Board Briefs

Kris Wallach, Program Manager for the Community Service, Education and Research Fund (CSERF), provided an update on CSERF activities. CSERF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a vehicle to involve physicians and the larger healthcare community in community service, education and research. Its primary programs include the Sierra Sacramento Valley Museum of Medical History, the William E. Dochterman Medical Student Scholarship Fund and two community collaborative programs: The Sacramento Physicians' Initiative to Reach Out innovate and Teach (SPIRIT) and Adopt-A-School.

The Board:
Approved the Society's participation in the California Medical Association's Dues Policy Agreement involving participation in a three-year new member discount program beginning January 1, 2005. Both organizations will discount their dues for all new, first-time active members by 50 percent the first year and 25 percent the second year. New member discounts will only be applied once during the professional lifetime (in California) of a physician.

Approved the Membership Report:
For Active Membership — Muhammad Afzal, MD; Thomas B. Alan, MD; Thomas A. Bullen, MD; Rebecca G. Chinn, MD; Paul D. Cox, MD; Michelle S. Famula, MD; Barbara J. Febbo-Wilson, MD; Alan D. Hall, MD; Adrian C. Lawrence, MD; Benjamin R. Leavy, MD; Gary J. Leeds, MD; Nancy J. Leung, MD; Roger K. Low, MD; David Mach, DO; Yvonne S. Otani, MD; Jeffrey J. Pelto, MD; Phuong-Anh T. Pham, MD; Claire Pomeroy, MD; Sreenivas R. Ravuri, MD; Paul G. Seites, MD; Michael Z. Sheen, MD; Gerson Stauber, MD; Sean Y. Takeuchi, MD; Julie A. Tominaga, MD; Brent E. VanHoozen, MD; Dylan J. Witt, MD.
For Affiliate Membership — Jim C.S. Chen, MD; Randy K. Knutzon, MD; Gerald P. Martin, MD; Bahram Varjavand, MD.
For Reinstatement of Active Membership — Paul A. Bilunos, MD; Jean C. Cordalis, MD; Tamara S. Robinson, MD; Nazhiyath Vijayan, MD.
For a Change in Membership Status From Active to Active-70— Richard M. Ikeda, MD.
For Retired Membership— Murthy S. Dasari, MD; Neil E. Kelly, MD; Kuppe Shankar, MD.
For Resignation — Philip T. Caruso, MD; Todd M. Fisher, MD; Arpana Gupta, MD (moved to Beverly Hills, CA); William J. Jagust, MD (transferred to Alameda Contra Costa); Victor A. Kyaw, MD; Deborah S. Malumed, MD; Stephen L. Morrison, MD; Laura M. Nasatir, MD; Mark W. Roberts, MD; Kip E. Virts, MD; Joseph C. Watson, MD (moved to New York).
Membership Terminated for Nonpayment of 2004 Dues— Mehdi Arab, MD; James Brode, MD; Paul Copeland, MD; Debbie Dennis, MD; Kaushik Desai, MD; Glenda Goodwin, MD; Richard Guy, MD' Tammi James, MD; Donald Jasper, MD; Joseph Kozina, MD; Niem Nguyen, MD; John O'Neal, MD; R. Pakbaz, MD; Susan Pereira, MD; Thiru Rajagopal, MD; Michael Sakamoto, MD; Gail Shaw, MD; Tara Sullivan, MD; Jeffery Taylor, MD; Craig Thayer, MD; Brian West, MD; Geoffrey Wiedeman, MD.

The Board:
Approved the Investment Reports and Financial Statements ending March 31, 2004 and received an overview of the Society's investment portfolio from Patty Estopinol, 1st Vice President of Investments for Smith Barney.

Approved the Membership Report:
For Active Membership — Alison A. Boudreaux, MD; Peter J. Cotsirilos, MD; Karna S. Gocke, MD; Robert L. Hendren, DO; Aaryan N. Koura, MD; Arnoldas S. Kungys, MD; Lawrence J. Laslett, MD; Patricia Silva, MD; Jocelyn Wu, MD; Thomas Y. Wu, MD.
For Reinstatement to Active Membership — Jong L. Chen, MD; Gary A. Schneiderman, MD.
For Resignation— Martin Weyrauch, III, MD.

The Board:
Received and approved the independent annual Audit Report for the Year-Ending 2003 from Harry Cahill, CPA.

Reviewed recommendations from the Executive Committee for follow-up from the 2004 Board Retreat regarding increasing members' involvement in the political process. The first step will be an all-member survey by email and fax to determine what interest members have in becoming more politically active and identifying those who are active.

Approved becoming a member of the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) and participate as a voting member in efforts to promote sustainable living and intelligent planning for responsible growth and the protection of the environment and human health. Tony DeRiggi, MD, will serve as the Society's representative to the ECOS Board.

Approved a recommendation from the Public and Environmental Health Committee to support the El Dorado community in its attempt to resolve the environmental asbestos exposure problem in the county and notify the California Medical Association regarding the need for a medical, scientific approach to the asbestos issue in El Dorado County. Approved Dr. Donald Lyman as a representative to an El Dorado community board concerned with naturally occurring asbestos.

Approved a proposed change in the Expense Reimbursement Policy allowing a maximum reimbursement to members representing the Society at meetings of $30 per day, per overnight stay for meals not provided during the length of the meeting.

Approved the appointment of the following members to the 2004 Nominating Committee: Paul Phinney, MD, Chair; Ruth Haskins, MD, District 1; Lydia Wytrzes, MD, District 2; Jose Abad, MD, District 3; Trey Washburn, MD, District 4; Monte Ikemire, MD, District 5; Romie Holland, MD, District 6.

The Nominating Committee nominates members to vacancies on the Board of Directors and the delegation to the California Medical Association.

Approved a request from the California Medical Association for the Society to write to local and regional legislators regarding reducing smoking in tribal government casinos.

Approved the Membership Report:
For Active Membership — Sawey A. Harhash, MD; David T. Kira, MD; Susan L. MacMillan, MD; Akshay J. Manek, MD; Brian R. Marten, MD.
For Associate Membership — Alexander Kelter, MD.
For Retired Membership — Aloysius L. Kuntz, MD.