CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kathy Osbun called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Kathy Osbun read the minutes from the meeting of August 17, 2011. The minutes were approved as read.
PROGRAMS: There was some discussion about how to divide breakout groups into manageable sizes. It was decided to try one group led by Davis Brown for new or newly diagnosed members, and another group led by George Irizary for continuing members.
Kathy Osbun discussed the scheduling of speakers and what’s involved in matching potential speaker availabilities with our monthly meeting dates. Depending on the outcome of arrangements, the Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) program will be presented in October or November.
MARY’S PIZZA FUND RAISER: Kathy Osbun reported that the fund raiser at Mary’s Pizza on Summerfield Road is set for the day and evening of October 5. PSGSC will receive 20% of purchases for dine-in, take-out and delivery when accompanied by a Mary’s Pizza donation flyer. The flyers will be e-mailed to our members and available at the next Saturday meeting on Oct. 1.
WOMEN’S GROUP: Suzanne de Kozan, reported on the progress of the recently formed Women’s Group, which serves women with Parkinson’s Disease. She said the group deals with Parkinson’s related challenges and problem solving, and shares lots of information, but defers to the medical community for specific prescriptions. Suzanne also noted that facilitation of the group would be shared by its members on a rotating basis.
On the motion of Davis Brown, seconded by Mike LeMole, the Board approved a policy stressing that all of the PSGSC satellite support groups adhere to the principle that “what’s said in any support group setting, stays within the group” for reasons of confidentiality. Any recording of minutes at these meetings is not appropriate and shall not be disseminated.
MEETING AT PALM DRIVE HOSPITAL: Suzanne said she and Davis Brown had “a very good meeting” September 19 with the CEO, head of nursing, head of pharmacy and neurologist Dr. Alan Bernstein at Palm Drive Hospital. She said the hospital representatives were very receptive to developing procedures to insure that time-critical medicines such as Sinemet are given to Parkinson’s patients according to a patient’s pill regimen and to avoid pain medicines that counteract with Sinemet. The head pharmacist has already “red-flagged” PD medications with contra-indications in their computer.
UCSF PROPOSAL: Suzanne introduced a letter to be sent to Dr. Aminoff of the UCSF Parkinson’s Disease Clinic for the purpose of finding out if UCSF could send a specialist to periodically see Parkinson’s patients at their Santa Rosa location on Brookwood Avenue. It was felt that the letter should go out first to see if this is even a possibility before moving forward on sending out a confidential survey on medical insurance to justify the need for a movement disorders specialist in Sonoma County.
OTHER BUSINESS: There was discussion about including a “Community
Bulletin Board” to our website for the purpose of getting out messages to our members that might include contacts for people who can recommend a former caregiver, used equipment someone might want to give away or sell, etc. with the disclaimer that PSGSC would not be responsible for these listings. It was felt that this needed more thought and discussion at our next Board Meeting in October. Also in Other Business, Bud Suiter submitted a receipt for $37.98 for purchase of a tripod to be used with a camcorder when video recording guest speakers at meetings.
ADJOURNMENT: The board meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m. by Chair Kathy Osbun. The above minutes are subject to approval at the next board meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at Emeritus skilled nursing facility at 300
Fountain Grove Parkway, Santa Rosa.
Respectfully submitted,
George Irizary
Secretary