Hal Major greeted Rotarians/guests and Scott Paul sold raffle tickets to all who wanted to take a chance. President Jerry called the meeting to order and Leonard Schwartz delivered the prayer and pledge.
President Jerry started by announcing that Sam Foreman is heading up the Group Study Exchange to Southern France this year. He needs host families for the Rotarians visiting from France and needs people to shuttle the Rotarians back and forth.
The Board met and has accepted Bill Wiltshire’s and James “Rocky” DeSimone’s resignation from the club. They will be missed. There was a call for nominations for the Ethics in Business Awards.
Robert Mills brought a little sunshine and was greeted with usual Downtown Rotary Sunshine enthusiasm. Robert welcomed Sam Goldenberg back and then welcomed our military guests, guests of Rotarians, Rotarians making up and birthdays.
Paul Young introduced Denis Taylor, CEO of West Florida Hospital for today’s presentation. West Florida Hospital (WFH) is the smallest of the three main hospitals in town. Even so in 2007 WFH had $211 million in net revenue. On the expense side, $77 million went to salaries, wages and benefits; they paid $1 million in property taxes, $1.7 million in sales tax, $1.8 million in indigent costs and they employ 1,200 people. WFH is very proud of its Hospice Unit established on the 3rd floor and the quality health care that is provided. WFH’s parent company, Hospital Corporation of America monitors their quality of care. WFH has also invested in new technology including a system to send radiology results anywhere in the world.
The healthcare system as a whole is facing 3 main challenges.
1. The uninsured: the number continues to rise and no one seems to know how to fix it.
2. Deregulation will continue to drive up the costs as does increased competition.
3. The looming doctor shortage. Currently 41 % of the doctors in Florida are over the age of 55. The state of Florida ranks 44th with residency opportunities.
Taylor proposed a possible solution: universal coverage. He likened this issue to what happened many years ago in the Florida car insurance industry. Car insurance rates were out of control, people were dropping their coverage, and for those that had coverage – their insurance rates kept going up. So the state of Florida required a minimum amount of coverage. As a result, the rates when down.
President Jerry wrapped up the meeting stating that T.K. Wetherell, President of Florida State University, will be the program next week. There will be an FSU alumni event, and if you are interested in attending, please email Jerry Maygarden.
Club members and architecture are in the news. Tip-of-the-hat to Terry Scruggs and their Country Club board for the first class job on their new clubhouse. And, make note that Andrea Farage and the Ronald McDonald House team have unveiled their plans for a $5 million-plus 22 room haven for parents at the Children’s Hospital.
See where Jack Nobles has his hat in the ring for another city council term. Charlie Wiggin’s dad, Mike is getting his running shoes polished, too.
Hats off to Coy Irvin. The Doc is serving as voluntary health screener for the vets making the Emerald Coast Honor Flight to Washington this spring.
Reed Bell and his brother, Bill, have been honored by 4-H club boys and girls for their continuing (and long time)j work on behalf of agriculture and youth in Escambia County.
Pat Groner is about to gain another honor. Pat’s to be installed in the Modern Healthcare Hall of Fame.
Gerald Hoewing – Feb. 6– born in Keokuk, Iowa, in Rotary 2 years
Joel Mooneyham – Feb 7 - born in Pensacola, FL, in Rotary 11 years
Ed Ranelli – Feb. 8 - born in Birmingham, AL, in Rotary 7 years
Grover Robinson – Feb. 11 – born in Gainesville, FL, in Rotary 12 years
The Ethics in Business Award will be presented on Monday, May 5, 2008 at our Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola luncheon at New World Landing. If you would like to nominate an individual from the public/non-profit sector or from the private sector, please pick up a nomination form at Tuesday’s meeting. All nominations must be received by April 4, 2008.
UWF needs your input
The University of West Florida will operate the Education Center in the Vince Whibbs Community Maritime Park. To help us plan, we ask your help in identifying current and future education and training needs that could be met at the Center. Your participation and input are very important to this process. We are conducting a series of “listening sessions” between January and March 2008 to gather ideas from a wide cross-section of our community. Registration for the listening session is available until February 15, 2008 at http://continuinged.uwf.edu/ListeningSession.cfm or by contacting the Office of Continuing Education at 850-474-2914.
We are counting on your participation in this very important effort. We remain firmly committed to providing educational and training programs that meet demonstrated needs. Thank you for helping UWF to better serve the needs of the Greater Pensacola Community!