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Program: Ontario Pharmacists Association – Donnie Edwards
President Tom called upon Art Weaver to say grace and Don Shaw blew the opening note for O’Canada.
President Tom welcomed all and introduced the head table: Mark Zammit, Donnie Edwards, our guest speaker, Sergeant-at-arms Bill Cole, member in the spotlight Rick Merritt (Foundation Committee) and Stuart Butler who introduced today's guests.
Guests: We had a number of guests:
John Boot, visiting Rotarian from Summerland, B.C.
Bruce Binch, guest of Mary Margaret Murphy, Aurora Tancock, guest of Chris Bangham, Steve Tenyenhuis, guest of Wade Stayzer and Scott Crocco, guest of Scott Heelis.
Committee in the Spotlight - Foundation Committee
Committee in the spotlight – Rick Merritt – Foundation Committee
Rick provided a generous update on the work of the Rotary Foundation and the objectives and goals as set out by Bob Scott, Foundation Chair of RI.
- Polio Plus - (only 2 countries where Polio has not been eradicated)
- Every Rotarian Every Year – increase sustaining members
- Alumni of Rotary – maintain contacts with those who have come through various Rotary Programs
- International Studies for Peace – peace and conflict study programs
Rick informed the Club that the GSE team would be headed to Bulgaria in May and that the team members should have an emphasis in Tourism and the Wine industry – if you know of a good contact – contact Rick.
Rick then asked all members to select the Rotary Foundation as their Charity of Choice and reminded everyone to make an annual EREY sustaining donation of $ 100 before the end of the year in order to get a tax deduction for the 2007 year.
Editor’s Note: I thought Rick was a retired banker not an accountant.
Birthdays –
Stuart Butler was present for us to sing and receive a birthday rose but Ian Ellingham was not.
New Member Introduction:
Wade Stayzer stepped up to the mike to introduce our newest member, Steve Tenyenhuis.
Steve has an Economics and Political Science degree from Western and was a commercial account manager with an unnamed bank for seven years until he saw the light and joined the Meridian Credit Union.
Steve is married to Rick Merritt’s niece, Joanne Houtby, and they have a son, Isaac.
Steve and Joanne had their wedding reception at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club.
Steve has always been impressed with the work of Rotary and looks forward to making a contribution to our Club.
Welcome to the Club Steve!
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President Tom Arkell, Steve Tenyenhuis &
Wade Stayzer |
Announcements:
Sam Walters - picture day last weekend went well and the members who attended enjoyed good fellowship and a good time. Sam reminded everyone that the auction items are on the web site and Chris Blake is finalizing the remaining scripts. Thanks to all for putting the Club in a position to have another successful auction.
Peggy Davidson – encouraged people to sign up for the Sunday cash room duties – all help will be appreciated. Payment equipment has arrived and were ready to process receipts.
Chris Blake – Youth Leadership Committee meeting being held right after today’s lunch.
50/50
Two tickets were drawn – Rick Merritt had his number drawn but the 4 of Hearts stopped him from the $ 137 pot.
Serge Paquin’s ticket took home the Rotary Blue poinsettia, painted and donated by Peggy Davidson.
Happy Dollars:
Oraine DeRosa took the basket and made the first donation to replace the now unsteady collection basket. She was also happy for Lancaster Brooks and Welch’s 125th Anniversary and gave a plug for Betty-Lou Souter’s food drive.
Then Oraine fittingly told a joke about spaghetti.
Jim Denham – attended Hindu Dance and saw Chief Wendy Southall perform her version of the Hindu Macarena.
Brian St. Hilaire – happy that our Nevada lottery produced another $ 1,000 for the Hospital Foundation.
Kelly Buckley – happy she is now able to balance her hectic schedule because she got a bigger plate.
Peggy Davidson – happy with the auction picture day and happy with her work at Sunshine Gardens.
John Snowling – happy to have attended the Foundation Dinner and for the Wine at Marg and Albert’s afterwards.
Chris Bangham – happy for Mary Jarrell’s appointment as the new executive director of Hospice Niagara.
Art Wing – happy that Jackie Herman Wing is the back-up leader for the GSE team (Bob Morrow is the team leader).
Henry Becker – Henry told a story of why he will never kiss a bathroom mirror.
Graham Kennedy – happy that a series of events has led to the detection of a prostate problem, which he can now have treated.
Judith Barker – happy to be back after attending to some health problems and was grateful for the Club’s support and was also happy that Marg now has her former job.
Guest Speaker:
Mark Zammit introduced Donnie Edwards, who like Mark, is of Maltese extraction. Donnie graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Pharmacy in 1988.
Donnie is married and has three children, and they reside in Port Colborne.
Donnie has worked as a Pharmacist in Port Colborne for 15 years.
Donnie Edwards is the current Chairman of the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA), and in this role has traveled a lot and has spoken to a number of Service Clubs. He always enjoys speaking to Rotarians because he admires their community service.
Even though Serge had a front row seat, Donnie had to disappoint him be telling Serge he did not bring any Viagra samples.
The OPA has 10,000 front line health care professionals and noted that Ontario Budgets and Legislation are changing the landscape for Pharmacists.
The Ontario government is looking to find ways to provide an improved and sustaining health care system and the OPA and its pharmacist members are stepping to the plate to assist the government in this goal.
Donnie said that in the past, pharmacists were viewed as “pill counters” who did not reflect the diversity of our population.
Editor’s Note: I know how that feels having been called a “bean counter”.
The reality is now far different as little time is spent counting pills and pharmacists are now more representative of the population.
On average, pharmacists see 150 patients a day and this is increasing as wait times to see one’s family doctor increase and pharmacists are available 24/7.
Pharmacists are well trusted by the patient and this is important for building strong relationships.
Pharmacists are much more accessible then one’s family doctor and can provide a valuable health service by ensuring the medications prescribed by the family doctor are taken correctly.
Pharmacists try to improve the quality of patient care by helping individuals on medication to change their life styles when necessary, which may reduce the dependency on medication.
New legislation like the Transparency Drug Act place challenges on pharmacists but also provide opportunities as well, such as the introduction of Meds Check Professional Services payment.
The government has allocated $ 50 million in 2007-2008 for a Medication Check of an individual who is on three or more chronic illness medications. This involves a 20 minute interview to receive a $ 50 payment.
This program helps to manage health care and is extremely important. By performing this review it will prevent patient confusion about medication and will prevent adverse medication reactions.
Improvement needs to be done to make Electronic Health Medical Records available to all pharmacists. The data on lab tests and drug data all help to properly assist the patient.
Donnie is also involved in a drug awareness program in the public schools. He finds that experience tells him you need to speak to the grade 5 and 6 classes because once the kids get to grade 7 it may be too late to change their views on illegal drugs.
Doug Foss thanked Donnie for his informative presentation on behalf of the Club.
President Tom then thanked Donnie by donating a dictionary to an elementary school with his name on it.
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Donnie Edwards & President Tom |
Next Week –
Rotary Foundation
Notice:
The Rotary Club of Lincoln has changed its meeting venue effective immediately to the following:
The Beacon Harbourside Inn & Restaurant
2793 Beacon Boulevard (just off the QEW)
Vineland, ON
Doors open at 7 am, Breakfast is served at 7:30 am
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