTS
NICOLE CLAUSSEN CST,BS
Hello, My name is Nicole Claussen and I am running for Vice President or your Missouri State Assembly [MO-AST]. I am a Certified Surgical Technologist and I have a Bachelor in Health Service Administration. I have served the State Assembly for many years as a member of the legislative committee and more recently as a Board Member for the past two years. I have also served on an exam writing committee at the National Level.
I have lots of experience working with others in our State Assembly and previously in the Michigan State Assembly where I first became a Surgical Technologist. I have been as active member of AST for the past seven years and I’m committed to the field of Surgical Technology in every way. I’m currently the Program Director of the Surgical Technology Program in Rolla, MO and I’ve been working in Surgical Technology education almost as long as I’ve been a CST myself.
I take pride in my job an educatorand I’m dedicated to improving the field of Surgical Technology by putting out great graduates and keeping the focus always on patient care. For the State Assembly, I have worked hard to promote our legislative efforts on a yearly basis and I have planned many educational events including workshops and a wound closure clinic.
I believe in our State Assembly and what it can be in the future. I will listen to the membership and all of their input and take any necessary information to the board and officers for action. I think that in order for MO-AST to survive, we need to get more people Involved. I always promote our State Assembly and tell people [especially students who are our future] how they can help. Helping doesn’t have to be a big job; there are many small jobs that can help too.
I promise to work hard for the MO-AST as your Vice President if elected and I look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming State Convention in St. Louis this March.
Nicole Claussen, CST, BS
CINDY SHORTT CST/CFA
My name is Cindy Shortt and I have been a Certified Surgical Technologist sine 1989 and a Certified First Assistant since 1994. I have been your President for the last 2 years and am running for 1 more 2 year term. I believe in our profession and I want to make us stronger as a state and a national organization, but I can’t do it without the help of all of you. I would appreciate your vote.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
This years legislative year will be interesting. With a new administration and several new legislators we will have to work to educate them. Many of our key supporters have moved away from the capitol. We are currently working on a bill that would mandate certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist to practice. The session opens the first week of January.
Legislative day is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14th. We usually meet in the capital rotunda at 7:30 p.m. From there we will meet with some legislators before their session begins at 10:00. After that we usually visit the offices of each legislator. We will eat lunch in the cafeteria of the capitol and usually finish about 1:00-2:00 p.m.
If you want to know more, you can call me at 573-219-2724 or email me at:
tammy_mangold@ssmhc.com.
We usually have a good time talking to the legislators.
Tammy Mangold, MED, CST, CFA
Program Director-Surgical Technology
FAST office 573-761-7000 ext 2285
Fax 573-634-7380
Pager 573-681-0559
tammy_mangold@ssmhc.com
St. Mary's Health Center
100 St. Mary's Medical Plaza Dr.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
