2010 FCWR Conference

Fred Bauemeister and I met today at his clinic in beautiful Simi Valley to discuss some early ideas for our annual conference next year in Colorado Springs. We would appreciate any suggestions or thoughts you might have to make next years conference even more benificial. Click on the 'comments tab below and gives us your ideas.

Fred's clinic started back in 1971 in the school district offices and now it is their dental clinic. He is expanding the dental clinic starting Monday, June 15 to have a paid dentist 3 days per week. The Free Clinic of Simi Valley is also working with dental hygiene students from Oxnard College Dental Hygiene Program and West Los Angeles College Dental Hygiene Program. They are sending 5 students 3 days per week as well. Good luck Fred.

Email me any changes, expansions, good news and challenges. I will put the news on the blog for others to see and comment.

M Jean

2009 FCWR Conference in San Francisco

The Free Clinics of the Western Region just held its annual conference in San Francisco March 19, 20 and 21. About 100 people attended the three day conference which included guest speakers, clinic tours and lots of networking. The conference was held at the Hotel Whitcomb on Market Street. About 40 Free Clinics were represented from throughout the Western United States. Nicole Lamoureux from the National Association of Free Clinics attended and shared information on membership. The lunch speaker on Friday was Dan Bernal from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. And one of the many other highlights was a presentation to Dr Winston F Wong from Kaiser Permanente.

Hotel Whitcomb

In order to help you plan for the 2009 Free Clinics of the Western Region annual conference during March 19, 20 & 21of 2009. I am posting some photographs of the Hotel Whitcomb located at 1231 Market Street in San Francisco. The hotel is a classic and historic hotel located downtown and near many interesting sights in this beautiful city. I have also posted views of the lobby and the lunch and dinner menus for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!

Board Meeting in San Diego

Members of the Board of Directors of the Free Clinics of the Western Region held a strategic planning meeting in San Diego August 16th and 17th. The meeting was held to discuss current issues and determine ways for the association to be more effective. Marcella Ruch and JoAnn Salazar joined via the telephone on a conference call for a portion of the meeting on Saturday.

The White House Project

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to share with you that I have been chosen to participate in the first “Women Rule” Women’s Leadership Training in NYC in June. It is sponsored by American Express, The O Magazine, and The White House Project. The clinic, along with other non-profit agencies, need additional space and resources to better deliver services in our community. A collaborative effort and shared space would provide endless opportunities. My application, which includes my vision for a multi-tenant non-profit center in our community, was one of 80 chosen out of over 3000 applicants. I am the only recipient from Wyoming and one of a few from the western region. I am humbled and thrilled by this unique opportunity. I have included the link to the information which includes the list of recipients and their photographs at www.thewhitehouseproject.org

Thanks to everyone who shares this vision and wants to work side-by-side to make it a reality in our community.

Rhonda Tyre Priest

Cheyenne Community Clinic

3100 Henderson Drive #3

Cheyenne, WY 82001

307-638-6842

LA Free Clinic to Change Name

L.A. Free Clinic to change name in honor of gift

By Mary Engel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 3, 2008

The Los Angeles Free Clinic will change its name next month to the Saban Free Clinic in honor of a $10-million donation, the largest in its 41-year history, from philanthropists Haim and Cheryl Saban.

The gift, which the clinic plans to announce today, will be used to create an endowment, said clinic co-director Abbe Land.

It comes almost 25 years after Cheryl Saban -- then a divorced, working mother of two with no health insurance -- sought care at the clinic's Beverly Boulevard branch. The professionalism and kindness of the doctors and nurses impressed her deeply, she said.

Two years after that visit, Saban's circumstances changed dramatically when she married Haim Saban, who made his fortune as the producer of the children's show "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and is now chairman of Univision Communications.

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