G E OR G I A STAT E ASSEMBLY OF AST

OFFICERS President Terri Crosson Vice President L. Gene Burke Secretary T.C. Parker Treasurer Kathleen Demitras BOARD OF DIRECTORS Erin Baggett Brenda LayfieldSmith Jennifer McNeely Mark Wiese Stephen Wurtz

Peach Review
I SS U E 1 3 A U G U ST 2 0 1 3

Go Dawgs!
Terri Crosson, CST
"Here comes Georgia!" was a frequent comment we heard as delegates at the National Conference in New Orleans. As head of the delegates, I have to say I was impressed with the questions and comments asked by our delegates to the candidates. pride. I learned that there are times when what seems black and white can be quite gray. I learned that you must put differences aside and ask for help and be willing to open your mind to that and accept that advice.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Motivation = Recipe for Success Page 2 Unforgettable Page 3 Passing the Torch Page 4 New ASTSA Officers Page 5 The ASTSA: An Educators Perspective Page 6 Conference Highlights Page 7

I'm glad I attended national conference, not just for the education but It was certainly an interesting candi- also for the personal experience, dates forum. We had one candidate which I hope in turn will make me a run from the floor for the position of better state president. Thank you for President. His campaign speech left allowing me to serve you all! us all speechless with the negative comments that were thrown around, Terri Crosson, CST and he was stunned when asked if he President, Georgia State Assembly felt that was an appropriate way to run a campaign. We also had several candidates that ran unopposed. Although they were unopposed we still asked them questions about their stand and vision for AST. Our very own Kathy "D" was not exempt from the "Georgia Dawgs" as well. The delegates were insightful and tenaThis issue of the Peach cious with their questions, and as I Review is dedicated to the said, I was quite proud of them.

Special Post-Conference Edition

On a personal note, I learned a lot from the conference as well: not just how to speak your mind to and ask the tough questions to the candidates, but also how to swallow your

wonderful experiences gained by our officers & delegates at the 2013 AST National Conference in New Orleans, LA

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GEORGIA STATE ASSEMBLY

Motivation = Recipe for Success

Brenda Layfield-Smith, CST
Motivation is a simple, yet complex, and tricky thing to find. We need motivation in almost every aspect of our lives. However, stress seems to deplete motivation, leaving us even more stressed. I was so fortunate to be selected as a delegate to the Association of Surgical Technologists national conference in New Orleans, LA during the last week of May. It is so uplifting to be in the company of more than 1,500 members of an organization who really understand the scope and importance of our role in healthcare. Motivation comes alive for me at conference and helps to restore my resolve to attempt to be a better representative of our profession. Conference also serves to remind me to move forward in letting people in the community know about our work. The public deserves to know who really is behind the mask. They need to know that we are here to provide safe care for every patient, in every case, and every time we are needed. They should hear that patient safety is the motivation for our every action. During national conference, the State Assembly Leadership Forum (SALF) seemed to me to be the entire conference rolled neatly into one day. It opened channels of thought with actions to educate and motivate equally. I always meet amazing, encouraging people at SALF who help to fan the flames of passion for the profession. This years SALF reminded me of a book I was required to read many years ago. Some of that books principles were echoed at SALF: giving of your time and effort to enhance strong state assemblies, while helping to provide stability for ASTs continued growth. Sometimes, giving of your time and effort to something you believe in helps to increase motivation and move mountains, one shovelful at a time. Every fire needs a spark to start it, but embers are important to keep a fire burning in the long term. State and national conferences serve as the spark for the embers - building a member base at the state level. The SALF members discussed that state assemblies should bring together the best teams they can find. The very best teams always consist of people bringing different ideas and backgrounds to share motivation for each other. These concepts reminded me of that same book again. People who take responsibility for their More reminders of that old book, which by the way, was How to Win Friends and Influence People written in the 1930s by Dale Carnegie. Some things havent changed! You can find wisdom in the strangest places just by taking time to look, listen and feel. Really, we all have the recipe for motivation, its just hidden inside! Reminiscing about New Orleans, I could go for a big cup of Caf du Monde chicory coffee and warm sugar beignets about now! Or maybe a slow steamboat ride along the mighty Mississippi with a muffaletta sandwich from Central Grocery in a brown paper bag. Streetcar rides through the French Quarter. Charbroiled oysters with garlic butter and crusty French bread for dinner. Now thats just the ticket to find my motivation! Thank you, New Orleans, I appreciated your magic once again. Appreciation is a great ingredient for motivation - create your own spice of life! Brenda Layfield-Smith, CST Director, Georgia State Assembly own actions seem to be the most confident and happiest with a job. State assemblies can help grow these type of people to be confident leaders and good examples for others. Lead by example, even when you think no one is looking! The SALF group also discussed incentives for members to attend conferences, and saying thank you well and often to the members. Appreciation and recognition are one of the main reasons people choose to stay in organizations, jobs, or relationships. Sometimes a smile, a shared laugh, or a small kind gesture is all thats required. I always come away from SALF inspired to put these ideas into practice. We all need one another, and its really common sense to treat each other how we would like to be treated. Everyone wants to be needed and appreciated, and each person can make a contribution, no matter how small.

Motivation is a simple, yet complex, and tricky thing to find.

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Unforgettable
tient care. This particular learning session built a fire in me to push what I believe will help us as a growing profession. To my fellow Surgical Techs, certified, noncertified, and on the job trained, we have to allow our lights to shine. Things are beginning to change all around us. The most important thing that we need to is continue to educate ourselves. I learned that legislation is being passed all across the nation. The state of Georgia will soon be working to get this passed as well. We all can accomplish this legislation together for the sake and safety of our surgical patients. Aeger Primo-Patient is always our first priority, so lets make this happen for them. Being a delegate to national conference is a serious position. When I was told that Georgia was a tremendous force, that was an understatement! The Georgia State Assembly takes this position very seriously. When they want answers, they get them. It was an honor to participate in the voting process for the newly elected officers of the national AST board. Be-

Vernee Jones, CST

ing able to meet with each candidate was great. I think our new leaders will do a phenomenal job leading the present and future surgical technologist and the students in the process. Looking back to the days before conference with severe jitters, now I feel like I accomplished something that I had no idea would ever happen. I realized that my vote does matter! To actually sit, listen, and watch the democracy of the presidential election was an astounding and interesting part of the conference. All I could say was wow!

I can sit here and express my new found love for New Orleans but that is not my purpose. The 2013 National Conference for AST was an experience that will never be forgotten. I am glad and forever grateful to have been able to attend and be a part of a profession that shows their sincere love of being a Surgical Technologist. Being amazed by far is an understatement. I confidently wore three ribbons on my badge at conference: Delegate, First Time Attendee, and State Assembly Leadership Forum. SALF encouraged me not only to continue to love what I do as a Certified Surgical Technologist, but to get out there and let everyone know that I am not just an OR tech or scrub tech. I am a part of a separate profession. Listening to the speakers gave me a new outlook on my career in the operating room and boosted my passion for pa-

To those who have never attended a national conference for one reason or another, take some time to go as soon as possible. I promise that you will not regret it. The love of our fellow Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants will show and prove that we are moving forward in our profession. We have a ways to go to get where we need to be. But, we will get there as long as we continue to pull together, mentor, teach, and grow as a family of networking healthcare advocates.

The most important thing is to continue to educate ourselves

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GEORGIA STATE ASSEMBLY

AST National Conference, May 2012, Washington DC

Passing the Torch

This is when my torch and passion began to burn for my profession. I was elected Vice-President of the AST Student Association, first time for my school and I believe first time for my state. At the time I knew nothing about the AST, its purpose, or its mission. It didnt take long to learn. As a student officer, it was my duty to plan the next years student forum. I took pride in my obligation because the student forum I had just attended was amazing, and I knew that I wanted to do the same for the students following in my footsteps.

Dustin Cain, CST

AST National Conference, May 2013, New Orleans LA Student Table The day we had waited all year for was approaching fast. We were to set up a table during the exhibits and recruit new student officers. The problem was, we didnt have a table, and we didnt know where to put the table when we got one. We were panicking. Then Don Braziel told us something that I will cherish forever. He said, There is no reason in getting angry, just calm down and everything will be fine. He was right. Shortly thereafter we had a table and a great location. We recruited 15 students to run for office, two of whom were from the state of GA. Things were going great again! Student Forum The big day was finally here. I arrived at the room 30 minutes early just to make sure everything was set and in place. We had some great speakers, some cool games and some really cool prizes. The student candidates made their speeches and it was time to vote. I had the pleasure of sequestering the candidates while the other students voted. I had the candidates in an employee hallway and they were all excited and nervous just as I had been the year before. I kept checking in the main ballroom for the results to come in and finally they did. I left the candidates alone for a few minutes to sneak a peek at the results. When I returned to the candidates it was very hard not to smile or give away any hints. The Announcement Our Treasurer announced Molly Bouc as the new Treasurer. Our Secretary announced Chelsea Snuffer as the new Secretary. Then it was my turn to announce the new Vice-President. With great honor, from my hometown, the new Vice-PresidentTommy Larson. Then the excitement continued when our President announced Dana Sherer as the new President. Two students from the state of GA and from the same school I graduated from had just become the new President and VicePresident of the ASTSA. I looked down at Lorraine Wilderman, the program director of Chattahoochee Tech, and she was crying. I believe this is the moment instructors live for. I was overwhelmed with joy for the new student officers, two of whom I had personally talked into running and mentored. Passing the Torch The previous and new student officers were all invited to join President Rodriguez in her suite for a small reception. It was fun to be around the National Officers, Past Presidents and FAST recipients. After the reception, I invited the new and old student officers to my room for a quick meeting. The old officers explained what to expect to the new officers and got them really pumped up about their duties and their future in the AST. We passed the ASTSA torch on to them, and they will be responsible for the next group of students in Denver, CO. My Next Step This year I learned a lot from being an alternate delegate for my state. I also had the pleasure of helping in the voting booth. I plan on staying very active at the national level, but it begins at the state level. I plan on running for Board of Directors in the future, and I also plan to run as a delegate so that my vote can be cast in the national election. I would like to thank all of you who have supported me so far in my journey. I look forward to your continued support and I plan on doing the same for those following in my footsteps.

Pictured (L to R): Tommy Larson 2013 ASTSA Vice President Dustin Cain 2012 ASTSA Vice President Dana Sherer 2013 ASTSA President

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New AST Student Association Officers from Georgia

From the moment we walked into the convention center I was in awe. There is something very special about being surrounded by hundreds of people who share in your everyday experiences and who understand the trials and triumphs of being a Surgical Technologist. I did not go to New Orleans with the intent of running for office. It wasnt until I listened to the speakers and mingled with fellow attendees that I realized a spark was being ignited! I was inspired to be a bigger part of this organization. After speaking with Dustin Cain, the former ASTSA Vice President, I was convinced this was for me. As I prepared my speech that night I realized just how much my excitement and passion had grown over the past year for this profession. The next day when I was called to deliver my speech I could only hope the passion I felt would mask my terrible nerves! When they announced my name as President I was overcome with joy! Not to mention my great excitement to hear my fellow classmate and friend, Tommy, announced as Vice President! I am thrilled to sit with great people and be able to serve as President of the Association of Surgical Technologists Student Association! Dana Sherer, President AST Student Association One of the most amazing things to me about the AST is the ASTSA! It is awesome being part of an association that supports and nurtures its upcoming student professionals and truly helps and seeks out their best interests. At conference, the ASTSA brought all the students together and had speakers and events to address issues that students are going through.

Legislators want to know I had no intenWhen I went to the conference tions of running office. We had been enwho wefor are and couraged by our teacher, Mrs. Wilderman, and theyVice should the why former ASTSA President Dustin Cain to run, but I thought that it was something too support us, and big for me to try. However, once at the conference I had a fire lit - well,to explode inside me. they want My passion for the hear association and myit from soon individuals to be profession like just took off. I really you and wanted to run but be- me.
ing told that we would have to speak in front of hundreds of other students absolutely stopped me in my tracks. However, after hearing multiple highly accomplished speakers talk at the conference I realized that, to have the greatest effect in helping people and furthering this profession, I would have to step out of my comfort zone!

The annual national conference is unlike anything I have ever seen before. I was very unsure about what to expect, not only as a first year attendee but also as a student. I wasnt sure if we would be swept under the rug or what kind of experience to expect. Well, let me tell you, students are not swept under the rug! What an experience! The first thing you notice when you arrive at the conference is the overwhelming passion the members of this association have for their profession. There almost seems to be an automatic, magnetic bond you have when youre talking to or around a fellow Surgical Tech whether they are a working professional or a student. The conference as a whole was amazing, the atmosphere, the speakers, the people, the passion, the support, just everything comes together to make an incredible unforgettable experience.

To this day I have never been so nervous in my life as when I gave my nomination speech! Upon hearing my name called as Vice President of the ASTSA I was speechless, and to top it off one of my close dear friends, Dana Sherer, who was also running with me was announced as the new President. We have an absolutely amazing and talented group of officers that were elected, and I am so proud and honored to be able to be a part of this student association. I look forward to serving and doing everything I can in the next year! Tommy Larson, Vice President AST Student Association

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GEORGIA STATE ASSEMBLY

The AST Student Association: An Educators Perspective

Lorraine Wilderman, CST and Torey Works, CST
We have always encouraged our students to be part of their professional organization, not only at the state level but also at the national level. We have been attending the AST conference with students for several years now. We budget for the trip through the Surgical Technology Club which was started at Chattahoochee Tech around 2001. The club is part of Campus Life and the funds come from the student activity tuition that all college students must pay. Chattahoochee Technical College has always supported students attending conferences and conventions relating to their profession. Student activity funds that we request for the AST annual convention covers the cost of registration, hotel, air-fare, and money for food. This year, thirteen of our seventeen students attended the conference in New Orleans. Last year one of our students, Dustin Cain, ran for office and succeeded as Vice-President for ASTSA. Dustin was this year an alternate delegate for the Georgia State Assembly. We believe this was the turning point for other students, encouraging them to step up into a leadership role. Prior to the convention and also during the convention, we along with Dustin encouraged our students to run for national ASTSA office. Like most students, they didnt want to give a speech, but we encouraged them to try. The first day of the convention, both Dana Sherer and Tommy Larson told us they would run for office. We were both elated and prayed that at least one of them would be elected. Imagine our surprise when both students were awarded the position of President and Vice-

Tommy Larson, Vice President of ASTSA Lorraine Wilderman, Program Director Dana Sherer, President of ASTSA

President of ASTSA! We both are very proud of Dustin, Dana, and Tommy, and can only hope they continue up the ladder to one day be President of AST.

Lorraine Wilderman, RN, BSN, CNOR Program Director Surgical Technology Torey Works, CST Instructor/Clinical Coordinator Surgical Technology

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2013 AST National Conference Highlights

Congratulations to GASA Treasurer Kathleen Demitras on being elected as the Vice-President of the AST National Board!

Congratulations to GASA past President Georgia Carter and current Treasurer Kathleen Demitras for being named Fellows of the Association of Surgical Technologists!

Congratulations to Dana Sherer, a student at Georgias Chattahoochee Technical College, for being elected as AST Student Association President for 2013-2014!

~ AST Student Association ~

Congratulations to Tommy Larson, a student at Georgias Chattahoochee Technical College, for being elected as AST Student Association Vice-President for 2013-2014!
A big "thank you" to our delegates who represented Georgia in New Orleans! Pictured are (left to right): GASA Treasurer Kathy Demitras, GASA Director Brenda Smith, GASA President Terri Crosson, GASA Director Mark Wiese, Delegate Vernee Jones, and Delegate Sidney Sanders. Also, thanks to our very active alternate delegates who attended conference: Joanne Thompson, Torey Rucker-Works, Dustin Cain, and Stephen Wurtz.

Falling Back into Surgical Technology

Saturday, September 14, 2013 Augusta Technical College
Join us for our biannual meeting to celebrate Surgical Technology Week and to hear from the distinguished guests of the Southeast Georgia medical community. There will also be a report from the six delegates who represented us in New Orleans at the AST 2013 National Conference. Join us as we advocate for the profession and inspire our Surgical Technology students. This event is worth 8 continuing education credits pending approval by AST.

Register online, download the registration form, and find hotel information at http://www.ast-gasa.org/registration.html. Early bird registration prices end August 24th!

www.facebook.com/ GaStateAssemblyAST
Introducing the new GASA logo! We are proud to represent the Peach State and the Surgical Technology profession to our colleagues, to other professsional organizations, to the community, and to the legislators, all of whom will help us reach our goals! Watch for this new logo on our publications, website, and Facebook page!