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A Voice for Those Who Care |
Fall 2006 |
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HOSPAC Notes For more information, about HOSPAC contact Lisa Kepple or visit www.HOSPAC.org, or for up-to-date legislative and advocacy information, visit www.THAOnline.org. Contents Looking Ahead: Get Recognized at THA's Leadership Conference! Up Close and Personal with Newt Gingrich Watch Your Mail for HOSPAC's General Election Endorsements Newsletter Voter Registration Toolkit Available
Texas' top hospital leaders already have contributed or pledged at HOSPAC's top leadership levels and they invite you to join them! Overall totals as of Aug. 26, 2006: Another $77,415 is still needed for HOSPAC to reach its 2006 goal. State PAC Federal PAC Compared to past annual campaigns, total HOSPAC member contributions and pledges are higher than at the same time period in previous years. HOSPAC Notes is a periodic publication of the Texas Hospital Association's Political Action Committee, 6225 U.S. Highway 290 East, P.O. Box 145587, Austin, Texas 78761-5587. Telephone 512/465-1047 for information. No part of this publican may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. DIRECTOR, HOSPAC – Lisa Kepple PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST – EDITOR – Amanda Engler PRODUCTION - According to Texas Government Code 305.02, portions of this material may be considered “legislative advertising.” Authorization for its publication is made by Joe A. DaSilva, Texas Hospital Association, P.O. Box 15587, Austin, TX 78761-5587. |
Thank you for your ongoing support and hard work on behalf of Texas hospitals.
Jeff Bourgeois, FACHE Chairman, HOSPAC Board of Directors Looking Ahead: Get Recognized at THA’s Leadership Conference!
2006 HOSPAC leadership-level members and top-performing hospitals/health systems will receive prominent recognition at the upcoming THA Leadership Conference, Oct. 9-11 in Austin. To see a current list of who’s participating in HOSPAC, please review the 2006 HOSPAC Membership Roster, which lists all members by level and affiliated organization. Make your contribution by Sept. 22 so that you can get the recognition you deserve!
While at the conference, be sure to stop by the HOSPAC booth located in the lobby of the Renaissance Austin Hotel! If you haven’t yet registered for this annual event, be sure to visit http://www.thaonline.org/.
Up Close and Personal with Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and founder of the Center for Health Transformation, will be a special guest at the HOSPAC Special Leadership Reception on Oct. 10 at the THA Leadership Conference. Gingrich envisions a 21st century intelligent health system in which knowledge saves lives – and money – for all Americans. Learn about his plan for system-wide transformation during his keynote address at the conference. 2006 HOSPAC leadership level members will have the opportunity to meet Gingrich personally at HOSPAC’s Special Leadership Reception – watch for more details soon! Watch Your Mail for HOSPAC’s General Election Endorsements Newsletter
HOSPAC is finalizing its endorsements for the November General Election, so watch your mail soon for the special endorsements edition of HOSPAC Notes. In the meanwhile, mark your calendar for these important dates:
Oct. 10 Last day to register to vote for the Nov. 7 General Election
Oct. 23 – Nov. 3 Early voting by personal appearance
Oct. 31 Last day to request a ballot be mailed
Nov. 7 General Election HOSPAC leadership level members are encouraged to participate in the HOSPAC Regional Leadership Receptions. These receptions offer hospital advocates and community leaders the opportunity to meet personally with important policy makers, while cultivating stronger “grassroots” and “grasstops” involvement in the PAC. Absolutely no HOSPAC membership funds are used to produce these events. Instead, HOSPAC secures eligible sponsors to underwrite the costs, so that 100 percent of eligible dollars raised are dedicated to the candidate contribution funds of HOSPAC State and Federal.
On June 13, a HOSPAC Special Leadership Reception was held in conjunction with the THA Health Care Summit in Austin and featured guest speaker former Austin mayor and current Senate District 14 candidate Kirk Watson. The reception was well attended, and guests had the opportunity to visit with Watson to discuss key health care issues. Plan to attend the next Regional Leadership Reception on Sept. 5 in San Antonio at the McNay Art Museum from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., with Sen. Leticia Van de Putte as the special guest speaker. Sen. Van de Putte, a pharmacist and a member of the Texas Legislature since 1990, has worked diligently with Texas hospitals on important health care policy issues. Attendees also will enjoy a private behind-the-scenes tour by the McNay’s director, Dr. William Chiego, of the new exhibit “Off the Pedestal: New Women in the Art of Homer, Chase & Sargent.” Spouses are encouraged join attendees at the reception for a wonderful evening of art and advocacy for a good cause.
Additional Leadership Receptions are scheduled for this fall in Corpus Christi (Sept. 27); Harlingen (Oct. 4); and Texarkana (Oct. 19). Additional information and invitations to these events will be distributed as details are finalized.
Voter Registration Toolkit Available
The Texas Hospital Association has prepared an online toolkit to help mobilize Texas’ 320,000 health care employees and make them influential participants in the General Election in November. The hospital is an ideal location for a voter registration drive, allowing employees as well as patients and visitors to participate.
The toolkit follows the theme Make a Healthy Choice: VOTE, and is available for download on THA's Web site. The kit includes general information about voting in Texas, step-by-step instructions on hosting a voter registration drive, sample correspondence (including a news release, newsletter article and memo to employees), artwork for paycheck stuffers, table tents and posters, and other helpful information. In addition to the voter registration drive materials, you’ll also find tools for conducting a get-out-the-vote campaign closer to the Nov. 7 General Election.
If you have questions about the upcoming elections, contact Lisa Kepple, THA’s director of political action programs, at 512/465-1047. If you have questions about the online toolkit or any of the materials, please contact THA’s Communications Department at 512/465-1050. |
Welcome to the first edition of HOSPAC’s new