April 14, 2009 Steering Committee Minutes

Attendance: Lynne Rustad, Judy Kramer, Bill Rowe, Ed Fire, Debbi Thomas, Kathy Kolcaba, George Lupone, Becky Thomas, Ray DiCarlo, Gary Sherck, Sherri Culver

Meeting called to order at 9:30 by President Lynn Rustad.

Approval of Minutes:
• Minutes approved by Judy Kramer, seconded by George Lupone

Treasurer’s Report:
• Lynne Rustad (for Kathy Kolcaba) reported a balance of $3768.30
• Spread sheet for first quarter explained by Gary Sherck until Kathy Kolcaba, Treasurer, arrived
• Possible deficit for year if we don’t get more paid members and use other methods of fund-raising
• Each Steering Committee member is to bring at least one recommendation for fund-raising to next Strategic Planning meeting on April 30.

Membership:
• Report submitted be Lori Zaim in absentia
• 50 paid members thus far. Question was raised about standardizing how memberships are counted, i.e., by individuals (counting each family member) vs. counting “membership” per se. Since there are implications for voting privileges, issue will be discussed further at next meeting.
• Lori Zaim sent out “thank you” messages to all who have contributed
• Dues payment and donations now possible through Pay Pal. George Lupone will send notice of access and instructions via email
• Option of paying dues for two years at same rate, allowing members to avoid rate increases and allowing for better budgeting by committee, was discussed. Decision deferred to next meeting.

Newsletter:
• Articles for newsletter will include a series on unions by Ed Fire
• Lynne Rustad and Ray DiCarlo will address the public option for health care
• Becky Thomas will write up interview with Voinovich’s aide on Fair Elections

Website:
• Now complete, Gary Sherck to get details for automatic redirect from Yahoo and eventual movement of hosting site to a Patriots’ dot Mac account that will allow for more than one web site editor.
• 14 page hits since web site went public April 1st
• Will advertise and explain new website to members through email

Advocacy:
• Anti-war demonstrations have ceased for now
• Ed Fire/Becky Thomas will meet with aide of Voinovich about Fair Elections
• Voted on outreach program anysoldier.com to support military. Moved by Sherri Culver, seconded by Judy Kramer. Becky Thomas and Sherri Culver will plan details of program

Education:
• Schedule in flux through June until confirmation from participants is known
• Volunteer Service Fair may have to be canceled unless there is more participation
• Three Cups of Tea author may make an appearance. Events will be planned around this visit
• President Obama’s policy for Afghanistan should be in place by summer so discussion on policy may be appropriate after book discussion.

Health Care:
• Ray DiCarlo and Lynne Rustad will continue sending Action Alerts about HB676, Medicare for All single-payer plan, and the “public insurance option.’
• Our battle to modify administration’s plan to increase access and control costs will continue
• Ray DiCarlo, Judy Kramer and Lynne Rustad will attend Sherrod Brown’s Health Care Forum on April 17th (10:15 AM
, Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, 3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118)

Operations:
• Committee hasn’t met and membership and responsibilities unclear. It seems that some committees that were placed under “Operations” in the current by-laws are now free-standing committees (Communications, Membership) while others (Development, Office Operations) have received little attention
• Bylaws need to reflect changes or modifications of this committee

New Business:
• A free-standing Development Committee to handle fund-raising and community outreach was discussed
• Office Operations Committee needs leadership and clarification of responsibilities
• Sherri Culver will circulate by-laws revision to Steering Committee before 4/30 planning meeting
• Next regular Steering Committee meeting is May 12, 9:30

Continuation of Strategic Planning:
• Will meet an additional time a month to finish strategic planning
• Next meeting will be Thurs. 4/30 at 9:30

Meeting adjourned at 11:20.

Respectfully submitted by Acting Secretary,

Becky Thomas

Action Alert: Support a Single-payer Option

From: Thomas Pretlow
Date: March 29, 2009 7:09:29 PM EDT
Subject: Medicare for all

Dear Friends,

It seems likely that we shall get healthcare legislation this year. While I would prefer Medicare for all with no copays and no premiums, I do not think that it is likely that the private insurance companies will lose all of the way (I would prefer not to have private insurance companies). We need to remember that UnitedHealthcare (UNH), one of the largest and most corrupt health insurance sources in our country, donated over a million dollars to support the Democratic National Convention.

Having stated my preference, the best I hope for is that our government will make conventional Medicare available to all as an option for those who do not get something else. I urge you to sign the petition that urges legislation that will make this a possibility for every one. The petition can be found on the web at: www.StandwithDrDean.com.

Let's hope that this makes healthcare available to everyone either immediately or in the not-too-distant future.

Tom

Thomas G. Pretlow, M.D.
Professor in the Departments of Pathology, Urology, Oncology, and Environmental Health Sciences
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine*
(telephone: 216-368-8701; e-mail: tgp3@cwru.edu)
*Nothing in my communication represents Case Western Reserve.