29 August 2001
Albuquerque, NM
The general business meeting was called to order by President Kathy Gates at 1520 on 29 August 2001.
Vice President Tom Hutchinson was unable to attend the meeting.
Secretary/Treasurer LtCol Williamson reported that the MAA had a balance of $4146.77; 24 past members had yet to pay dues for 2001, and dues would be accepted at today’s meeting. Reminder notices for dues would also be sent following the meeting by Exec Sec Lynn Henselman.
Old Business
1. Col Nancy Vause provided an Audiology Awareness Campaign (AAC) update. Recent PSA made by Richard Petty and will be made available to audiologists for use in their local market areas. Posters and “Listen Up” brochures are also available, and may be obtained through the AAC webpage. The webpage is averaging 14,000 hits per month. At present, AAA has decided not to support AAC. A motion was made by Lt Col Schulz that MAA send a letter to ASHA and AAA and ask them to support AAC, and emphasizing that MAA supports AAC. The motion was seconded by Col John Allen, the vote was in favor of such a letter being sent by MAA to ASHA and AAA. AAC has trademarked “Caring for America’s Hearing” as their logo, and have chosen prevention of hearing loss as their emphasis. The organization needs volunteers, money, may volunteer to serve for three months as “ask an audiologist”, donate items for the silent auction to be held at ADA. The MAA executive board has decided to continue to donate $1000 annually to the AAC.
2. LtCol Theresa Schulz provided an update on the NHCA student endowment fund. Their initial plan was to raise $25K, hold that in reserve and use the interest to fund grants for thesis or dissertation work for graduate or doctoral students; also to fund trips for students to NHCA to present their work regarding hearing conservation. The NHCA student endowment fund has $27,867.00 and will begin offering grant monies. Information may be obtained from the NHCA web page or by contacting the NHCA office. The MAA annually contributes $500 to this fund.
3. LtCol Schulz also provided an update from CAOHC. Col Schulz and Col Dick Danielson have been the MAA reps to CAOCH for several years, Col Danielson will soon be replaced by Col Dave Chandler. Update on STS reportable change; OSHA asked for input from the field regarding the need for the change, ASHA and several allied groups, including CAOHC have drafted a response that will be submitted 4 Sept 2001. The organizations stated clear reasons why they feel the STS reportable value should change to a 10dB STS, as opposed to current 25dB average of 2K, 3K and 4K Hz shift.
Encouragement was given by Col Danielson to have enlisted hearing conservation techs register with CAOHC/pay $35 fee at completion of cert/recert course. A new development is that CAOHC will now require that military groups pay a course registration fee, depending upon number of courses offered per year by director. The fee is on a sliding scale.
John Page commended MAA leadership/CAOHC representation and the efforts of LtCol Schulz and Col Danielson.
4. LtCol Henselman reported that the specialty recognition for hearing conservation was now a “dead” item; the membership had been polled, and no interest existed in the pursuit of a military occupational hearing conservation specialty designation.
5. Capt Rob Pluta, our MAA webmaster, encouraged continued participation by the membership for information to be included in the webpage. Capt Pluta reported between 500-1500 hits per month on the webpage, noting it was a good recruiting and information tool for students interested in the military as a career. Army rep for the newsletter is Capt Robinette, there is presently no Navy or Air Force rep, although Capt Pluta requests submissions from the AF on a regular basis.
6. Maj Gates announced that $2000 had been used for AuD scholarships to MAA members. Four scholarships were awarded, and MAA will continue to offer scholarships to MAA members who are pursuing the AuD degree.
New Business
1. A search is on for a new Executive Secretary. LtCol Henselman has served in this capacity for several years, and would like to hand off the duties to another member. Duties include maintaining membership roster, writing checks for donations to various organizations, and collecting annual dues.
2. Maj Gates and LtCol Williamson brought up the information that the Association of VA Audiologists had officially formed and had an inaugural meeting on 18 April 2001. The AVAA has asked for help from the MAA regarding establishment of by–laws, mission statement and goals for their organization. The AVAA sees an overall “federal” Audiology umbrella, under which would fall the AVAA, the MAA and the VA Assoc for Speech–Language Pathologists. A follow–up meeting to further organize will be held in mid-Sept 2001, and the AVAA has asked for MAA to send a representative. Discussion then centered on what type of representation the MAA should provide to this “umbrella organization”…would we send an AF, Army and Navy rep? Or would one rep from MAA serve our interests? Dr. Doug Ohlin made the comment that the VA is trying to form a hearing conservtion program, and has contacted him for information–they seek to prevent further hearing loss in their population by education. LtCol Schulz made the comment that the numbers of reps from MAA shouldn’t be a concern; she felt we would be treated fairly, and no attempt to “out–vote” us on matters would occur. As a whole, the point was made that the MAA represents military and DoD audiologists, as well as several speech pathologists who are members of the AFAA. The MAA will continue to function as an autonomous body, in collaboration with the AVAA. The MAA will provide a rep to the Sept AVAA meeting.
3. Maj Gates then opened the floor for discussion about the role of ENT/Audiology technicians. Information was provided about the Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgeon’s association who have funded a multi–year multi–million dollar study on the use of technicians in an Audiology capacity. The following were ideas, thoughts expressed:
- MAA is in favor of audiometric technicians who have been properly trained
- Technicians may be perceived by some as a threat to audiologists
- Army has used ENT/Audio techs since 1966, training currently is 13 weeks which includes 6 weeks of classroom instruction and 7 weeks of didactic experience. Col Clyde Byrne presented at AAA on the use audio techs, reported great interest in the topic
- It was felt that development of training program, certification standards, performance standards, certification, continuing education guidelines should be developed by audiologists not ENT physicians
- It was pointed out that during a CAOHC course, training on the pure-tone audiometer was performed
- Idea was suggested that a program similar to CAOHC be developed
Col John Allen made a motion that Col Byrne and Col Dick Danielson be our representatives/advisors to the development of such a program, when that need arises. Col Ben Sierra seconded the motion, and the vote was in favor.
4. It was suggested that MAA and/or Army recruiting and/or AF recruiting sponsor a hospitality suite at upcoming AAA meetings, so that interested people could talk with various service members in a relaxed atmosphere. Recruiting commanders for various regions would have authority to sponsor such a room. The membership was of the feeling that MAA executive board should pursue such a request of the recruiting command responsible for Philadelphia, site of 2002 AAA convention.
Adjourn
No further new business was brought up. Col Allen moved to adjourn the meeting, Col Sierra seconded, the meeting adjourned at 1640.
Respectfully submitted by Angela Williamson, Sec/Treasurer, Military Audiology Association–5 Sept 2001