“Baer Bones” May 31, 20=
07
President Kevin called the meeting to order at 12:15 p= .m. Holly led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ron led us in singing “My Country Tis of Thee” followed by an invocation by Jim H.
Jim H. also introduced guest Bridgitte Kramer.
Secret Greete= r: Dr. John nabbed several member= s for their unfriendliness.
Joke of the Week: Ron was ill prepare= d to tell a joke but always-ready Dan had one ready!
Soap Box: Jim Frye was absent.
Fine Free: ??????
President Kevin reminded us of several upcoming dates = of importance. Sunday, June 3 is Feed the Homeless. Tuesday June 5 is the Board meeting, 12 noon at Smith-Wheeler Mortuary. This month’s DCM is in Atascadero.
Cathy reported on progress collecting items for silent auction for the Reverse Drawing. More items are needed so please talk with Cathy. She also needs help with “Cashiering” at the event so volunteers are welcome.
Justin reported that the Nominating Committee is meeti= ng and a slate of officers for next year is being selected.
Our dangerous duo, Bart and Fitz, were both on hand to= serve as Fine Masters and extract bucks. John C was so happy he jumped to his feet and contributed $10 for having seen his newest grandbaby – one month = old – in Los Angeles last weekend as well as for his upcoming birthday on June 5.
Shane gave a buck for a joke. Fitz picked on Cathy unt= il Bart intervened and paid $1 on her behalf. Holly was $2 sad because of Sandy’s accident” with the door plus she missed last week’= ;s meeting. Dan was a buck happy that his grandson chose the Naval Academy to pursue his career.
Doc S gave $2 happy because Gail has been filling in a= t the office for the last two weeks and she has been a great help. Kevin was also happy and gave bucks for his presentation on Habitat for Humanity at the Atascadero Club and for the fact that our club has been dropped from lawsuit (involving DCM in Los Osos).
Dr. John gave $5 happy to celebrate his grandson’= ;s 5-week birthday! Congratulations to all. Howie had a great birthday so he g= ave $4 happy. Joanie surprised him with a “family reunion” so sons = and their families were all at his birthday party!
Roger J. gave $2 for being so late. To today’s m= eeting (before Fitz could nab any more!) Ron gave sad buck for having missed shaki= ng Dr. John’s hand and he gave a happy dollar that Sandy is okay. Bob A.= was happy to donate a buck after Eunice’s successful gall bladder surgery= .
Justin gave $10 for no reason but he also reminded our= Fine Masters that President Kevin did not introduce our speaker, Linda McGregor = at the beginning of our meeting. Kevin ponied up some more bucks for his ruden= ess to our speaker.
Milt was $10 happy for several reasons, one being the article in the paper about his veterans’ event. He was also happy to = have an opportunity to go back East to visit his 98-year-old uncle plus an Air F= orce buddy.
Rich followed suit and gave 10 happy bucks for his nea= rly 3 weeks on Hilo, the Big Island as well as for his visit with son Matt who graduated from college during their visit. Janice gave $2 happy for her tri= p to Las Vegas and the good news she got from Rich.
Program Speak= er: Justin introduced Linda McGregor, executive director of Hotline, a telephone clearinghouse for information and referral as well as crisis calls. Hotline annually publishes a Human Services Directory for SLO County. “We are= the keeper for all agencies,” McGregor said. There are more than 600 heal= th and human services agencies in our county.
All of the people answering phones at Hotline are volu= nteers but many other similar agencies have paid staff. Hotline’s volunteers range in age from 18 to 80 and undergo 80 hours of training. Volunteers must commit to 4 hours per week.
They receive approximately 12,000 calls a year down fr= om 10 years ago it was 25,000 calls annually. McGregor attributes the decline due= to a lack of funding especially for public relations. “Our volunteers mu= st be non-judgmental and not interject personal beliefs into their conversations.” McGregor said.
McGregor also discussed the 211 emergency number. Crea= ted by the federal government but not funded, 211 is in place in 65% of the states= and in 67% of California. Data show that calls increase by 200% after 211 is in place, largely due to a concerted public relations campaign. 211 matches ne= eds with services available.
Hotline is doing diligent fundraising now to fund a 211 service in our County. They are actively pursuing donations from individuals and corporations. Thus far, Supervisor Lenthall, P, G & E and Mid-State Bank have donated money to this effort. Hotline also does an annual bowl-a-= thon as their major fundraiser. “We need a steady income stream,” McGregor said.
Hotline is under the auspices of the PUC and needs to = comply with standards and regulations, such as technology, data tracking, and a new facility before becoming the 211 provider. When in place, 211 can be linked statewide as well as nationally.
“We need 211 in place before a disaster such as a major earthquake occurs,” McGregor ended.
Winners:
$4 – Ron
$6 – John C
$10 – Cathy
Membership: Bob A. missed so next week’s= kitty is $95.
Next Week:
Joke of the Week - Cathy
Soap Box – Don Mc
Fine Free – Holly
Program speak= er June 7, 2007: Anne Carpenter Fitzpatrick about art, hosted by husband, Fitz.