Notes by Barry Davidson
All members today were present in person.
David MacKinnon presented an update on the work of our Wellness Committee to bring nurse practitioners to Wellington. He started with a history of health care to help everyone understand the immense pressure on the health care system, quoting somewhat from Dr. Roy Porter’s book, “The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: a Medical History of Mankind”. As well as the usual and accurate answers such as population aging, financial pressures on governments and population growth, he described four deeper issues: first, a fundamental change in the nature of diseases faced by physicians to chronic diseases including cancer, second, learning to use all the new diagnostic tools, third, the cost of all the new technology and the public’s demand for them, fourth, major new expensive systems that will go global.
David next illustrated the benefits of nurse practitioners and other providers and the importance of ensuring their appropriate roles, and not just focusing on physicians. He quoted former Finance Minister Bill Morneau that our current health care system is not sacrosanct. David advised that on Thursday the Ontario government provided 150 new spaces in programs to train nurse practitioners, enhanced proscribing by pharmacists to be allowed and a $30 million fund to support new teams like the one we are proposing.
Our committee’s meeting with MPP Todd Smith was very encouraging as he understands our situation and supports our proposal.
The Belleville Clinic has hired a nurse with business training to prepare our formal proposal to the Ontario Government, as the proposal will have to come from Belleville. David will keep our members posted.
A transcript of David's report in MSWord format can be accessed in the club documents repository here:
https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1166/Documents/en-ca/250319b7-d5b1-4e49-b99c-5ffe174c5cf2/1/
Other Club Business
Dawn and Bill P. were awarded Paul Harris awards for their contributions to the International Rotary Foundation.
Bill P. alerted those interested in planning this year’s Dinner/Dance and Online Auction to meet next week after the breakfast meeting.
Trudy put out a final call for members to join the adult Spelling Bee next Monday, February 13, for a dinner and competition. We have five members on our team now.
Trudy, Phyo, Mike and Elizabeth Lattner are travelling to Cambodia & Laos to see the Rotary water supply work being led by Rotarian Steve Rutledge. Kim moved and David H. seconded that we pay for two water filters at $125 each as a donation with the travellers’ visit. Carried.
Peter Campbell reported that our breakfast would continue to come from Tim Hortons as baker Joe is struggling to regain his business output following his losses over the Christmas storm period. Trudy suggested members could support Joe by patronizing his bakery.
Colin reported that the golf committee would be starting soon. The tournament will be June 15 with dinner at the Legion.
Barry reported that Jennifer Armstrong, 21 year old daughter of Mark Armstrong, our Bottle Depot landlord, will be our sponsored student for the Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium (RYLS - formerly RYLA) this year, conducted May 11-14 at the Ganaraska Forest Centre, just north of Port Hope. Our Club will pay her $350 fee.
David M. drew Lynn’s number for the 50:50 but she did not draw the Ace of spades.
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