IMPORTANT DATES IN PAMET - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER'S mSTORY

In the early 1970's a group of Filipino medical technologists namely Lucio Raymundo, Ben Sanchez, JoseBallesteros and others passed the California State Board examinations. They got together to form a professionalgroup called Filipino Medical Technologists Association of America (FMTA). Shortly after the founding of thisorganization, Leonor Espiritu, a medical technologist from Chicago moved to Oakland. Being new in the area, shelearned about the FMTA. During her inquiries, she found out that the organization's membership was limited only tolicensed Filipino medical technologists. According to the organization's constitution and by-laws, members had tobe licensed because the organization's name clearly stated "Medical Technologists of America". Opposed to thisrequirement, Leonor went to the Employment Development Department in Alameda County to get a list of Filipinomedical technologists in the bay area so that she could challenge this organization's limitations.

Sometime in 1975, Leonor, fondly called "Nonie," called 10 people for a meeting that would become the first ofmany at her apartment on Howe St., Oakland, CA. The following 5 people showed up: Elizabeth Rabara (Zapata),Alice Llamado (Ventanilla), Tita Lozares, Tessie Manalili (Cruz) and Elizabeth Daco (Dequinia). A few moremedical technologists from the EDD list were called and an appointment was set up to meet with the officers andmembers of the FMTA. Through Nonie's hard work and enthusiasm, the FMTA made an addendum to theirmembership stating that any medical technologist of Filipino descent can be a member ofthe FMTA. Lucio fondlycalled Kuya Ray, microbiology supervisor spear headed the review classes to help the unlicensed medicaltechnologists pass the California State Licensure Examinations.

1975 -1978 - FMTA becomes active in the community by joining the Filipino Community Civic organizations inSan Francisco offering glucose testing at health fairs.

1978 - Year of crisis. FMTA challenged a policy proposed by the Advisory Committee to the Laboratory FieldServices, the agency that oversees clinical laboratory profession. The policy required all foreign-trained medicaltechnologists to go back to school before taking the state licensure examinations. The implication of the policy wasthat foreign education is inferior to US education. The FMTA's position on this policy was that a degree in theBachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the Philippines should be more than sufficient to satisfy therequirements for licensure. The FMT A recommended having more training programs and state-sponsored reviewclasses. The organization was successful in their challenge to the Laboratory Field Services and the policy did notpass.

1980 - Activities come to a halt. Most of the newly licensed Medical Technologists began to focus more onbuilding up their professional careers and their growing families.

August 1988 - Efforts begin to rebuild FMTA by recruiting new members from San Jose up to Sacramento.Nonie, Dan Dominguez, Lito Cahatol, and Mercy Dones were instrumental in organizing meetings with differentgroups to participate in the planned membership drive. Dan spent many hours of contacting different hospitals andother facilities to be informed oftheir activities. A-well-organized summer picnic at Alameda Park started the initialdiscussion and plans to mobilize. In December 1988 the First Christmas Ball was coordinated by Dan, Nonie anda few of the original FMTA members. This event was the first get together of all licensed and unlicensed medicaltechnologists in the Bay Area since the late 1970s. The next 2 months was an extensive All-Out MembershipDrive. And on March 11,1989 - The First Membership meeting was held and an Election of Officers wasconducted

1989-1991 Nonie Espiritu Briones(served 1 term)

How can one summarize the countless number of endeavors that Nonie has attained in the time that she has devotedto PAMET? How can one possibly capture all the behind the scenes efforts she has dedicated to this organization?We will attempt to catalog the events that we remember, but just know that her list goes beyond what is stated.Nonie, together with Dan Dominguez, were one of the key instrumental people in resurrecting the Filipino MedicalTechnologists of America. Nonie was the key person in convincing the majority in the FMTA into becoming achapter of PAMET -USA. On April 1, 1989. FMTA members voted to become a chapter of PAMET -USA, therebyto be renamed as PAMET Northern California. The PAMET fiesta, an event focused on the commemoration of ourFilipino roots, customs and talents, strengthened everyone's resolve to volunteer their precious time for theorganization.

Nonie spearheaded numerous leadership training seminars because she was all about developing leadership. Thecountless continuing education seminars as well as the constant interaction with the educators of the medicaltechnology field as such Bill Bigler and Bill Argonza developed the communication skills of everyone. On June 17,1989 the first formal review class was offered.

The innumerable newly licensed CLSs offered their time to proctor the review classes in hopes that their experienceswould serve as an example for others to succeed. Nonie was also instrumental in the formation of the PAMETSouthern California chapter as she connected with Aurie Vidad, her counterpart in Southern California. Nonie knewthat a certain amount of fun had to be interjected into the equation; thus, Christmas balls and Hawaiian parties wereorganized as well as participation and involvement in the 2nd National Convention in New Jersey where a contingentof officers and members attended and represented PAMET Northern California chapter. When Nonie was elected asthe president-elect ofPAMET-USA, PAMET Northern California was put in center stage to be one of the leaders inthe national organization. Her method of grassroots campaigning proved very advantageous in putting PAMETNorthern California in the position it holds in the clinical laboratory science community today. So many of theofficers that Nonie has cultivated have been recognized in the clinical laboratory science arena in the Bay area. Wewho are left behind will continue the legacy Nonie has given to us.

1991-93 Aejandra Ibarra(served 1 term)

Through Nonie Briones' mentorship and skillful support, Jela stood up to take the helm ofPAMET NorthernCalifornia from 1991through 1993. All the leadership training classes and countless executive board meetingshelped Jela navigate the multitude of activities. Jela started her term with the Hawaiian-themed induction in DalyCity; Bill Argonza, the Chief of the Laboratory Field Services at the time, inducted the new officers. In conjunctionwith the organization's community service, a Zarzuela musical was held with Fides Cuyugan-Asencio and friends asthe special performers which was held in the Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University.

The organization continued to foster very close ties with its sister organization, PAMET Southern California, byattending their Induction Ball. PAMET Northern California and Southern California are intertwined because bothorganizations became PAMET USA chapters one after the other. This closeness has survived the challenges thathave come and gone and it is displayed tonight by the presence of a large amount of officers who joined us tocelebrate tonight. To keep up with our legislative responsibilities, the organization kept a close look at anyAssembly bills that may impact its constituents. Some of the officers represented the organization by attendinghearings during key assembly bill discussions.

The organization recognized early on the importance of continuing education seminars to the members so it startedasking speakers to impart their knowledge to the clinical laboratory scientists. To balance the critical items in theorganization's yearly agenda, the organization held an annual Christmas ball to celebrate the year's accomplishmentand to congratulate the successful examinees, the product of the intensive review classes. She also strengthened thecamaraderie with fellow officers and members by holding Christmas caroling.

The review classes which started in 1989 continued on which had been moved to the California State University,Hayward in the Meiklejohn Auditorium. The highly appreciated Wet Workshop was also offered that was set upuniversity laboratory setting at the California State University, Hayward. This workshop was offered to the newlylicensed CLS to perform simple laboratory testing. It was also during her term that the chapter hosted the firstPAMET USA convention in the West Coast when the 1992 Third PAMET National Convention was held in theSanta Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California. There was a substantial participation from the differentbiotech companies and other companies that support the needs of our clinical and reference laboratories. We werevery honored by the presence of key officers from PAMET Philippines who traveled from the Philippines just toattend the convention The special guests from PAMET Philippines and other chapters were given a tour to visitRegional Laboratories in Berkeley and the Stanford University Laboratory in Palo Alto.

1993-1997 Elizabetb Daco Dequinia(served 2 terms)

Liz was elected the chapter's.l'" president. During her term, she made a few changes from the previous pastpresidents to provide strategic leadership for the development of the services created and structured to the otherofficers and members. During her term, educational projects were her foremost goals. Through the 4 years sheserved as president, she continued the organized review classes, which were permanently held 2 times a year at theCalifornia State University, Hayward. Actually, she was the education coordinator who is instrumental in organizingthe review classes to move from the Letterman Hospital to Cal State University, Hayward. Matter of fact her homeaddress and telephone number was submitted to the Laboratory Field Services as the PAMET contact person for thereview classes for the last 20 years. Her second educational goal was granted when the Laboratory Field Servicesapproved the chapter for the very first time to be an accrediting agency to give Continuing Education Units to thelicensed CLS. At the same time, seminars and lectures were organized and are still being continued to this day. Herthird goal aligned with education was to give scholarship awards to deserving sons and daughters ofthe activemembers. As we speak we have 17 scholarship recipients given to sons and daughters ofthe officers and members.Little did she know all her 4 children benefited from this award.During her term when embarked on a huge project - the first Cotillion. This event honored the sons and daughters ofPAMET members which was successfully held at Hs Lordship restaurant in Emeryville.

Speaking of community services the chapter participated in health fairs by offering glucose and cholesterol screentesting in various civic groups in San Francisco and the East Bay. She also believes in family oriented gathering byinviting members and their families on a summer picnic held at Central Park in Fremont. Another fun activity for themembers and families was the organized trip to the theme park Marine World USA. PAMET paid more than 50% ofthe entrance fees. Liz develops and implements new policies and guidelines in regards to subsidies in sendingdelegates to convention and meetings for educational purpose, continuous personal development and growth.

She was aligned with other professional organizations officers in conjunction with health professional groups whenshe was selected by the laboratory field Services to be the guest presenter and master of ceremony at the symposiumsponsored by the laboratory field services, California State Department of Health services held at Centenial Hall inHayward.

During her presidency, Liz represented her chapter when she attended other chapter's functions which includeannual meetings, conventions and induction balls of the following chapters: Southern California, Virginia, Midwest,Texas, New York and Nevada. She was proud to say that while being a chapter president, she had the pleasure to bethe inducting officer of the founding officers ofthe Texas chapter. The pinnacle of her term came when she waselected the President-Elect ofPAMET-USA, Inc . After so many decades, she is much honored to say that she hassome role in making PAMET in existence successfully and professionally and needless to say that she is the onlyactive member left from the first meeting initiated by Nonie in 1975.

1997-2001 Leticia Acosta(served 2 terms)

Letty became the 4th chapter president who was inducted at the Spenger's restaurant in Berkeley on June 28, 1997.During her term a second cotillion was successfully held at Hyatt Regency in Burlingame. She led the chapterdelegations to attend the 6thnational convention in Virginia Beach, Virginia. On her second term of presidency, shewas inducted at the Elk's Club in South San Francisco on June 26, 1999. She was the chapter's president to lead thedelegates to the 7thannual meeting in Las Vegas and the national convention, Mexican Riviera Cruise respectively.She spearheaded the Health Fair on October 2, 2000 at St. Andrews Catholic Church. During the cruise, Letty wasinducted 1st Vice-President ofP AMET -USA, Inc. On her last year's term, she assumed a bigger role andresponsibility nationally when she was inducted at the executive meeting held in Oakland to assume the presidencyofPAMET-USA, Inc. Letty continues the chapter's common goals of holding 2 review classes and 4 continuingeducation each year.

2001 - 2003 Andres Martin(served 1 term)

Andy, the first gentleman to assume the chapter's 5thpresident was inducted in 2001. He believes in givingsomething back to the members by giving free 6 CEU to the active PAMET members per year. This practice hasbeen implemented up to this day. He also launched the new computer technology by setting up the website for thechapter. Through his leadership, he organized the 8thexecutive meeting in Oakland, Ca and coordinated the 3rd

successful cotillion. Andy led the chapter delegates to the 8thNational Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. At the sametoken a review classes continues and 3 seminars were held each year.

2003 - 2007 Milagros Braganza(served 2 terms)

Mila was the chapter's 6th energetic president. She continued with the tradition of the past presidents of havingreview classes at California State University, Hayward and was highly involved with the study groups by holdingreview sessions at her house (specializing in Blood Bank.) She stressed the importance of continuing educationseminars which were held at the Monogram Laboratories. It was were very well attended and had distinguishedspeakers such as Dr. Karen Nickel, retired Chief of the Laboratory Field Services, and Mr. Bob Thomas, sectionchief at the Laboratory Field Services. On April 2004 a luau in Daly City was organized to honor the PAMETreviewers who successfully passed the State licensure examinations. At the same event, PAMET scholarship awardswas officially named the "Nonie E. Briones Scholarship" to commemorate the first PAMET president, NonieBriones' achievements which was given to Alexia Ibarra. Her added foremost projects were community serviceswhich include participation with other civic organizations such as the Philippine Medical Association by performingglucose testing at the Filipino Senior citizens of San Francisco. The organization also volunteered during theMultiple Sclerosis walk-a-thon, the Diabetes Walk and the Tuberous Sclerosis walk-a-thon. Free dinner was alsoprovided and served at the Samaritan House in South San Francisco. She also made sure that holiday and Christmasgreetings were sent to all members and other chapters to give appreciation to everyone at the end of the year. Heractive involvement with the chapter made it more challenging when she was elected President-elect ofPAMET-USA, Inc. She embarked on a big project, the highlight of her presidency, to host the lOthNational Convention inSan Francisco. During the convention, the officers and members performed the Thundering Rocket's and invitedguest speaker, Tony Armada, a very prominent CEO of the Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. During herlast year of being the chapter president she was inducted as PAMET-USA's 8thpresident. With her persistence, shewas instrumental in forming the 15thchapter, PAMET Florida chapter. During Mila's term, the chapter activelyparticipated in the Executive Board Meetings held in Indianapolis and Detroit, Michigan and in the NationalConvention held in Las Vegas.

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2007 -2009 Dan's Term(serving 2 terms)

After 18 years of waiting, Dan was elected the president of PAMET Northern California on April 7, 2007. This wasa dream come true for him. With all the changes happening in the Clinical Science field, he felt he needed to expandthe activities to be more visible and receptive to the needs of the general membership. He continues to offer 2 reviewclasses a year, encountering students who have been out of the profession for more than 10 years but desire to workas a CLS by passing the state board exam.

With the vast majority of the CLS's working in almost every facility in the bay area, he continued the tradition ofoffering 4 Continuing Seminars but instead, he holds it in different sites like the Monogram Bioscience in South SanFrancisco, Washington Hospital in Fremont and at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo. Having it done in various placeshelped increase membership, and is currently now being recognized as an excellent provider of ContinuingEducation Seminars in the bay area.

More than anything else, he continued the community services by volunteering and participating in the followingactivities: Relay for Life for American Cancer Society, Neurofibromatosis Walk, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance Walkand Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The joy of being around the people involved and participating in their cause toraise funds and promote greater awareness, gives us more incentive to be connected. Life is very special.

Few casino trips have also played an important role in raising funds, meeting new faces and serves as a form ofrelaxation. He also initiated break times from the busy planned activities every year by having a get together retreat(Reno) and watching Broadway (theater) shows a few times a year.

As quoted by the current president Dan:"The pleasure of serving on a voluntary-basis that is founded upon the idea of making a difference tosomeone has been and will always be the true spirit that we as officers of this organization proudly carry on.No matter how much time we voluntarily spend, even at the expense of our own time, work and familymatters, we are always driven by the same goals and objectives that we had for the last 20 years. It is our goalto continue these activities and make the necessary adjustments to all changes and needs of our membershipand our profession. We are here to serve for the benefit of others."

We hope that you will treasure this moment, as we tried to give and present to you the whole story ofPAMETNor-Cal. Mabuhay and God Bless Us All.