“A huge outreach effort.”
That’s what’s coming next from the Sonoma Valley Hospital Coalition, the group that’s been meeting since June to try to figure out a plan for a new hospital that will get support from 67 percent of voters. That’s the percentage required to approve a property tax hike to fund a multi-million dollar hospital construction bond.
The coalition already holds public meetings every Monday night at the Vintage House senior center, that – depending on the topic – have attracted as many as 150 people and as few as 20.
And now, the coalition’s all-volunteer members will actively reach out to the Sonoma Valley’s voters with its Powerpoint presentation (a sort of slideshow run from a computer) to groups and clubs.
“We’re looking for locations to give our 30-minute presentation, should you or your friends, colleagues, associates, church group, playmates, golf partners, women’s walking club, or whatever, want to hear more about it,” said coalition member Shelley Arrowsmith, in an e-mail.
The point of Monday’s gathering, which attracted a little more than 20 people, was to hold a group-editing session to polish up the Powerpoint presentation.
Coalition members Steve Pease and Norman Gilroy took turns narrating the presentation, which describes the coalition’s efforts and findings to date.
Afterward, audience members shared their thoughts, feelings and advice.
For example, during the “what we’ve learned” portion of the presentation, one of the points made was that for Valley residents with Kaiser Permanente health insurance, an “ER (emergency room) is all they need.” In other words, Kaiser patients would go to the Sonoma Valley hospital for an emergency, but otherwise would seek treatment at a Kaiser Permanente facility outside of the Sonoma Valley.
Dr. Richard Kirk, who was just re-elected to the Sonoma Valley Hospital board, took exception.
“’Kaiser people only need an emergency room.’ Bad statement. Exclude that,” Kirk suggested.
Kirk also didn’t want the word “free” associated with Cirrus Health’s proposal to build a privately funded hospital on Eighth Street East and Napa Road.
“Please call the Cirrus proposal a for-profit, corporate proposal. Because it is. There’s no freebie,” he said.
During the presentation, Gilroy said that one surprising thing that the coalition found is that “we’re not a healthy valley.” He cited “high rates of diabetes, teen suicide, diabetes, asthma and emphysema.”
Newly elected hospital board member Arnold Riebli took issue with that, saying, “Teen suicides are not a problem in this community.”
Audience member Sam McCandless questioned the idea that the Sonoma Valley isn’t healthy.
“I don’t think that’s true,” he said, challenging the presenters to provide sources for the statement.
McCandless said that one of the problems with the failed Measure C campaign (put before voters in May to build a new $144 million hospital) was the use of “scare tactics,” implying that he didn’t want the coalition to make the same mistake.
But several audience members agreed with the presentation’s point about the valley’s poor health, citing the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center as one of the sources for the information.
And so went the evening. The audience’s feedback was written down for future reference on large pieces of paper that were taped to the wall.
“We’ll go through those comments to edit and tweak the slideshow,” Arrowsmith said.
The coalition already has presentations scheduled, including at noon, Wednesday, Dec. 6 at a Rotary Club meeting that’s open to Rotary members and their guests; a public meeting from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Mayflower Hall in the Glen Ellen Community Church at 5311 O’Donnell Lane; and a public meeting from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11 at Creekside Community Center in Temelec.
• For a list of presentation times and locations, check the coalition’s blog spot at svhcc.blogspot.com. If your group wants to see the Sonoma Valley Health Care Coalition’s 30-minute presentation, call Shelley Arrowsmith at 707.935.3420 or e-mail her at arrowfarms@vom.com
