Report: 2005
ACHMM National Conference
Just got back from this year’s National Conference of the
ACHMM where I served as the Chapter Delegate for the Chicago Chapter. As a
delegate I have to attend Moderator training as well as the CDC (Chapter
Development Committee) meeting. This year we blew through the Moderator
Training in record time but the CDC meeting spent much of its’ time focusing on
updating Chapter paper work: Charter, Articles of Incorporation, and By-Laws.
Your Chapter officers had spent much of last year rectifying all this for the
Chicago Chapter so the development meeting held little new information other
than the Cyber Chapter is doing well, we are going to charter a new Chapter in
India, and that an assigned member of the National Board should be contacting
us on a quarterly basis via a conference call-not happening.
The meeting was, in general, much better run than last
year’s but many presenters for the technical sessions had to cancel due to
hurricane related issues so some topics I was hoping to learn more about were
not covered. One issue that continues to distress your Board is the number of
people who present or are actively involved in the National Convention and
Academy who are from the Chicagoland area but who do not participate in local
Chapter events. The
The theme of this meeting seemed to be more emergency
response focusing on terrorism aspects of this discipline. The emphasis, in
light of the two hurricanes, seemed timely but at least in my company, is the
responsibility of other personnel. So, while the speakers were very interesting
and-at least in one case-rather controversial, they were not as relevant to
myself as I would have liked.
This relevance matter carried over to most of the
presentations I sat through: old information repackaged. I saw or heard nothing
new or cutting edge. Perhaps this is a comment on the maturity of our industry,
however, I continue to look to the ACHMM and this meeting to provide new and
valuable information at this venue.
The business meeting covered finances and general
administrative issues. Fiscally, we seem in very good shape with checking
balances running in the $400-500K range with the goal of $1,000,000 or one
years operating expenses. Another item of interest is that the 2nd
edition of the desk reference has rolled off the presses and the copies made
available for the conference were sold out even before the business meeting
adjourned.
Next year’s meeting will be held in
In closing, one of the technical sessions I sat through
regarded recognition of the credential by governmental agencies be they local,
state, or federal. In this area we have expanded the National Committee from 1
to 5 people and are spending a good deal of time and effort on this
project-great, it’s about time!!. This group is looking for-and here I am
soliciting all member input-into identifying either present situations or
future opportunities or pending legislation where we might be able to get the
CHMM credential added to areas requiring sign off or special expertise. If
anyone knows of such occurrences, please notify one of your board members with
details.
Well, that is about all I have to say other than thanks to
the Chapter and its’ members for letting me fill this role again. Please
contact me if you have any questions regarding this letter.
Sincerely,
Bill Gamlin, CHMM