“Is everybody having fun?” shouted Dean Wilkerson, ACEP Executive Director. Some hoots and hollers and applause emanated from the group.

No, we weren’t at the EMRA party or that totally awesome NEMPAC cocktail party that serves red and blue cocktails during election years.

It was at ACEP Council meeting.

Now, this was my fifth Council meeting, the first was in 2008 in Chicago when I was a member of the EMRA Board of Directors. I thought it would be kinda boring at first. You know, a bunch of old fogies talking about better times and nitpicking semantics in the bylaws. I thought it would be a lot of hot air from people who like to hear the sound of their own voices.

But, alas, it was not. Well, there is plenty of hot air from people who like to hear the sound of their voices. But, it was actually pretty interesting, seeing the “business of emergency medicine” get done.

Live update: 0842: Oohhh, yes! ACEP now takes American Express again! Hoorah! They were pretty much the only ones who would give this in-debt-new-attending a business card.

Back to the business of emergency medicine. OK, so yes, this is how it all gets done. Well, most of it.

For those of you who have never been to a Council meeting, Council is held over 2 days. The first day is a little more relaxed, and everyone breaks up into groups to review and debate the resolutions. That can get pretty fun, actually. I love watching people get all riled up about that which they are so passionate. Even if it’s a bylaw. Although this year, the marijuana resolution wasn’t on the agenda. I’ve missed it and all the “discussion” around it.

The reference committees consider all of the testimony and either amend, recommend to adopt, refer or reject resolutions. Without reference committees, the Council would probably be in session for days trying to change and argue about the resolutions.

Day Two is more formal and governed precisely by parliamentary procedure. The entire Council gets together and begins to vote on the individual resolutions. Now, this is the part that can get interesting. Each resolution is not only discussed, but picked apart, sometimes line by line. If it wasn’t for parliamentary procedure, all of this would just end in a food fight or a rumble out back. I shoulda brought my piece.