A monthly update on activities occurring on behalf of the members of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
Issue 11 October 2015
In this Issue:
ASCLS Executive Committee Meeting and Upcoming Board of Directors Conference Call
The ASCLS Membership Committee has implemented a Regional Member Rewards competition. The Region that recruits the most new PF1 and PF2 members through the Member Rewards program will be able to show they are NUMBER 1 by receiving special victory buttons at the annual meeting in Philadelphia. Review the Member Rewards program on the ASCLS website under the Join tab, Current Membership Promotions https://www.ascls.org/join-ascls/current-membership-promotions .
Do you know of an up and coming shining star in your state or region? The “ASCLS Voices Under 40” program will recognize ASCLS members under the age of 40 who have shown exceptional commitment to ASCLS, the laboratory profession, and their community at large. Honorees will be recognized at the annual meeting in Philadelphia in August, 2016 and may be spotlighted in future issues of ASCLS Today, on the website and on social media. Their employers will also receive notification of the recognition. Application and more information can be found here: https://www.ascls.org/voices-under-40 .
ASCLS Executive Committee Meeting and Upcoming ASCLS Board of Directors Conference Call
The ASCLS Executive Committee, a subset of the Board of Directors, met in Philadelphia in September. Among the many issues discussed was the new logo for the Society. You may remember there was a contest last spring and several good proposed logos were submitted. The winning logo was similar to the banner on the ASCLS Website home page, so the Executive Committee voted to use that banner for our “official” logo. The logo retains the beloved triangles, so there is no need to replace society pins or other materials. Feel free to copy the banner from the web site and incorporate it into your regional and state reports.
The Executive Committee also discussed several task forces that were approved by the full board in August. Members will be notified soon by the Task Force Chairs to begin their work. The full Board of Directors will meet by conference call on October 26.
Annual Meeting Steering Committee (AMSC) and Advanced Management Institute (AMI)
Members met in Philadelphia, the site of the 2016 ASCLS Annual Meeting, to begin planning the programs for both of these events. The Abstract and Proposal Review Committee and Scientific Assemblies actively solicited proposals; over 200 proposals were reviewed and ranked as part of the process for determining the educational offerings for both the AMI and the Annual Meeting. The AMSC members are now working to solidify the proposals and develop speaker contracts. The Philadelphia Host Committee and the ASCLS-PA members are very excited to welcome ASCLS back to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection after 13 years!
You may know that Pope Francis visited the US and Philadelphia in September. The website “Checkin” (http://checkin.trivago.com/) featured an article written by Natalia Kvitek titled “48 Hours in Philly …With the Pope”. An excerpt from the websiteappears below, suggesting that the Pope should have stayed at the Loews Hotel, the beautiful hotel ASCLS members will be based in during the 2016 Annual Meeting.
“The Pope has shunned the decadent Papal apartment in the Vatican in favor of much simpler lodging, but when he travels, he can hardly be put up in a rooming house. Philadelphia has no lack of beautiful hotels but we think he would appreciate the Loews Philadelphia Hotel . Housed in a 1930’s building that holds the title of our nation’s first skyscraper, he might even indulge in a cheeky swim in the hotel pool. In-room WiFi means he can comfortably surf the web, or reply to messages from his adoring worldwide fanbase. Plus, the view from the suites will remind him of just how blessed he is.“
Patient Safety Committee and the Promotion of the Profession Committee
The members of these two committees have worked together to develop the 2016 ASCLS Patient Safety Calendar. The calendar promotes our role as medical laboratory professionals in patient safety and highlights our profession and our important days each month. It is now available for purchase in theASCLS Online Store ! The cost per calendar is $10 and includes shipping. The deadline to order has been extended to October 15, 2015. The calendar is also available as a free digital download. Visit thePromotion of the Profession websitefor more information.
Attention all ASCLS MEMBERS! We are gathering historical moments of ASCLS and we would like copies of your pictures and testimonials for an archive project. The purpose of this project is to compile these moments into a slideshow for viewing at the ASCLS Annual Meeting. We are also accepting recorded files with your stories: tell us about an experience you have had in your past that has had a large effect in your life/profession while working in health care. The Diversity Advocacy Council would like your input byNovember 30th! Please send your submissions to costan@umich.edu . If you have any trouble scanning your pictures or sending your recordings please let us know and we will help troubleshoot.
In addition, we would appreciate some volunteers who might be willing to assist in helping put the slideshow together. If you are interested, please also respond to the email listed above. We would love to hear your input. Please contact us with your comments.