Bulletins - 2006 - 01/18/2006

This Week's Bulletin Was Written By Chris Carstens

THIS WEEK’S MEETING

The Meeting was called to order by Past President, Ron Erbetta, who appeared to remember the drill pretty well.  After invocation, pledge and song, Mary Engels introduced this weeks guests, including Jon Fistere, the President of the La Mesa Rotary Club.

Sgt-At-Arms

Sergeant at Arms, Larry Nuffer, raffled off some tickets for the Buick Invitational.  As usual, the Fine Meister was in good form.

Announcements:

• Gabriella Jordan Sener paid us her first visit at about 5-weeks old!

• Pat Cowett Announced that there will be a Dinner and Pre-Dinner Cocktail party on February 20 for the visiting International District Governors. We are hosting 12 Distinct Governors and their spouses. Tentative details were shared. Chris Carstens is Hosting Wine and Appetizers, and Dinner (no-host) will be at Il Fornaio in Coronado. A sign-up sheet was distributed.

• The Board will meet on January 23 at the Potiker Senior Center. This will be a six month review and status updates for committee chairs.

• Mary Dawe introduced our student of the month, Deanna Thomas, a straight-A student at San Diego High. Deanna and her family lost their Gulfport, Mississippi home in Hurricane Katrina. However, she landed running here in San Diego, and has kept up her grades and her activities. A senior this year, she plans to go to SDSU in business and marketing.

• The District Council meets Thursday, February 7th. Stephanie Edwards will be the speaker. Attendees pay for their own dinners.

Speaker

Mel Gallegos introduced Michael Murphy, the CEO of Sharp Healthcare. Mr. Murphy reviewed the difficulties facing healthcare in 2006. He noted that healthcare is a business, like any other, and must make margins to borrow money for investment in capital improvements. Problems noted included (1) the nursing shortage, (2) the cost of living in San Diego, especially housing, which drives many nurses and physicians to cheaper markets, (3) the huge run up in the cost of prescription drugs, much of which is borne by hospitals, (4) the cost of new technology, eg $1.6 million for a new CAT scan, and (5) the steady stream of unfunded mandates pumped out by governmental agencies. His plea was for all of us to enter into the discussion.

The meeting was adjourned after Mr. Murphy graciously answered questions.  Next week’s speaker will be Michel W. Hager, Ph.D., Executive Director San Diego Natural History Museum.  See you there!

Proposed New Member

The following individual has been proposed as a new member of our Club and will be inducted under the classification listed below unless written objection is received by our Club Secretary within ten days of the date of this Bulletin:

• Name: Lucas “Luke” Hartley

• Classification: Attorney – Real Estate Development/Land Use

• Firm:  Latham and Watkins LLP