Helen Miller, Director of Professional Services at BSA Hospice of the Southwest presented the program; "We're All Headed There".  Helen founded the Hospice of the Southwest which recently merged with BSA.  They have a 10 bed in patient unit at Childer's Place and a newly renovated office facility at Medical Plaza on 9th street.

Hospice is about living each day as comfortable as possible with family and friends.  Support is provided to the individual patient as well as their family.  The holistic approach to care acknowledges that pain may be physical, emotional, spiritual and/or social.  Hospice focuses on care, comforting and healing.

BSA Hospice of the Southwest offers choices, helps preserve dignity and seeks to maintain the highest quality of life.  They make a positive difference in the lives of patients, their families' and the community by providing hospice care with compassion and experience.  They also provide bereavement care.  Grief is an individual and unique experience for each person.  They offer programs to help develop understanding of grief, learn healthy coping skills and share feelings with others who are experiencing loss.  They follow families 13 months after the death of their loved one and also host special programs offered during the holidays that are open to anyone in the community.

They serve 24 counties with the majority of their clients as in home patients.  Their Acute Care Unit is for patients in the active stages of death and who need pain management.  Their objective is the keep the patient awake, alert and comfortable. The average stay in acute care is about 1 week.

Helen stressed the importance of talking to family and loved ones about our personal desires for end of life.  Conversations and decisions regarding advance directives, living wills, and medical power of attorney are all choices that make difficult times later in life less stressful. They are a Medicare/Medicaid Certified Hospice Provider.  Interdisciplinary team visits, medications, medical equipment and supplies for the palliation and management of the patient's terminal illness are covered by this benefit according to the hospice plan of care.  They are also covered by many private insurance companies.

"The science of comfort with the art of caring", a beautiful description of hospice care.

Fundraiser Announcement:   A drawing will be held on October 23 for a FAIR Over/Under Shotgun valued at $2,000.00 or a gift card valued at $1,000.00.   The shotgun has been donated by Rotarian Justin Dodd, Italian Firearms.  Tickets are $50 each and proceeds will go to fund the projects of our club.  Please see Gina before or after meetings to get tickets.

President David stressed the urgency of a successful fundraiser to be able to continue with our projects.  We've not had a fundraiser for 2 years and this is imperative for the success of our projects with include: RYLA Youth Camp $3,800.00, Mentor Program $2,000.00, Youth Exchange Student $1,800.00, Kindergarten Book Program $1,000.00, Eddie Melin Scholarships $3,500.00 and Diabetic Camp Scholarships $500.00.

Our club showed a $14,000.00 deficit for last year.  Jeff Lester asked each member to buy or sell at least 2 tickets.  Please make this commitment to support your club.  No one wants to decide what service projects we would need to drop in order to balance our budget.  Please see Gina this Thursday about tickets to sell or buy.

Melvin Edes announced a Fireside Chat scheduled for October 15 at his home.  The time is 6:00 and burgers and wine will be served.  This is a special time for red badgers to become more acquainted with our club and the many projects we support.  Please let Gina or Melvin know if you plan to attend.

Thank you to the following Rotarians for their service today:

Ticket Sales - Mel Darnell
Presiding - David O'Dell
Invocation - John Skaggs
Anthem - Carrie Ann Otanjo, Guest of David O'Dell
Pledge - Daniel Martinez
Greeters - Gail Bram and Dale Bippus
Introductions - Travis Fanelli
Program Chair September -  Mike Good
Raffle -  Beef Jerky Melvin Edes
Raffle - Custom Pizza Rocky Gafford
Raffle - Opera Tickets David O'Dell