Hi everyone,
The MoSRT had our annual conference back on April 6th, 7th, and 8th at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Mo. It was our first in-person conference since Covid reared its ugly head back in 2019. We had a great turn-out and enjoyed seeing many of our friends as well as making some new ones!
As President, I wanted to give a brief introduction of myself and explain what I plan to do during my term. My name is William “Joe” Oller and I joined the Board of Directors back in 2013 as Webmaster co-chair. Throughout the years I’ve held several positions including Registration/Membership co-chair, Delegate, Vice President, and of course Webmaster. I’ve also recently started volunteering for the ASRT as Region 4 Chair for the Committee on R.T. Advocacy. During my time on the Board, I’ve learned a lot about our profession as well as myself.
Looking forward, I plan to do my part in helping recruit students, not only as members of the MoSRT but to have them get involved with the Board of Directors as well. I was recruited to join the MoSRT board by my Clinical Coordinator/mentor, Janet Akers-Montgomery. Back in 2013, I received an email from the ASRT to join an event called "R.T. in JC” and was very excited about standing up for my profession at the Missouri state capitol. Janet and I agreed to carpool to the event and it was during that trip she suggested I join the Board as Webmaster co-chair. Not because the great Norman Hente really needed it, but because I could learn from him and take over, should he ever decide to take a step back. It’s because of Janet that I’m still deeply involved with my profession and the MoSRT and ASRT. I am extremely glad that she brought it up during that long car ride to the capital (my wife, not so much sometimes!).
My goal in the coming months is to invite students to join us virtually, or physically at one, or all, of our quarterly meetings so they can learn what we do as MoSRT board members, as well as our involvement with the ASRT as well. I am proud to be a Radiologic Technologist and want to support my profession, and what a better way to do it, than by joining a local affiliate. But I won’t stop there, with the board’s blessing, I plan to invite students from across the country, especially those states whose affiliates are less active, to join us as well. Granted, those folks may want to join virtually, but the offer will stand.
If we as R.T.s do not stand up for our profession or teach students about the importance of doing so, who will do it? Certainly not the nurses, the respiratory therapists, or laboratory technologists. It has to be us.
Thank you all for your time and have a great rest of your Spring!
William “Joe” Oller R.T. (R)(CT)
MoSRT President
MoSRT Webmaster
