Chronic Pain Association of Australia Inc.

General Board Meeting


Minutes


Date:- 3rd May 2011 Location:- CPA Office

Board Meeting Number:- 2011/5


1.  Meeting Opened

Meeting opened at 4.10pm

2.  Attendance & Apologies

In Person - Coralie Wales, Steve Thomson
Via Skype - Helen Gracie, Peter Gregory, Wanda Mitchell-Cook
Apologies - Mandy Nielsen, Angela Smith, Dean Joscelyne

3.  Minutes of Previous Board Meeting

Accepted as True & Correct - Yes
Moved by - Steve Thomson
Seconded by - Peter Gregory

4.  Business arising from the Minutes, not listed elsewhere

Nothing Tabled Today

5.  Project/Program Reports
a. Give Silent Pain a Voice

A lot of work has been with this project. Meetu (a volunteer) is working closely with Deidre Pinder and both are creating documents, forms, brochures, etc.


b. Walk for Pain (NSW & QLD)

Nothing Tabled Today


c. National Pain Week

A lot of discussion was held about this project. A meeting was held between The PR Firm, Lesley Brydon & Karina Knight, to discuss NPW (National Pain Week). Their response was not favourable. Information about this was provided to board members and marked “In Strictest Confidence”.
Helen raised the point about the amount that’s needed ($80,000.00) to be raised and the short time frame we have to do that. The time frame mentioned is 10 days and this is while Lesley Brydon (Painaustralia) is away overseas. It was felt that on her return, Lesley will do all in her power to disrupt this project so we all have to move fast..
$80,000.00 is a lot of money to be raised in such a short time frame and it was decided that Coralie was to ask Sue what they could deliver if we could only raise $20,000.00. Then discuss what the shortcomings would be and how we could then see if we could help reduce these shortcomings by doing some work ourselves, using our Volunteers.
Action:- Coralie to contact Sue Donnelly and discuss these issue and report back. Nothing to happen until that meeting is held.
Coralie and Sue Donnelly (PR Firm) met with Multipharma to discuss potential funding for NPW and they are considering this.
Further discussions were held focusing on what we could do for NPW and how we could all use our Networks and contact to help raise awareness and funding for NPW.
Some of the ideas mentioned for NPW were:-
* “Chroncia” an IPhone App could be rolled out and promoted
* GSPaV - Give Silent Pain a Voice program could be rolled out and promoted
* Picnic in the Park - held in each State/Capital City where “painters” could gather and spend time together, with potential media coverage, to get our messages across to the nation. The main aim is to let others in pain know they are not alone in their struggles.
* QUM (Quality Use of Medicines - Get together possibly being funded by NPS
* Dispelling a myth about chronic pain being the focus of each states Picnic in the Park.
Action:- Each of the Board members would create a list of contacts, ideas for funding, etc and provide these lists to Steve via email so we didn’t double up on contacts.
These discussions took up most of todays Board Meeting


d. ACI Network - Pain Management Network

Nothing Tabled Today


e. SKECH in the Hunter

Coralie mentioned how great this program was being received and discussed how we have a formal agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Hunter Integrated Pain Service as we are both working on the National Pain Strategy.


f. Square Cogs Program

Coralie mentioned about the Level 1 & Level 2 chronic pain Training Sessions she has been running and how at the 1st Level 2 she invited Steve Thomson & Margaret Knight as people living in pain, to participate. Following the session Coralie asked for feedback from the OT’s & Physios present and every one of them said how vital it was for Steve & Margaret to be part of this. That they had each learned so much more from listening to people in pain and how much this newfound knowledge and understanding would help them in their own practices treating people in pain. Coralie is now going to make sure this happens at other Level 2 training sessions. Level 1 Sessions are more about teaching them about pain and does not need consumers involved at these sessions.
Coralie raised the need to create a Memorandum of Understanding between CPA & Square Cogs as again, both were focusing on the National Pain Strategy and working with consumers at the centre.

6.  Strategic Plan Reports

Nothing Tabled Today

7.  Financial & Membership Reports
Financial Report Tabled -

Nothing Tabled Today


Membership Report Tabled

VP Mandy tabled her report (via Email) that shows 829 Subscribers to our e-Bulletin and 20 or so who’s email addresses bounce.
No Numbers of Active members were provide today
Action:- Mandy will clean up the distribution list as soon as she can.

8.  Other Business

a. Recent Events affecting CPA and discussion of Proposed actions

This item was added by Coralie as Item 5 in the agenda but moved here as Steve thinks it’s better being here.
This involved lengthy discussions about NPW as outlined above, at Item 5 c.


b. Nominations presented for additional Board Members

Nominations for additional Board members were discussed and the following names were put forward by Coralie:-
John Abouchrouche - a lawyer who was mentioned by Patricia & Mathew Berenger from Injury Support Network (ISN) Port Macquarie NSW. He is passionate about the plight of people in pain and is working as a Plaintiff Lawyer.
Nominated by:- Coralie Wales
Seconded by:- Steve Thomson
All Present Agreed
Action:- Coralie to inform John of his appointment to the CPA Board.
Dr Chris Hayes - A Doctor at the Hunter Integrated Pain Clinic. Well known to his peers and a must for the board of CPA as a Medical Professional/Pain Specialist
Nominated by:- Coralie Wales
Seconded by:- Peter Gregory
All Present Agreed
Action:- Coralie to inform Chris of his appointment to the CPA Board.
Fiona Hodgson - also involved in the HIPS (Hunter Integrated Pain Service).
Nominated by:- Coralie Wales
Seconded by:- Helen Gracie
All Present Agreed
Action:- Coralie to inform Fiona of her appointment to the CPA Board.

Dr Garry Egger - Gut Busters creator. He took part in Square Cogs Level 1 Training Session and wants to join the board of CPA. He has a huge network and can help us spread the word and get things done..
Nominated by:- Helen Gracie
Seconded by:- Peter Gregory
All Present Agreed
Action:- Coralie to inform Chris of his appointment to the CPA Board.

Kathy Powell - Suggested as the SA Board Director of CPA.
Nominated by:- Coralie Wales
Seconded by:- Steve Thomson
All Present Agreed
Action:- Coralie to inform Kathy of her appointment to the CPA Board.
Dr Ben Baressi - Carlton Blues AFL Team Doctor - part time. He also works for TAC (Transport Accident Commission ) VIC - part time. This person was mentioned by Wanda Cook and she suggested he be approached to discuss his appointment to the board of CPA.
Action:- Wanda to contact Ben to discuss his potential as a CPA Board director in VIC.


c. The appointment of Volunteers in other states.

This was raised by Wanda as she is interested in getting a volunteer to help her with CPA things in VIC. The rest of the board present agreed that this would be Ok as long as all the required paperwork was completed so they are covered by our Volunteer insurance.


d. The “Tree diagram” that Coralie is looking at utilising with CPA and more specifically with the NPW.

This diagram was raised by Coralie and explained as a Tree that indicates consumers and people in pain have roots in the community. That each of us are represented by the individual leaves of the tree. That we each have branches (networks) that form part of the tree.
All present agreed that this was a good idea and that we should work on this further.

9.  Meeting Closed

Meeting closed at 6.05pm