West Virginia Rural Health Association

Membership Meeting at the WV Rural Health Conference – Glade Springs Resort

October 23, 2007

 

Agenda Items

Discussion

Welcome

Call to Order

President Patti Crawford called the meeting to order at 5:06 pm. She welcomed the 30 participants in attendance.

(see list below)

Introduction and Recognition of Board Members and Officers

The following WVRHA Board Members and Officers and were introduced and given recognition plaques:

Jeff Graham, Hilda Heady, Sally Richardson, Elaine Bowen (Secretary,) Sara Jane Gainor (Past President,) Alicia Tyler,

April Vestal, Michael Thompson (President-Elect,) Lynn McCormick.

Patti Crawford expressed appreciation and presented a plaque to Sandra Pope, the current Historian.

Not attending were Norma Bowyer, Lew Holloway, Susan Chapman (Treasurer,) Phil Schenk, and Mazhurallah Shaik

Minutes

The minutes of the 2006 membership meeting were presented. Gainor/Pope moved to approve the minutes. Motion passed.

NRHA Perspective and Linkage

Sandra Pope presented an overview of the NRHA. There are 15,000 members. NRHA focuses on communication, advocacy and research about rural health issues. Networking is one of the greatest benefits to members. The next NRHA conference is May 5-7 in New Orleans, LA. Sandra encouraged involvement in NRHA and its committees.

President’s Report

 

Patti Crawford presented a report, with the following highlights of 2007 accomplishments:

·        Policy seminar in January; the presentation is on the WVRHA website.

·        Several board members attended national trainings - NRHA Policy Institute and the Skill Building Workshop.

A report of committee activities was presented. Some highlights are:

·        The community forums were a major accomplishment. (See report below.)

·        The Silent Auction was successful last year and funds were used to help with the costs of the community forums.

Patti encouraged attendees to become members and fill out the membership application.

Community Forums

Sally Richardson and Hilda Heady, co-chairs of the WVRHA Policy Committee, presented information about the process

and results of the seven community health forums. Hilda thanked the RHEP and AHEC and board members who made the

forums successful. The group discussed next steps and ideas on how to effectively use information from the forums. Sally

and Hilda will be developing recommendations based on the forum results.

The following ideas were presented as potential legislative issues that the WVRHA could consider endorsing:

·        Sister Fidler shared information about legislation dealing with dental care, to allow retired dentists to practice in free clinics, and to add dental professionals to the “good samaritan bill” for liability. This was Bill #427 in last year’s legislation. Jeff Graham will track this legislation and keep the association informed.

·        Lynn McCormick and Michael Thompson said the WV Hospital Association’s legislative agenda has not been created yet.

·        Sister Fidler shared information about grants from the Catholic Diocese - up to $5,000 for parishes to do health initiatives. The ten “vicariates” (group of parishes) can collaborate on grants. The www.dwc.org website has information under vicariates.

·        Jill Kreisky suggested that we find out about the WV Council of Churches and the WV Association of Affordable Healthcare.

Send information on health-related legislation to Hilda Heady at hheady@hsc.wvu.edu .

Nominations Committee Report

·        Sara Jane Gainor discussed the process involved in filling the seven Board vacancies. To be eligible, a person must

      have been a member of WVRHA as of January 2007. Also, you must attend the monthly meetings regularly and have a  

      passion about rural health. They are two-year terms. Past board members who have been off for a year are eligible.

      Members may nominate themselves or others who can actively work toward the success of the WVRHA.

·        The following nominations were made: Dave Brown, Elaine Mason, Sandra Pope

·        A follow-up communication with WVRHA members will solicit for additional nominations. All individual nominees

      must complete a nomination form and send it to the WVRHA by 11/27/07.  (Note: Nov. 17) Then, materials will be

      sent to the membership with the ballot. The membership will vote to fill seven slots. Contact Sara Jane with any             questions sgainor@hsc.wvu.edu .

President-Elect Comments

President-Elect Michael Thompson spoke about the association’s efforts to put a name to the problems we have in rural health care. We are here to serve the people of our communities and make the most of our limited resources. He charged us to bring people together and get our messages across.

Other Announcements

Patti Crawford gave a door prize.

Adjournment

Vestal/McCormick made a motion to adjourn. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm.

 

Submitted by Elaine Bowen, Secretary


Participants:  

Name

Organization

Email

Patricia Crawford

SE AHEC/WVSOM

pcrawford@wvsom.edu

Sister Rebecca Fidler

Susan Dew Hoff Clinic

 

Sharon Giles

WV AHEC

sgiles@hsc.wvu.edu

Sandra Pope

WV AHEC

spope@hsc.wvu.edu

Jeff Graham

Beckley Health Right & WV Association of Free Clinics

Bhr.admin@suddenlinkmail.com

Alicia Tyler

WV Higher Education Policy Commission

tyler@hepc.wvnet.edu

April Vestal

WVRHEP

avestal@wvrhep.org

Sara Jane Gainor

WVU-Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center

sgainor@hsc.wvu.edu

Elaine Bowen

WVU Extension Service

EPBowen@mail.wvu.edu

Hilda R. Heady

WVRHEP/AHEC

hheady@hsc.wvu.edu

Michael S. Thompson

Preston Memorial Hospital

MthompsonTx@gmail.com

Lynn McCormick

Sistersville General Hospital

lmccormick@sistersvillegeneral.com

Jacki Novacich

WVRHEP

jnovacich@hsc.wvu.edu

Sally K Richardson

WVU Institute for Health Policy Research

srichardson@hsc.wvu.edu

Kelly Jarrell

WVUSON

kjarrell@mix.wvu.edu

Barbara Ronk

WVUSON/RHEP

bronk@mix.wvu.edu

Deanna B. Lewis

 

deannabL@juno.com

Jason Welle

Appalachian Institute @ WJU

jpwelle@gmail.com

Jill Kriesky

Appalachian Institute @ Wheeling Jesuit Univ.

jkriesky@wju.edu

Elaine Mason

WVU Office of Rural Health

emason@hsc.wvu.edu

Laura Welch

University of Charleston School of Pharmacy

laurawelch@uclov.edu

Dave Brown

WVSOM

dbrown@wvsom.edu

Ashley Fritzius

SEAHEC/GUMC

AFritzius@wvsom.edu

Lisa Scarberry

WV Primary Care Association

lisa@wvpca.org

Greg Selasky

AB PA Stud.

selaskygp@mail.ab.edu

LeighAnn Craig

AB SPA

craigla@mail.ab.edu

Assumpta Omenichekwe

AB PA-S

obyomeni@yahoo.com

Kathy Platter

HeWV NTTC WJU

kplatter@nttc.edu

Melissa Mealy

HeWV NTTC WJU

mmealy@nttc.edu

Dale E. Quinney

Alabama Rural Health Association

arhaquinney@mindspring.com

Charles Lail

ALRH Office

clail@adph.state.al.us

Elaine Bowen

WVU Extension Service

EPBowen@mail.wvu.edu