Deni Llovet: New Model Health Care
On this April Fool's Day, perhaps the only joke was that spring really continues to be winter!
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Carol Gaub. The invocation was done by Shawn Rosscup, with a reminder that we need to be thankful, and mindful that we are God's hands and heart on earth.
Sergeant at Arms David Bardwick introduced visiting Rotarian Jim Hutcheson (Noon Club) and guests Mary Dalton (guest of Julie Titchbourne); Nicole Marshall (guest of Donielle Engebretson); Kathy Earle (guest of Derek Smith); and Dillon and Westin Gibbs (guests and sons of Adele Gibbs).
David Bardwick also shared a slideshow of twelve photos demonstrating why "boys need parents." From a young boy with a frog stuffed halfway in his mouth, to an even younger boy on a skateboard poised at the top of a very long, steep hill that ultimately ends in the water (think San Francisco), David gave us a glimpse of what it means to parent boys. Scary, but true!
Anne Guest, our "broad from abroad," has returned to Missoula following her trip to Jordan. She brought with her a banner from the Rotary Club of Amman and told of the huge effort to find a club, then the meeting itself, which was to have been by invitation only (Anne went anyway!). Anne said the meeting was very proper, with about 35 of the 65 club members in attendance. This club is the "patriarchal" club of Amman. Anne said that while traveling in a foreign country where mostly Arabic is spoken, it was very welcoming to come into a room with all the Rotary paraphernalia and presence. Welcome home, Anne!
Chris Warden shared two notes from the Rotary mailbag. The first was a note from former Rotary Youth Exchange student Job from Thailand to former host Carl Prinzing. He shared that he has finished high school and was president of his student council. He said that his Rotary Youth Exchange experience changed him, both in his experiences and his responsibilities. The second piece of mail was a note of thanks from David Ports at the YMCA for our club's $1,500 donation to the YMCA's music program.
Announcements:
Jim Clark announced that the Missoula Organization of Realtors is sponsoring a Country/Western show called "Honky Tonk Music" on April 18. Jim said he can't make it but was intrigued by the invitation so wanted to pass it along. (More details: "Honky Tonk Laundry" cleverly weaves the heartfelt ballads of the great Country Music Divas into a fun, fond, and slightly tongue-in-cheek tale of two singing southern women. Saturday, April 18, 2009, 6:30 Hors d'oeurves and No-host bar, Show at 8:00 p.m., MCT Center for the Performing Arts, Tickets $25.00, Contact MOR at 728-0560.)
Susan Cramer announced that at PETS she and Arnie were reminded that increasing membership is a responsibility of all club members. We seek qualified members who are of good character, leaders in business and the community, and share our commitment to serve youth. After three visits, a prospective member can download and submit the application. Susan will meet with the prospective member to review member obligations, and the name is then circulated through the club. If accepted, the member is then inducted. From there, Krista Frederikson takes over with the Red Badge program. Susan said we'll be focusing on membership at each of our meetings.
Krista Frederikson reminded us about the outing to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge with the Youth Homes kids (12 kids from two homes) on Saturday, April 18th, starting at 11:30. The cost is $8 per person. The signup sheet was again circulated.
Chris Warden announced that the Board meeting which was to have been held prior to this morning's meeting has been rescheduled to next Wednesday at 6:15am. All members (not just Board members) are welcome!
Chris also read a note that once hung on the wall next to the time clock at Buttrey's grocery store in Great Falls where he once worked. It focused on loyalty and is a good reminder to all: If you work for a man, in heaven's name work for him. If he pays you wages which supply you bread and butter, work for him; speak well of him; stand by him, and stand by the institution he represents. If put to a pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. If you must vilify, condemn, and eternally disparage, resign your position, and when you are outside, damn to your heart's content, but as long as you are part of the institution do not condemn it. If you do that, you are loosening the tendrils that are holding you to the institution, and at the first high wind that comes along, you will be uprooted and blown away, and will probably never know the reason why.
The Rotary Minute was provided by Bill St. John, who read from the April 2009 issue of The Rotarian. The Up Front section (page 11) tells the story of Grace Agwaru of Uganda, who has been a Rotarian since June 2008. Her connection with Rotary, however, was established long ago when in 1975 she became the first child to have open-heart surgery through what became the Gift of Life program. This program has since helped 10,000 children receive heart surgery!
Susan Cramer announced that Kim Anderson and Ramey Kodadek (from the Youth Homes) were waiting at the back of the room for signups for the Youth Homes marathon team following the meeting.
Arnie Didier thanked Bill St. John for stepping up to handle programs coordination while Arnie has been traveling with work. Arnie shared that he also moderated a meeting for a forestry group recently in Coeur d'Alene where a speaker was Chuck Leavell, a noted authority in forestry and conservation AND keyboardist for the Rolling Stones! Arnie is now "connected!"
Arnie then introduced our speaker, our own Deni Llovet. Deni, who has River City Family Health, spoke on "New Model Health Care."
Deni started by saying we are "looking for health in all the wrong places." She shared some questions to consider concerning insurance: is it ethical to deny coverage to anyone?; is health care a calling?; should a health crisis ruin a family?; who should choose the type of care an individual receives? Deni said that insurance companies are not in the health care business, but in the investment business.
Deni shared some startling statistics: In 2004 15.6% of the US population was uninsured. In 2005 that increased to 15.9%. Today 3 out of 4 Americans have been without insurance this year, and 80% of those people work. Deni said insurance companies control health care. She said that in Missoula an OB/GYN's coverage runs $60,000 per year, there is a fear of litigation and therefore lots of tests are done. She said that if you are an insured individual, you can count on your claims being denied. She said that insurance companies dictate care, but they do not care about you. Deni said our system is broken and Medicare is a disaster. She said that in Max Baucus's work on health care reform, all options are on the table except a nonprofit single party payer.
Deni advocates a new model health care that focuses on prevention. She said it would be individualized and inclusive and based on common sense and what works.
Deni discussed the four dimensions to human beings: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and that good health is affected by and involves the interaction of all four dimensions. She explained that the continuum between ill and good health is all about balance.
Deni encouraged individuals to find your best self, set goals, pace yourself and believe and live that "life is beautiful." She said that the new model health care is multi-dimensional, focused on the individual and is nonprofit.
Asked at what age should we quit paying for critical care, Deni said that is a tough question. With baby boomers nearing end of life she expects a natural death movement. She asked if a person is healthy and 92 years of age, should we deny coverage?
Deni was asked whether the new model health care has been successfully implemented anywhere. Deni said she didn't have an answer to that tough question, but said that Senator Baucus has said the US is not ready for universal health care. Deni she believes that is wrong and said we have been turning people into paupers. She said that Canada may be an example.
In closing her passionate program, Deni said that health care is the biggest challenge now facing the United States.
We closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test.