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February Meeting: February 26, 2004
Location: Wilson’s 4925 New Centre Drive
Wilmington, NC
Speaker: New Hanover Regional Medical Center
"Working
with the Media" after the general meeting
Sponsor:
President's Message:
Tim Walsh
Many thanks again to Nick and Vicki Ogden for hosting our
Christmas party this year at their home. Thanks also to David Hill and Chris Benedict for all their
culinary efforts. It was truly
heartwarming to see the generosity of our members, as we were able to raise
enough money at the silent auction to donate $400 to the Tileston Outreach
Center in Wilmington. The final
collection for the Domestic Violence Shelter also took place and I don’t
think there was a pack of diapers left in Wilmington after our donation! This holiday event has really become
one that we all look forward to.
January 22nd we were happy to welcome Joanne
Crowley, RN as our speaker.
Joanne is the director for “Joint Camp” at Cape Fear Hospital and
shared with us their new approach to total hip and knee replacement surgery
that began in November 2002. The
approach, which resembles an athletic camp, brings patients together for
pre-surgery education and post-surgery therapy and support. She discussed the efficiencies the
program brings to the hospital and the improved outcomes for patients. She also revealed that one of our
local surgeons is one of the first in the country to perform minimally
invasive hip replacement surgery where recovery is twice as fast as what is
accomplished today. Great
savings for our clients and carriers.
Please make sure to put March 17-19, 2004 on your
calendars. The 15th
Annual Symposium and Exhibition will be held at the Showplace in High
Point. Applications are online
at http://www.ncahu.org/ and hotel
accommodations are available at the Radisson Hotel on S. Main Street in High
Point by calling (800) 333-3333.
Twelve CE credits are available from a number of dynamic speakers and
a variety of industry related exhibitors will be on hand. Come join 700 of your peers at this
year’s symposium.
The following week, David Hill, Hughes Waren and I will
travel to Washington, DC as your representatives for NAHU’s 14th
Annual Capitol Conference.
Legislative efforts have always been a cornerstone of our association
and we are all excited to join members from around the country at this key
event. It should be a
particularly interesting conference this year with the upcoming elections
just around the corner.
Please
plan on joining us at our next local meeting on February 26th at
Alleigh’s and most importantly, bring a new member. See you there
Legislative
News:
David Hill
L & L Notes
As you know a great deal
is starting to happen on the L&L front. If you watched the President's State of the Union and the
Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary, you know that health insurance is
back on the politicians radar
screen! The president wants to make heath
care affordable to all especially to small business and the Democrats are
saying they have an answer. To
date no one has put out a plan on how they intend to make it affordable. The president wants to make available
association health plans or AHPs, the Dems are too busy jockeying for
position and have not said what their proposals are. All I can say is that with the
passing of HRAs and HSAs, we are in a position to write more business and
effectively insure more people, which is the common goal.
As a broker who has been
in the business for quite a while now, I will tell you that I have seen AHPs
in the past and they do not work.
You know, you have seen them also.
Keep your eyes and ears
open as this is going to get interesting as we move closer to election
time. Now is a crucial time to
support your NCPAC and HUPAC as they work for all of us! We have to keep the industry
solvent. That is
the only answer. Allow those of us who do what we do
to continue and it will only get better. Tim, Hughes and myself are going to DC in March for
Capitol Conference. It poses to
be one of the most interesting on since the days when
Clinton first ran on his
Health Care for Everyone platform.
We as an association are very strong in Washington and have the ear of
some influential people, but we need to be stronger. I am asking you to do something for
yourself
here, not me or the
association. That is to please
support the PACs and the association and most importantly, recruit another
member. Let me ask you
something. Are you tired of
working for the other brokers that are in this business
that will reap the
benefits of your efforts? Then
get them to join! Let's at least
get them signed up and get their money as well. That is what it is going to take to keep our livelihood,
our business, our life in tact.
Thank you.
David Hill L&L Chairman
Calendar of Events
HUPAC/NCPAC:
Website www.cahu.info
Dennis G. Stokley, RHU
Remember to Use the
CAHU Website
Have you had a chance to
look at the new directory for the state website yet?
State www.ncahu.org
In the event you need to change
your contact information, please go to the national website or click on this
link www.nahu.org/member/index.cfm The state web page will now update
their list from the national site.
Take a look at some of
our state chapter websites and see what they are doing for their local
associations.
Triad www.tahu-net.org
Western www.wncahu.org
Coastal www.cahu.info
Charlotte www.cahu-nc.org
Triangle www.nctahu.org
Western Piedmont www.wpahu.org
Dennis G. Stokley, RHU
Email: gstokley@bellsouth.net
Membership Update:
Brownie Cordell
One of
the top priorities for NAHU and our Coastal Chapter for this year was to add
new members to our organization. Coastal has responded to this
challenge and has added eleven new members through January
to our organization. This increase in membership has just not happened. It
has been through the efforts of all members "WALKING THE TALK" and
telling individuals in our industries the importance of being part of NAHU.
Our united voice must be heard to protect our industry and our jobs. We need
the support of everyone in our industry. Please make an effort to talk with
someone this week about the personal value of being a member of our organization.
Do not
forget that there is a "bounty" for every new member that you bring
into our organization this year. For each new member you will receive a
$20.00 Gift Certificate from Barnes and Nobles and be in a drawing for a
$50.00 Gift Certificate to given out at our last meeting this year. I want to
thank you for being a member and telling others about CAHU.
Brownie
Public Service:
Continuing Education:
Connette Bradley
Our state symposium is
March 17-19 in High Point and is approved for up to 12 hours of L&H CE.
We're also planning to offer a 3 hour CE class on disability insurance, free
to members, following our April 22 meeting.
Finally, we're wanting to
form a study group for members working on RHU, REBC or a LTC
designation. If you are currently
studying or have an interest in being part of a study group, please contact
Connette Bradley at 395-2600 or chbradley@earthlink.net.
Awards:
M. Hughes Waren, Jr.
Awards: M. Hughes Waren, Jr.
Please
contact Hughes Waren (910)763-8050 or hughes@edh.com
Media Relations:
Amanda Smith
Hospitality:
Patti Hill
Those of you who didn't
attend our Holiday Party missed a lot of good fun, good food, good auction
items and mostly CAHU folks hanging outside of our "business
world"!!
We raised over $400 for
our charity (Tileston Health Clinic).
A huge thank you to Vicky Ogden who visited many area businesses for
donation...what a job!!! Vicky
and Nick also hosted our party...thanks so much for your lovely home
at such a busy time of
year.
January brings us back
together to Alleigh's for our regular meeting on the 22nd.
February 26th at Alleigh's
and NCCAHU Symposium in March.
Look for details coming
for our annual charity golf tournament coming in May.
Patti Hill
Hospitality Chair
Please remember that the
cost of lunch for CAHU members is FREE.
Guest and non-member
lunches are $10.
Coastal Association of
Health Underwriters
Wilmington, NC 28403 January 30, 2004
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