NRRCC North Regional Respiratory Care Conference

1. NRRCCNorth Regional Respiratory Care Conference Minnesota-Wisconsin Wisconsin-Minnesota Come together for educational conference

2. MN Perspective • 1996: Deb Skees Pres-elect MN at the AARC leadership meeting • Discussions about the “Tri-State” meeting • IDEA spawned! • Deb brings in Denise Johnson into the plan • Can we say “synergistic”?

3. Underlying reasons to join forces • Decreased volunteerism • Improved program speakers with larger venue • Economies of scale • Play on the positives of the states

4. Beginnings in Wisconsin • WSRC Board began to brainstorm in the mid to late 1990’s. • Goal was to provide the best conference for the money for our members. • How could we increase both quality of speakers and number of attendees?? • How could we generate more interest in and revenue from the state conference? • Biggest expenses—speakers and facility

5. Discussion at AARC HOD • Other states had already merged their annual conference • Delegates Lynn Symrk Lenz and Bob Milisch from Wisconsin discussed the idea with their Minnesota counterparts Deb Skees and Denise Johnson • Lynn and Bob brought the idea to the WSRC • Deb and Denise brought the idea to the MSRC

6. Minnesota and Wisconsin

7. States “foaming” to work together • Similar in numbers attending conferences • Common upper midwest ideals • Hard working • Hard playing • Fun • And did we mention fun?

8. Crossing State Lines • 2001—MN coordinators visited the WI State conference in Stevens Point. • At this meeting, the merger was made between the 2 states to form the North Regional Respiratory Care Conference. • Planning for the first NRRCC to be held in 2005 had begun. • Vendor Champions included in planning

9. How Did that go? • Wisconsota • Minnisconsin This could never work, Packers and Vikings fans all working together? Don’t be ridiculous!

10. Separate Governing Body • Joint Executive Committee for NRRCC • 3 members from each state (tie breaker needed) • Bylaws were developed from a previous structure used by Joe Huff from Ohio • Maintain each state’s structural integrity • Separate board meetings • Separate Sputum Bowls

11. Contract • 4 year trial contract • Rotate every other to each state • Identified location within state • Time of year • MN fall • WI spring • Alternated to evaluate best practice

12. No Easy Battle • Performa’s presented to both BOD • Issues to work through • State identities • Local vendors • Locations Locations locations • RT’s willing to travel • Financial arrangements • What if’s….

13. Positive Outcomes • Meeting new people and making new friends • Higher quality conference • Sharing new ideas • Increased volunteer pool • National vendors save money/have higher contact ratio • Increased revenues for each state

14. Concerns • Locate the conference in a central location close to population centers. • The far borders of the states are marginalized when the conference is in the other state. • Members might only attend a conference every other year in their own state.

15. Issues • Timing issues • Awards • Elections • Annual business meetings

16. 2004 Wisconsin Conference • 2 nationally recognized speakers • AARC speaker • 275-300 attendees • 55-60 vendors • $16,000-18,000 in revenue

17. 2007 NRRCC conference • 5 nationally recognized speakers • AARC speaker • 517 attendees • 85 vendors • $55,000-60,000 in revenue

18. What do you get for your money? • $200.00 AARC member • $75.00 Student • 11.5-13 CRCE • 3 day conference • Unopposed vendor time • 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches are included

19. Kalahari Resort-Wisconsin Dells • 2009 room rate $104.00/night for up to 4 people. • Includes tickets to the largest indoor water park in the US—located right at the hotel. • 2016 room rate already locked in at $110.00. • Contract locked in with NRRCC through 2017.

20. Revenue Sharing • First $1000.00 to host state • Remaining revenue divided equally into 2 parts • In one divided part, the revenue is split 50/50 • In the other divided part, the revenue is split based on percentage of attendees per state

21. Revenue Sharing Example • In 2007, Wisconsin was the host state • $60,000 total revenue • Wisconsin Minnesota $1000.00 ------- $14,750.00 $14,750.00 $19,666.67 66.7%/33.3% $ 9,833.33 $ 35,416.67 Total/state $ 24,583.33

22. Results • Increased revenues • Positive vendor response and increased numbers • BOD’s happy on both states • RT’s very positive response-adapted well-increased participants

23. NRRCC Continues • Both state BOD’s renewed contract to continue another 4 years. • Exceptional Affiliation • States compete and support one another • Both bring strengths to table • Work and play well together