December 17, 2003
This week’s Bulletin was written by Rick Logan
President Frank De Francisco opened the meeting promptly at 7:36 AM. Jose Hernandez led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and Heather Xitco offered a Helen Steiner Rice poem for the invocation. Mary “Antler” Engles led the club in a rousing rendition of “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.” Pete McGuire acknowledged guests and visiting Rotarians.
Announcements
Ø Fundraising Committee meeting to be held Thursday 12/18/03 at 5:30 PM at the law offices of Mulvaney, Kahan & Barry.
Ø Community Service meeting is being held today after the general meeting in the dining room.
Ø Ron Erbetta announced the dedication and opening of the 300-bed Veteran’s Village facility that was attended by many public dignitaries.
Ø President Frank publicly thanked Linda Spuck and others who planned the very successful SD Breakfast Rotary Holiday Party on 12/12/03.
Ø Mike Lewis announced the Responsibility Project for cash and gift collection efforts for the Tijuana Kids that was concurrently on-going at the Towers main floor and 34th floors.
Ø President Frank also announced that Dave Archambault will temporarily host the visiting French Exchange student until permanent housing is found.
Ø Gary Green commented on the availability of donation receipts for the Alpha Project program for those interested.
President Frank awarded Linda S
Ø puck with her SD Breakfast Rotary Blue Badge. Congratulations Linda !!
Ø Michael Gilligan drew Gary Green’s winning ticket for the Traders Joe’s gift certificate.
New Club Members
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New Members |
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Speakers Vince Mudd and Tom Gering |
Mike Sisson inducted Steve Espino, Brad Benter, and Alex Kwoka as new SD Breakfast Rotary Club members and their sponsors gave each an impressive introduction. Welcome Steve, Brad, and Alex !!
This Week’s Speakers
Judge Pat Cowett introduced Mr. Tom Gering and Vince Mudd who spoke on “Business and Health Care: Working Together to Address The Crisis” . Highlights from their presentation are as follows:
The health care cost crisis is very real and impacts
everyone in the community. The cost of
providing help care in the
The speakers outlined the dynamic issues facing the industry including population growth, population aging, aging hospital and facility infrastructure, cost of advancing technology, quality of care, uninsured clients, unfunded mandates, regulations, drug development costs, workforce shortage, malpractice cost, etc.
Discussed the impact on businesses at large. When coupled with workmen’s compensation costs, many small businesses can no longer afford to provide insurance for their employees.
Business involvement will be required to balance legislative action.
There are currently 60 million uninsured individuals and eventually businesses will have to pick up the cost of the uninsured.
There is no simple, easy or quick fix.
Experts predict that unless there is immediate action the healthcare system will implode sometime between 2008 and 2010.
Possible solutions: tort reform, reduce regulations, avoid cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, reduced unfunded mandates, improve public education, better business to business communication to address the uninsured issue.
Speakers provided political talking points in dealing with Federal, State, and local elected officials.
The speakers then opened the floor for questions.
President Frank thanked the two speakers and offered them each their very own venerable “Polio Tees Us Off” (don’t you wish you had one?) coffee mug.
President Frank also acknowledged the waiters and service crew of the University Club for their awesome help throughout the year and presented them with a well-deserved gift.
We will be “dark” for the next two(2) weeks. There will no San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club meeting on 12/24/03 and 12/31/03.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 7, 2003 at 7:30 AM at the University Club 34th Floor main dining room. Our guest speaker will be Patrick Cuse on Corporate Ethics.
Until then…HAVE A VERY SAFE, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS ROTARY NEW YEAR !!
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