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Hospice response
To our Hospice Community,
While the Hospice Board of Directors is not prone to the limelight or
seeking controversy, the recent article in the Hood River News
warrants response. The implications that the Department of Justice was
investigating a hostile work environment and that the agency had
responded are not accurate. The lack of complete information and the
potential damage to the reputation of our organization needs to be
addressed.
Over six months ago, Hospice of the Gorge received a letter of
complaint from several employees. The board took the allegations
seriously and arranged for the executive director of the Oregon
Hospice Association to conduct an onsite visit and review all internal
policies, procedures and practices. Her written report to the board
found the agency in full compliance. In addition, an independent labor
attorney was retained to review the issue of a hostile work
environment and related labor and employment laws. This individual
interviewed the complainants and a number of additional staff members.
In two separate reports, she concluded that there was no evidence of a
hostile work environment and no violations of labor or employment law.
The results of these independent reviews were shared with staff.
Not satisfied with the findings, a small group of employees has taken
their case to the Department of Justice and to the press. Hospice
responded to the Department of Justice and provided a summary of the
independent reviews in its letter of response. The reports were also
available upon request.
Hospice is a family of caregivers and the emotions of the last several
months have taken their toll. Some staff members have chosen to leave
and new hires and staffing adjustments have been made to meet our
community’s need. As the area’s needs grow, so has the agency. The
days of a small team of staff and volunteers has developed into a
staff of 50-plus dedicated professionals that meets very important
family and medical needs. Hospice of the Gorge is fully staffed and
equipped to meet the needs of the seven-county community it serves. We
will continue to work to meet that challenge and we appreciate the
support we have received from patients, family members, staff and the
public.
Hospice Board of Directors
Clarice Knoll
Aileen Pobanz
Marianne Durkan
Frank Akin
Mooreen Morris
Charles Bugge
Carole Carnes
Bob Schultens
Nancy McCoy
Ron Cohen
Roger Gadway
John Schwartz, M.D.
Janet Ward
Tom Peachy
Like a shut-off
On Monday, Oct. 9, Merilee Webster, my wife Mary’s hospice worker,
informed me that Friday the 13th would be the last time she would
be coming to see Mary, and that she would be leaving Hospice of
the Gorge!
It was like having our electricity shut off for no reason!
The following Monday Hospice Aide Debbie Medina informed me that
she would no longer be with Hospice on Oct. 20. That she was “just
too tired to continue as a Hospice aide.” Needless to say that was
like shutting off our water and sewer.
Just want both of you to know that it was like having all your
utilities shut off. You will be sorely missed!
Ken Burdick
Hood River
Vote Campos-Davis
This is election time, our local elections are equally as
important as the state elections, if not more so. It does not get
much more local than city council. Our unpaid councilors serve the
community, ALL the city citizens. It is hard work. There are four
candidates; the top three vote-getters will fill the council
seats. Balance on the council is most important; important to all
of us.
I urge you to go the Hood River City Council Web site,
http://www.ci.hood-river.or.us/council.html,
and know the incumbent candidates. Keep in mind the importance of
balance representation on our city council. If you vote for only
one, vote for Martin Campos-Davis, as I will.
Keep the council balanced.
Marbe Cook
Hood River
Population threat
An event of monumental importance to America has recently
occurred. That event marked the U.S. population hitting 300
million. It was the subject of a press conference held Oct. 3 in
Washington, D.C. The conference was aptly named “300 Million:
Milestone or Millstone?”
To understand the magnitude of that event, here are figures given
by U.S. agencies including the Census Bureau, INS (now ICE), USDA,
and CPS:
* 203 million: U.S. population in 1970.
* 420 million: Census projection for 2050.
* 571 million: Census projection for 2100.
* 50 percent: of sprawl due to population growth.
* 1 million: New illegal aliens each year. (This is a 2003
estimate. TIME magazine estimated 3 million in 2004.)
* 1 million: New legal immigrants each year. (According to
Robert Rector from a Heritage Foundation paper, last May’s Senate
bill S. 2611 would add 103 million over the next 20 years if
enacted.)
* 750,000: Births to foreign-born each year.
* 86 percent of population growth (2000-02) due to
immigration.
Presented at the conference was a poll conducted Sept. 23-24 of
1,000 likely voters revealing that they believe 2:1 that
population growth will “negatively impact the quality of life in
America, such as causing more congestion, overcrowding and
pollution.”
The poll was conducted in every region of the country and included
all political affiliations and racial backgrounds. By a ratio of
6:1, Hispanics say quality of life where they live would be made
worse by such population growth. Among blacks, the ratio was 9:1
and whites 9.5 to 1.
Since members of Congress are home until after midterm elections
Nov. 7, I hope readers arm themselves with these and other facts
when they visit, phone or write them to express their views. Those
in Congress may try to pass legislation during a “Lame Duck”
session that could be detrimental to our lives and American
sovereignty.
Val Don Hickerson
Bandon
Vote for Smith
Having been owner of Hood River Stationers for almost 30 years, I
have little to say about our past state legislators and their
endeavors for growing Oregon’s economy. The Northwest was
especially hit hard after 9/11!
But I am finally encouraged by the hard work Patti Smith has given
Oregonians. Her strong support to bring Cardinal Glass to us was
impressive. She has fought hard, as well, for funding for the Hood
River campus of Columbia Gorge Community College.
She knows that if we are to bring more jobs to town, we must have
an educated work force. More jobs for our area means businesses
like my own will flourish and will remain an asset to our
community.
I want someone in Salem who understands the difficult issues that
we face — and deals with them head-on! Patti Smith is visible to
me and eager to understand and solve economic issues for our area.
Please vote for Patti Smith.
Susan Hull
Mosier
The color of fear
I urge all people of voting age to consider casting their ballots
in November. The U.S. Constitution has been stepped on too many
times by the current administration while Congress looks away, or
worse yet, votes in agreement.
The Patriot Act has been shoved down our throats as we’re told it
is the only way we can find out who among us is a traitor. We are
seeking to rewrite Geneva Convention policy in order to handle
interrogations in a more aggressive manner (as if no enemies will
take note and alter their practices).
Government agencies supported by President Bush are continually
trying to undo forest land management policy set forth decades ago
to protect our resources. Most recently, a Circuit Court denied a
request to allow timber cutting in Sequoia National Park which has
trees over 2,000 years old. There seems to be no Constitutional
law our current leaders are not willing to usurp, manipulate or
bypass.
Regardless or in spite of your political affiliation, I encourage
all voters to read multiple sources of information about current
issues and candidates. The steady stream of fear-based information
we are delivered by (non-biased?) media has colored our thinking
and clouded our emotions. We must begin to be accountable for our
elected officials who shape local, national and international
policy. This can only happen through careful deliberation and by
taking some of the emotion out of the November election.
Steve Kaplan
Hood River
Smith for people
In these election weeks with all the negative campaign
advertising, I would like to acknowledge a politician who conducts
herself with integrity.
Patti Smith has always made herself accessible to “we the people.”
Several years ago our daughter joined the Oregon Army National
Guard to be trained as a surgical technician. She went through
boot camp, schooling in San Antonio, and on to do her practicals
in Honolulu. Meantime, the Oregon Guard eliminated the job that
she was recruited for. She came back with accreditation as a
surgical tech, without a job, and no final paperwork from
Honolulu. With much frustration she could not get her superiors to
help clear up this situation.
This is when Patti Smith interceded on our daughter’s behalf. She
called us at least twice a week with updates and encouragement.
Through her efforts the National Guard corrected the situation.
She managed to accomplish for us what we could not do.
Thank you, Patti, for your help and support, and being the kind of
representative that all should aspire to.
Debbie Knudsen
Brightwood
VanOrman for 52
When you don’t vote, you forfeit your right to complain about or
praise politicians and politics. More than ever we all need to
find out which people running for office are credible, who share
our views about our homes, state, country, and world.
For me, Suzanne VanOrman will bring credibility, honesty and moral
character to her work in the State Legislature. There are good
folks like Suzanne running for office. Vote Suzanne as our next
State Legislator in Dist. 52.
Kate Mills
Mt. Hood
Hospice has heart
I have been privileged to be a Hospice social worker at Hospice of
the Gorge for the past 10 years. During that time I have helped
care for countless dying patients and their families. Throughout
those 10 years, I have found the work environment extremely
supportive and compassionate.
Indeed the same support and compassion that was being shown to our
patients has always been shown to me and to the other Hospice
employees within the work environment. I have consistently found
that my opinions have been respected and my professional judgments
have been taken seriously.
Our executive director and incredible board of directors have been
both business-like and responsive to employees’ needs.
Obviously our patients do not become ill or die on a predictable
schedule, so staffing enough employees to meet the needs of a
given family is as much an art as a science. Some months the
patient census will be much higher than other months, but as a
team we have been able to respond both professionally and
compassionately to the ebb and flow of our continually changing
work load. Those who seek employment at Hospice of the Gorge like
to consider this workplace not merely a job, but also a vocation
of service and compassion. We strive toward the goal of
maintaining a “hospice heart” as we work as a team to serve our
families.
I encourage members of our community to see for themselves what
Hospice of the Gorge is really like. Drop in to our office and
meet our dedicated team. Talk to your neighbors who have
experienced the compassion of Hospice care.
I can unequivocally say that Hospice of the Gorge has been the
best employer I have ever had. I hope to continue to serve the
needs of the terminally ill and their families. It has been, and
continues to be, a privilege and an honor to identify myself as an
employee of Hospice of the Gorge.
Patrick Rawson, M.S.W.
Hood River
Veteran for Walden
Please join me in supporting Congressman Greg Walden’s re-election
to the Second District Congressional seat. He has shown
continuously by his actions, dedication and by the actions of his
staff how much he supports and cares for our Veterans and their
families. During their time of need for help with veteran issues
and directions to resolve veteran related concerns with the VA, he
has been there.
I have personally asked for and received help for other veterans
from Congressman Greg Walden and I have had the honor to see
firsthand how Congressman Walden and his staff in Medford and
Washington, D.C., work for Oregon veterans.
Congressman Greg Walden is a longtime advocate for veterans’
issues and concerns for their families and has always been
available to meet their needs. Greg Walden’s support for veterans
goes back to his earlier years when he was in the Oregon
Legislature and supported the building of the Oregon Veterans Home
in Wasco County.
Congressman Greg Walden has always been there for all veterans and
their families; now we are there for him. I encourage your support
in re-electing Congressman Greg Walden to the 2nd Congressional
seat.
Vote for Greg Walden, Second District Congressman!
Bill Ward, Vietnam veteran
Mosier
‘Desperate’ times
Is it too late to look for decency or morality? After 9-11 we
sought blood. Okay, we were scared and needed revenge. So we went
to war with a country that by Bush’s own admission had nothing to
do with 9-11 or al-Qaeda. Now, after all the many rationalizations
have been exhausted, or proven flat-out wrong or worse, our
leaders in a last-gasp effort to sell this war say “We have to
fight them there; we won’t have to fight them here.”
I can’t imagine a more cowardly and indecent statement to make to
the world. To openly acknowledge that we are still willing to let
tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis die, people that have been
victimized first by a brutal dictator then by a brutal civil war
caused by the world’s largest, most arrogant superpower, sickens
me.
If it’s our fight, and it is, then by any moral compass that still
has a true north we must be willing to fight it here. Every time
our president says, “We must fight them there so we don’t have to
fight them here,” he tells every Iraqi mother that her family’s
lives are unimportant to him or to his god; and to the world that
we are willing to sacrifice whomever it takes to maintain our
security at home.
My great uncle and grandfather were willing to die to preserve
what made this country good and great; so am I. Now, though, we
seem to be willing to give all that up, to accept torture, secret
prisons, spying on citizens, and countless “collateral damage” to
preserve some feeble sense of security. Can the values it took so
long to build have been weakened so quickly? Maybe I should just
do what Bush wanted us all to do to support this “war on terror”
and just go shopping. And there’s always Disneyland and Desperate
Housewives.
Tom Westberry
Mt. Hood
VanOrman, for kids
I got one of those annoying phone calls from Patti Smith
complaining that her record was being distorted. So I went to the
Stand For Children Web site, ttp://www.stand.org-/or/2005_voting_record.pdf,
and found that in fact Patti has voted against the interests of
our children and our community on more than one occasion.
Check it out for yourself and you will see who is really
distorting their record.
I am going to vote for Suzanne VanOrman because she is honest and
will do a much better job for us.
Kym Zanmiller
Hood River
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