History of The Mammographer’s Society of Georgia
It was a cold day in November 1995 when I received a call from Linda Cooper. She told me she wanted to start a society for Mammographers, one that would offer the opportunity to network with fellow mammographers and would offer continuing education specific to our profession at a low cost. She asked if I would help. At the time, I was on the Board of the Georgia Society of Radiologic Technologists, our “mother” society. I told Linda I would be happy to help her. The light started shining on our journey.
Linda and I discussed the protocol for requesting affiliation with the Georgia Society and she completed these tasks in record time, we received our affiliate status February 2, 1996. Linda also solicited advisors from a successful mammographer’s society in Florida, and they were also present at our first planning meeting. The first officers of the society were Linda Cooper, President, Karen Emory, Vice President, Betsy Green, Treasurer, Lynn Hanks, Secretary, Debbie Harrison, Charlotte Maiden, Ty Ramsey, with Judie Dresbach and Connie Cooper serving as advisors.
After months of planning, invitations were sent to all MQSA facilities and our first meeting was held June 20, 1996 at Piedmont Hospital. 150 mammographers and friends were in attendance. It was a beautiful evening, and the light that was shinning brightest was the smile on Linda’s face as she watched her dream come true.
The officers continued to plan quarterly meetings, our first seminar was held in September, 1996. Linda decided we needed a news letter, and we solicited her daughter Shannon, (the computer expert), to help up put them together. The night of our third meeting, in December of 1996, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. She was at the meeting, performing as if nothing had happened.
The next months were extremely hard for Linda, but she always had time for the Society. We held planning meeting in her hospital rooms, and when we weren’t there, she was writing pages and pages of ideas and suggestions so she wouldn’t forget them. When she was too weak to drive, I would take her to meet with speakers so she could tell them herself what she envisioned for the meetings they would be participating with.
At one point the Society had over 200 members, making it the largest affiliate of the Georgia Society. A tremendous accomplishment, and Linda expected it to be this way!
Linda fought her hard battle for 8 months. She left us for a better place Sunday, August 31, 1997. Her light continues to shine on the Mammographers Society, and I leave you with thoughts Linda shared with her daughter Shannon, sent to me shortly after Linda’s passing:
“ Live every day as if it is your last, and work every minute to make a difference in the lives of others”
Linda truly made a difference in all of our lives with her vision!
Submitted by:
Karen Emory
Linda and I discussed the protocol for requesting affiliation with the Georgia Society and she completed these tasks in record time, we received our affiliate status February 2, 1996. Linda also solicited advisors from a successful mammographer’s society in Florida, and they were also present at our first planning meeting. The first officers of the society were Linda Cooper, President, Karen Emory, Vice President, Betsy Green, Treasurer, Lynn Hanks, Secretary, Debbie Harrison, Charlotte Maiden, Ty Ramsey, with Judie Dresbach and Connie Cooper serving as advisors.
After months of planning, invitations were sent to all MQSA facilities and our first meeting was held June 20, 1996 at Piedmont Hospital. 150 mammographers and friends were in attendance. It was a beautiful evening, and the light that was shinning brightest was the smile on Linda’s face as she watched her dream come true.
The officers continued to plan quarterly meetings, our first seminar was held in September, 1996. Linda decided we needed a news letter, and we solicited her daughter Shannon, (the computer expert), to help up put them together. The night of our third meeting, in December of 1996, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. She was at the meeting, performing as if nothing had happened.
The next months were extremely hard for Linda, but she always had time for the Society. We held planning meeting in her hospital rooms, and when we weren’t there, she was writing pages and pages of ideas and suggestions so she wouldn’t forget them. When she was too weak to drive, I would take her to meet with speakers so she could tell them herself what she envisioned for the meetings they would be participating with.
At one point the Society had over 200 members, making it the largest affiliate of the Georgia Society. A tremendous accomplishment, and Linda expected it to be this way!
Linda fought her hard battle for 8 months. She left us for a better place Sunday, August 31, 1997. Her light continues to shine on the Mammographers Society, and I leave you with thoughts Linda shared with her daughter Shannon, sent to me shortly after Linda’s passing:
“ Live every day as if it is your last, and work every minute to make a difference in the lives of others”
Linda truly made a difference in all of our lives with her vision!
Submitted by:
Karen Emory
