Rotary Club of Bellingham Tattler - OCTOBER 30, 2023
Tattler Reporter Tom Grinstad
Tattler Editor Tom Grinstad
Photographer: Brad Burdick
Elliot Kuida
PeaceHealth Chief Operating Officer
IMPORTANT MEETING LOCATION CHANGE FOR NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 6TH! WE WILL NOT BE MEETING IN THE SYRE BUILDING MONDAY BUT THE PHYLLIS & CHARLES SELF LEARNING COMMONS AT 310 W. KELLOGG RD. ROOM #106. JUST PAST THE WEST KELLOGG RD AND CORDATA PARKWAY ROUNDABOUT.
CHECK THE SPECIAL EMAIL FOR A MAP
Opening Welcome:
President Doug Cole must have been feeling his oats today with the way he rang the bell. He noted that the bell was awarded to the club for Salvation Army bell ringing expertise in 1983. That’s forty years ago, if my math is correct.
Guests:
John Moffat introduced speaker Elliot Kuida
Vinson Latimore introduced Rachel Lucy with PeaceHealth Director of Community Health
Members on Zoom: Loch Trimingham
Club Events and Committee Announcements
Ward Naf announced a work party for the Community Boating Center will be held on November 12 from 10 am to 2 pm to do clean up around the Center. About 13 members have already signed up and the project could use a few more. Please sign up on the Event Clubrunner site or email Ward or Sandee.
Ward also announced the City of Bellingham Comprehensive Plan Listening Session hosted by Rotary Clubs in Bellingham and Whatcom Community College November 29th from 4:00-600pm in the Syre Theater. You can signup through Clubrunner.
Every 10 years, Bellingham creates a Comprehensive Plan – a vision for what the city should strive for over the next two decades. The 2025 plan is getting formed now and your voice is needed! What should we be working towards in terms of housing, neighborhood makeup, parks, transportation, diversity and inclusion, public health and safety, and the economy? The City of Bellingham Comprehensive Plan team will be onsite and actively collecting your thoughts and ideas to weave into the future plans for the city.
Paul Grey announced that our District Grant for the adopted village in Honduras – Las Penas 2 – was approved. This will allow an addition to the school and improvements. He told us how the grant and funds from the International Projects Alliance increased the funds to make this substantial improvement.
Steve Ban asked for sponsors for two grant proposals that have been received but have no club sponsor. The firs one is CAST, Coffee and Sandwiches Together, which has received funding previously. The second is called Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a literacy program which compelled someone – I didn’t see who – to volunteer to sponsor.
Dennis Williams reminded the membership that the major project of the year has been selected and pledges and funds are pouring in. You don’t want to be late in getting your pledge/money in to the club so that we can brag about how great we are. The project is (if you remember) the kitchen for the Lighthouse Mission. A worthy goal…
Aaron Booker came to the pulpit to give his second New Member Talk, which must be a rarity in the club. He thinks he gave the first talk about 30 years ago. He gave up his membership maybe ten years ago and now has the time and energy to devote to Rotary. This time he focused on his family and family history. He first arrived in Bellingham in 1989, and lived with his grandparents (David and Joyce Morse). But after getting his union card had to find a new place to live. He amassed beaucoup miles selling hardware in Alaska, then came back to B-town and got into the tech field. Welcome back Aaron.
New member Bob Kuenzel was introduced by John Moffat. Bob is dedicated to the Rotary motto of “service above self”. He was a member of the Ashland, Oregon Rotary Club for 12 years, serving on the Board of Directors for the club and also for that club’s foundation. He is also a Paul Harris Fellow +1
He will hold the classification of "Attorney-Private Practice- Retired". He ws proposed by long time friend, John Moffat and Shauna Naf.
He will be a fine addition to the club. Past President Del VandeKerk gave Bob the charge of membership.
The Mystery Photo is Steve Ban
Weekly Payment Reminder
VENMO:
@RCOB- Bellingham.
Give Sandee a call if you need help. 360-734-5532.
CASH / CHECK:
Yes, we still take these and saving on fees is appreciated.
John Moffat introduced the speaker for the day, Eliot Kuida, the COO of Peace Health Northwest. There were lots of figures given out in the presentation, but this reporter will not repeat all of them. Overall, Peace Health has more than 17,000 caregivers and 1,150 doctors and providers in nine centers in Alaska, Oregon and Washington. Facilities range from Ketchikan, AK to Cottage Grove, OR, with the crown jewel being, of course, Bellingham. If you want more numbers, you can contact this reporter.
Here in Bellingham, Whatcom County, WA there are a multitude of inpatient services that include, but are not limited to cancer treatment, a cardiovascular center, joint replacement, emergency and trauma care, child birth and pediatrics, and impatient behavioral health.
Mr. Kuida stressed that Peace Health has been rated by the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) as a solid 4, out of 5 maximum and been given a hospital safety grade of A by Leapfrog. Leapfrog is the leading organization pushing for healthcare safety transparency.
And Peace Health has a bevy of outpatient services available to county residents. They range from the Grabow Therapy and Wellness Center to hospice and palliative care, to the Rimland Behavioral Health Center. And there will be a clinic opening in Lynden to serve the north county in 2024.
It costs Peace Health nearly $2 M/day to provide all the services and facilities. That is more than $695M/ year. Quite a chunk of change. Of that, more than half goes to payroll, payroll taxes and benefits. $125.4M goes to supplies, over $142M Purchased Services – lab, food/nutrition, biomed etc. Charity services comprises $69.5M. These are items like unreimbursed expenses, financial assistance and community health improvement. PH works with the community to provide hope, care, housing and nourishment. Peace Health provided more than $400k to support the Way Station, hygiene program, medical respite, housing support, case management etc.
Mr. Kuida also mentioned the construction now in progress, the parking garage for a net 400 spaces being the most noticeable, and the west pavilion, still in the early planning stage. He ended his remarks noting that Peace Health is central to the health care in the community.
There was a question at the end regarding the dropping of hospice by PH and the reason(s) for it. Mr. Kuida said that the decision was in error, and that hospice is reinstated and that palliative care will be taken back to the board for consideration.
Closing:
There were no wise words from Prexy Doug at the end. Just a reminder to help clean up and fold the tablecloths.
Guess Who?
Dennis Williams - Minister of Fun
Paul Grey - International Committee Grant announcement
RCOB apparel, including polo shirts, dress shirts, vests and hats is now available. These are items that every Club member simply must have in his/her wardrobe! Besides looking great, Club members will be contributing to branding for the RCOB as well as supporting our Club's Foundation, which will receive part of the proceeds.
Click on the button below for the the clothing catalogue, with the Order Form on the last page. Fill out the order form, turn it into Vinson Latimore at a meeting or email a scanned copy to embroidery@choicesscrubs.com.
New Member Induction
