CAHO REGIONAL COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE
Upcoming CAHO Regional Community Briefings:
Summary of Previous Briefings
Springfield/Clark County
A regional briefing was held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Springfield,
Ohio on Monday, September 11, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Mt. Zion Pastor Darryl
Grayson gave a short invocation, acknowledging the fifth anniversary of the
events of September 11, 2001. Mayor Warren Copeland talked briefly, emphasizing
the importance of access to health care to the quality of life in Springfield.
Cathy Levine, Executive Director of UHCAN Ohio, gave a 45 minute powerpoint
presentation Working for Affordable Health Care for All in Ohio. Kathleen
Gmeiner, CAHO Co-chair and Network Building Project Coordinator, led the
discussion on what members of the group would like to do keep the focus on
health care during the fall elections.
The group decided to seek meetings with the candidates for the Ohio House of
Representatives 72nd District House Seat, Dale Henry (Democrat) and Ross
McGregor (Republican) to discuss with them the plans the candidates have to make
access to health care a major priority. Those in attendance stated they want an
opportunity to describe the health care problem, to ask the candidates what
their ideas are to fix the problem, and present their ideas.
A report on the meeting by Staff Writer Samantha Sommer appeared in the
September 12, 2006 edition of the Springfield News-Sun.
Lima/ Allen County
A regional briefing was held at the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, Ohio on
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. West Ohio Food Bank
Executive Director Bambi Markham welcomed the group, and Dr. Gene Wright,
retired Lima physician and President of the Board of Allen County Health
Partners made a brief presentation on the importance of access to health care.
He emphasized the importance of getting regular primary care from a family
doctor who knows the patient. The group was asked what they think are the
problems in the health care system, and “cost” was most frequently raised. Cathy
Levine, Executive Director of UHCAN Ohio, presented Working for Affordable
Health Care in Ohio. Kathleen Gmeiner, CAHO Co-chair and Network Building
Project Coordinator led a discussion on what actions the group would like to
take to keep health care high on the agenda of the candidates this fall. The
group decided on several actions to take. They will gather stories of people who
are affected by the health care crisis. They will also seek a meeting with the
candidates for the Ohio House of Representatives Fourth District, Matthew
Huffman (Republican) and Dennis Shreefer (Democrat) to discuss with them their
plans to address Ohio’s health care crisis.
An article on the meeting by Reporter Kimberley Simmons appeared in the
September 14, 2006 edition of the Lima News. WLIO NBC 4 News and Fox News also
attended and covered the meeting and the broader health care issue in their
evening news presentations.