Salon Weekly
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House
Circulation: 504
Growing out of the Monday Night Salon
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3901 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Clifton Avenue Mosque is Bombed on 20 December 2005
Saturday
Today, because of the importance of the bombing hate crime at the Mosque down the street, I am breaking with tradition. The "Table Notes" are below, the first entry in the Articles, the blue section (but they are in black ink). Instead, we begin our Weekly with news of the bombing.
- Steve's essay on what happened Tuesday night, Wednesday, and the gathering Thursday night.
- My piece on the service I attended Friday at 12:50 at the mosque along with many salonistas.
- Responses to the Thursday morning special edition email I sent about the Mosque bombing...from Weekly subscribers.
Steve Sunderland, on the mass meeting Thursday evening
>
>Dear Friends:
>
> The mosque was packed last night with over 400
>people, non-Moslem and Moslem. By 7:30, the central room of the
>mosque was filled with chairs and more were being placed in any
>location where they would fit. A serious group of people were there,
>sitting and staring at each other as the people filed in. Some sat
>on the floor. All were without shoes and, different from this local
>tradition, women sat with the men, although wearing a scarf.
>
> My remarks to the gathering focused on the decision
>of the people to come to this besieged and wounded building.
>"Tonight," I began, "we come as Moslems, we come as brothers and
>sisters in faith that hatred will not prevent us from reclaiming our
>religious institutions." I asked people to look at each other, to
>shake hands, to say words of peace, even as we sat in fear and doubt
>about the events of the bombing. People relaxed enough to reach out
>to each other and give a greeting of "peace." We became both a
>mosque of friends and a "peace village."
>
> I was proceeded to the microphone by Moslem religious
>leaders who expressed deep gratitude for our attendance and by a
>group of 6 Tibetan monks who chanted their sounds of support. And, I
>was followed by speaker after speaker making the same important
>declarations of brotherhood and support for our Moslem community.
>The audience sat watching, listening, and worrying. For many, the
>experience of being at the mosque was overwhelming, this being the
>first time inside a Moslem house of worship. The room they entered
>had not podium, no fixed chairs, none of the signals of Christian
>and Jewish institutions. We faced "East," for those who knew that
>direction. And, we walked through the boarded up area of the front
>door, a new and ominous scar on this beautiful and new building. We
>sat mixed up, confused about how to fit this piece of horror into
>the everyday events in Cincinnati and our world at war. Was there a
>real or assumed connection between our bombing and the bombs being
>exploded in Iraq? Was Cincinnati going to be the new front line for
>Moslems and supporters of religious freedom for all? Were we going
>to find out something that would shift us away from tolerance of
>Islam or were we going to fight, non-violently, any gesture of
>violence, disrespect, and ignorance?
>
> I wanted to thank all who had come for making the
>choice to stand up for justice even though it was a scary and
>fearful experience. I sensed that the fight for a sacred space of
>respect underlay whatever we meant by the rule of law and justice.
>Listening to the elderly spokespeople for the mosque sing the
>praises of America as a place where they found friendship and the
>American people as possessed of "hearts of gold" made it even
>clearer that an old and determined dream was still embedded in the
>fibre of this group of Americans. A bombing, even two bombs, would
>not easily blow apart such a commitment.
>
> I left the meeting feeling a new sense of pride in
>the citizens of our city. Average people were there in large numbers
>seeking only to show respect for this Moslem community and they were
>willing to place their bodies into this room at this perilous time.
>No government officials were present and I did not see or hear any
>law enforcement, either police or FBI. We guarded this group and
>this building with our action of presence, our commitment to be
>alive to the importance of making silent witness to an ideal that is
>precious to our deepest notion of respectful identity. In one sense,
>nothing happened. There were no acts of violence or stupidity. The
>threat of intimidation shrunk to a barely visible form. Instead,
>something major and wonderful was experienced. A group of citizens
>came out to declare peace. With their silence, they spoke at the
>highest level. Nothing can hurt freedom when we stand together,
>irrespective of religion and especially when a religion is under
>attack. Somehow the time passes so fast, the weariness of the fear
>lifts, and the confusion about purpose resolves into a clear and
>substantial act of courage. We watched each other as strangers when
>we arrived; we embraced each other as citizens of a great society
>when we left. We passed through the broken doors as the evening
>closed and went into a different night of darkness. How little we
>had known about the depth of caring in our community, a darkness
>that could be filled in with the beauty of each brave citizen. We
>were able to see in this darkness to a new place, a higher level,
>and a warm substance in the shadow of fear. We left with the gift of
>"Shalom, "Salaam," and "Namaste."
Ellen on the Service at the Mosque on Friday 23 December
Friday, 12/23/05
I did go to the Clifton Avenue Mosque, the Islamic Association of Cincinnati. I am so very glad I did. Before I went into the women's entry and up to the balcony where the women overlook the sanctuary, I greeted a man in a muslim "hat" and told him how very sorry I was about the bombing Tuesday night, and that I was there to support the congregation as a Jew and as a neighbor. I told him that had it been my synagogue that was bombed, I would really appreciate his coming in support and that was why I was there. He was wonderfully grateful. While we were talking, Bill Messer arrived, another salonista, there because he got the word through my weekly list email yesterday. The Muslim man said that last night at the public meeting there was a huge turn out, he estimated over 400 people, of which only 150 were Muslims. Later, from the microphone, during the sermon, the leader (perhaps he was the Imam) said that last night a woman had come forward, a non-Muslim woman, and given them $400 towards the reconstruction, and that many others had given as well.
(There was no bodily harm done in the bombing, it had gone off after everyone had left from evening prayers. I saw the plywood where the front entry had been blown out. Amazing that it will take, what did he say? $10,000 , maybe more, to repair. See below for how to donate.)
In the women's entry I took off my shoes and put them in the racks provided, and draped my head in the shawl I had brought for the purpose. (I was wearing a long dress, but turns out some Muslim women did wear pants, but no uncovered arms or heads.) Then I went on up the carpeted stairs. Once there I greeted salonistas and salon lurkers (Weekly subscribers) Regine Ransahof, Fanchon Shur, Lynn Haber, Judy Bechtol, Barbara Druffel Peters, Suzanne Clarke, Lisa Haglund, ... who am I forgetting? There were lots of us. I was thrilled. Karen Dabdoub, my friend from the Martin Luther King Coalition and head of the local Council on Islamic Relations (not exact name), a frequent spokeswoman for the Islamic Community here was so pleased to see us, greeting us warmly. Every time I explained to a congregant why I was there, tears came to my eyes. They were so appreciative of my, of our presence.
Karen said that the hurt that was caused by the bombing was more than healed by the outpouring of support from the community. It was music to my ears, though still seems hard to believe. It is such a horrible feeling, when your house of worship is attacked in a hate crime.
The leader spoke for about ten minutes, after having said some introductory prayers in Arabic. He said most of the (Cincinnati) community are good people. Said be careful, more careful...lock your car doors, because you never know when someone might try to throw a bomb into your car. (This made me so sad ... the fear.) They haven't decided yet whether to file claim and see their insurance rates jump.... He quoted some verses from the Koran that seemed relevant. I couldn't quite get the connection. There was the idea of treating your neighbor well, even when he doesn't treat you so well. Mohammed had a neighbor who regularly threw trash in his yard. Didn't like Mohammed's new religion. So one day suddenly the garbage throwing stopped. Turned out the man was ill. Mohammed said, "Let's go call on the guy, he's sick." And he did, and the guy was floored. And he became a Muslim. So you should do good even in response to bad acts. OK. I got that one. A story gets me every time.
Then he told everybody to line up on the left-right lines on the carpeting, touching shoulder to shoulder and they did about ten minutes of formal prayer, including times to stand up, times to sit on your heels, and times to touch your forehead on the rug, butt in the air. Then it was over, and we stood around talking to Karen and others. I told Karen I had heard that the correct term for the house of worship was Masjid, not Mosque. She said Masjid was the Arabic term, but that the English word was Masjid, a derivative of Masjid. I told her I had heard that Mosque was derived from mosquito and was a pejorative, but she said that was an urban legend and not true. We talked on the balcony so long we missed the exit of all the men, mostly, down below and I couldn't tell how many salonistas there were on the main floor, besides Bill whom I had see going in.
The people were black, white, and brown, and all were welcoming and friendly, appreciative of our presence and support. Attending the service was good for my xenophobia recovery, also. I had never been to a service, although I had visited the mosque before, as well as the one in Westchester, the huge complex visible from the highway. I told them, you are a Muslim congregation, and you are our Muslims. You are a part of our community and I am here to affirm that. They are not Iraqis, they are not Indonesians. They are Cincinnatians, Americans, and they are part of us. Yes. Ellen.
Jenefer Ellingston responds from D.C. Jenefer became my friend during her dozen or 20 years in Cincinnati married to Michael Carsiotis. She is the mother of Sitwell's habitué Adrian Carsiotis, co-founder of the Green Party of Washington D.C., a sparkling wit, a consumate poet, an unforgettable character. She is now 75.
Dear Ellen,
I just read your message below. I admit to shock ... foolishly believed mean-spirited, narrow minded Americans had surmounted their baser instinctual re-actions
to 9/11. I wonder how those same people re-acted to the pouring out of photos of US militarty torture of Arabs.
Christmyth here is very quiet. Just Damon and I together on Christmyth day... which if fine with me. Being almost 75, my enthusiasm for ritual celebration is fading.
I love the good work that you do ... spreading understanding and good will.
Until the end of '05 I will stand fast for social justice in DC - come 2006, and I will really re-retire for my sunset years.
By the way, lots of Green candidates in 06 for local and state offices... we are not about to disappear.
wish you well,
Jenefer
Jeanette Raichyk responds to the bombing:
Ellen, we have prior commitments out in Brown County tomorrow, but if we had been able to attend the service, we would have needed to know more about the Clifton Avenue area. Not sure if maybe my phonebook, handy at the moment, may be out of date, but I saw no listing to clarify what I see as missing data*. Curiously, the idea surfaced that maybe it wasn't safe to send the location of an Islamic site by email. You see how damaged is our trust in basic civil rights. Anyway I wanted you to know that some of your readers may also be wondering about the location, parking, etc.
I guess it's time to find the headbands my daughter made for me back in GulfWar I. You see, I'm a hood-wearer, just see them as a great idea, whether you're working in an office tower with large swings of temps between north and south offices, or you're menopausal and need to instantly adjust your wardrobe. So last war, when I worked in town and was more public, my hoods were immediately kuffiyahs with the addition of a simple but pretty headband. These days my tuberoom office is homebased, and winter requires another layer over my hood when we go out, but once indoors, as in a store, the image may be effective. I do have some real Saudi gear, but that's packed away now, my daughter gravitated instead to some African wear. I don't know what's available now in Cinci, but it might be both beautiful as well as wholesome to incorporate more ethnic, particularly Arabic at the moment, reminders of acceptance into our wardrobes. When we homeschooled, my daughter was fascinated with other cultures and we made a point of incorporating the best stuff, clothes, foods, household things and lifestyle ideas, we found in our searches into our own lives. Maybe we should propose it in the Salon newsletter? A nice mix of 21st century western and your choice of sensible ethnic peasant.
Jeanette
----------------------
* The Mosque Is listed in the pink part of the White pages directory as "The Islamic Association of Cincinnati" at 3668 Clifton Avenue, opposite the intersection of Clifton and McAlpin. Zip 45220, in case you'd like to make a donation. I wrote them a check when I was there. There is a huge parking lot behind the mosque, and overflow can use the one in the Clifton Elementary School. It did not occur to me that folks would have trouble finding it...sorry. Ellen
Noreen Loftus-Spillman sent me this cc. of her note to Karen Dabdoub:
Dear Karen,
I remember you from Mercer PTA. My son Brendan Whaley was a student in the
same grade as your daughters. I wish to let you know that although I cannot
be with you for services; I will be with you in spirit.
I am saddened by the violent acts which damaged your place of worship.
If there is something that I might do to be of service to you and your
community; please let me know.
You, your family and your religious community are in my prayers.
Salaam 'alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu *
(peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings)
Noreen Loftus-Spilman
----------
*Wow, Noreen! Am I ever impressed. Ellen
And... Don't miss the interesting article you want to read in blue section. It might be one of these:
- Who was at the table Monday 19 Dec., and the presentation by Kenn Deigh and Patricia Sheerin on Hellinger Systemic Constellation Work. Presentation by Mike Murphy on Peak Oil. Table Notes. Gene Bierhorst on bombs dropped on Iraq by U.S. Astounding!
- Jane Auer on why she isn't happy celebrating Hanukkah
- Todd Portune (and others) on the meaning of the give-over of Drake Hospital to Alliance
Hugs to all,
Ellen
•
Announcements:
(plus, see below for Weekly Events that repeat every week)
21/21 From Sierra Club:
ACT NOW TO KEEP ARCTIC OUT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS:
VOTES EXPECTED WEDNESDAY
After failed attempts to include Arctic Refuge drilling in the budget reconciliation, pro-drilling legislators have attached a drilling provision to the Defense Department funding bill. The House passed its version of the measure early Monday; the Senate could vote at any time.
ASK your Senators to remove Arctic drilling from the Defense Appropriations bill, even if it takes a filibuster. Thank Senator DeWine for his strong support of Arctic Protection thus far.
CALL SENATOR DeWine at 202-224-2315
CALL SENATOR Voinovich at 202-224-3353
A vote for the Arctic is not a vote against the nation's military. If Senator Johnson supports a filibuster to remove the Arctic drilling from the defense bill, it will have no effect -- none -- on U.S. troops in Iraq. Instead, congressional leaders will strip the Arctic provision from the defense bill, hold a quick conference and send it back to the House and Senate for passage, with no impact on the military's finances. Senator
Stevens himself stated that he could easily go back to conference and remove the Arctic drilling provision from the appropriations package.
Sierra Club
Member Services
85 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
http://www.sierraclub.org
COSTS OF the WAR
dynamite web page!
http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182
Below is a running total of the U.S. taxpayer cost of the Iraq War. The number is based on Congressional appropriations.
The War in Iraq Costs
$228,766,996,485 as of 12/24/05
This web site also compares these costs with things like the costs of education. Also breaks it down by region, state. Fabulous resource for helping people understand the terrible cost of th is awful war.
Thanks for this go to my brother Gene Bierhorst in NY.
1/11
Ohio State U. Sponsors Conference on LOCAL FOOD Growing/Consuming
(This one's for you, David Rosenberg!)
The Case for Local Food Systems
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006
A one-day conference sponsored by the Social Responsibility Initiative
In today¹s global marketplace, Arizona ships lettuce to Ohio and Ohio
ships food-grade soybeans to Japan.
But rising energy prices, increasing interest in local food
production¹s economic development opportunities, and consumer demand
for fresh and healthful local foods are combining to increase the
momentum for developing local food production and distribution systems in
Ohio.
"The Case for Local Food Systems," a one-day conference on Wednesday,
Jan. 11, in the Agricultural Administration Auditorium, (in Columbus, OH) will examine
the role local foods can play in contributing to Ohio¹s economic,
environmental, cultural and health-related climate.
The conference will showcase how Ohioans -- including an ice cream
entrepreneur, an Ohio State University vegetable crops researcher,
and a Cincinnati mom active in bringing local foods to local schools
-- already are working to help build such a system.
Linda and Fred Griffiths, well-known in the Cleveland area for their
cookbooks, television appearances and leaders of Slow Food¹s Northern
Ohio Convivium, are the luncheon speakers.
Registration is $25. Lunch is included.
To register or for more details, see http://sri.osu.edu/events.php or
click on the registration form pdf and program pdf at the end of this
message.
The Case for Local Food Systems is sponsored by the Social
Responsibility Initiative of the College of Food, Agricultural, and
Environmental Sciences and is co-hosted by the Department of Human
and Community Resources Development and the OSU Local/Regional Food
System Network.
Molly Bean Smith
Research Associate
Social Responsibility Initiative
The Ohio State University
New: Lloyd House Drum / Dance Weekly
Announcing new sessions of self-expression and manifestation
Movement Dance
Drumming - Instrumental improvisation
Chant - Sing
Facilitated by Ellen Bierhorst, David Dean and Paul Ravenscraft
Every Saturday evening, beginning in 2006, from
7 9 pm at the historic Lloyd House in Clifton.
First session: January 7, 2006
The address is 3901 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220. These experiential sessions will be held in the zendo on the 3rd floor.
Bring your passion!
Bring your body, your voice and other instruments of art.
What exactly will we be doing? It¹s up to those who attend.
Come help us create the experience!
There is no cover charge. A suggested donation of $5 will be much appreciated, in supporting the ongoing availability of this wonderful facility.
For more information:
Email corvus@fuse.net or call 513-221-4188
Email ellenbierhorst@lloydhouse.com
12/18
Alan Hundley to offer "Tai Chi for Arthritis" at the Lloyd House
6 weekly classes, afternoons, $60, starting in January.For more information contact Alan: ahundley@fuse.net
Good for people who do not have arthritis as well.
12/17
We have lost and found items at the salon... things like serving pieces, bowls, pot holders. I've been putting dates on them. When they have sat here three months I say, let's have an auction. If I remember, on Monday we will auction them off for heat bill money. (grin). Ellen
12/24
Calling for Dancers, especially those with Muslim background:
Contemporary Dance Choreographer
Fanchon Shur
is choreographing a new dance called ³All That Breathes², which highlights the healing between the people of many religious and cultural backgrounds.
³All That Breathes² is set in the Œgolden age¹ of Spain. It celebrates that era when Islamic Moors and the Jews and Christians were collaborating with one another in the arts, medicine, philosophy, mathematics, science and poetry.
We are encouraging dancers with Muslim background to be in the choreography.
For more information go to: www.growthinmotion.org
You can call or email Fanchon Shur with questions and/or interest at:
(513) 221-3222 fanchon@fuse.net
12/18
Children!
Calling for Singers, Grades 4 - 8
Multicultural Youth Choir
An opportunity for young people to participate in the all-city MLK Day celebration and sing on the stage of Music Hall. Exciting, beautiful fun music, excellent way to build healing in Cincinnati across our many communities.
Cathy Roma and Todd O'Neal directing:
Tues. Jan 10: 6 - 8 pm
at House Of Joy, 5918 Hamilton Ave in College Hill
Sat. Jan 14, 10-11 am House of Joy
Monday, Jan 16: 11 am (rehearsal) to 2 pm (end of performance) at Music Hall
"A diverse gathering of young people from various public schools, churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues will learn and sing two pieces with the Martin Luther King Coalition Chorale. This mass chorus will be joined by members of the Clark Montessori Steel Drum Band."
No try-out required; just come!
12/18
Ed Gutfrund does workshops, Jan, Feb, March
(Ed is terrific. I don't know Mark. ellen)
Friends & Colleagues--
Ed Gutfreund is a Bodyworker and Psychotherapist, and Mark Davis is a
Bodyworker and Wellness Coach. Both are based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ed and Mark offer workshops for Bodyworkers, Psychotherapists, Counselors,
Physicians, Pastoral Counselors and Caregivers, and all health and
wellness professionals. These workshops explore meditative and
contemplative approaches to deepening the experience and improving the
outcomes in therapeutic relationships for both clients and therapists
alike.
Upcoming workshops:
* January 14--Presence for Bodyworkers
* February 11--Presence for Pastoral Counselors and Caregivers
* March 4--Presence for Psychotherapists and Counselors
Contact info:
* web: http://presencepractice.com
* email: info@presencepractice.com
* phone: (513) 542-6917
Presence describes our capacity for being awake and aware within our
experience. To be present is to be connected to and inseparable from our
internal experience, relationship with others and with the world. Being
effective in relationship can be a function of the degree of one's
capacity to stay present, especially so for those working in therapeutic
alliance.
Presence workshops explore the theory and practice of staying connected
and aware in therapeutic relationship. The workshop environment is
conversational and experiential as we explore:
* techniques from both contemplative spiritual and contemporary
psychotherapeutic traditions that build one's capacity for remaining
focused and mindful
* particular obstacles that arise for those in therapeutic roles
* exercises that help integrate these approaches into daily work with
clients and patients.
Presence workshops can help health and wellness professionals:
* be more effective as therapists
* experience more fulfilling work with clients
* maintain healthy and appropriate boundaries
* improve self care and self management
* reduce caretaking fatigue and burnout
Please see our website for further information or contact us via email or
phone. We would also appreciate your forwarding this message to any
colleagues who might be interested. And let us know at
info@presencepractice.com if you would prefer not to receive occasional
workshop updates.
We are in the process of opening our new office suite at 951 W North Bend
Road in Cincinnati and have treatment rooms available for leasing by
health and wellness professionals. We also have a friend in Hamilton, Ohio
with practice space available. Let us know if you're interested in either.
Thanks,
Ed and Mark
1/12
Salonistas Mara Helmuth and Alan Bern to perform:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mara Helmuth <mara.helmuth@uc.edu>
To: Womens Professional Network <womensnetwork@hotmail.com>
Subject: Jan 12 - Mara Helmuth recital
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:23:16 -0500
>Hi all, I'd like to let you know about an upcoming recital of my
>compositions -
>
>8:00 pm, Jan. 12, 2006
>Cohen Family Studio Theater
>CCM, University of Cincinnati
>(parking in CCM garage or on Calhoun)
>free admission
>
>the program contains interactive and electroacoustic works:
>
>The Man and the Moon, collaborative work with Alan Bern (of Brave
>Old World), accordion
>Smoke, collaborative work with Rick VanMatre, saxophone, with
>graphite painting installation by Anna VanMatre
>Where is My Voice? with Steve Sunderland, text
>Percussion Group Cincinnati (Allen Otte, James Culley, Russell
>Burge) will perform.
>possible appearances by Diane Wasnak and Michele Gingras
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1/12
Local Psychologist, Jungian, and Shaman SUSAN CREW to give seminar:
Dreams & Creativity
This exciting course will allow each participant to connect with the "artist within" that creates stories, dramas and images each night in dream time. It is also a powerful way to tap into that part of yourself that loves to play & knows just what you are to become.
We will delve into our dream life through making art. We will paint, draw, make stories, create dramas. Each person will have opportunities to share one of her or his dreams with the group, as a focus of our work.
6 WEEKDAY Sessions, 1/12/06 through 3/2/06, 12:00 to 2:00 pm (no class on 1/26 and 2/16). $99.00 at Essex Studios
Registration required at least 5 days in advance. Full fee of $99.00 due at time of registration. Min. 5, max. 8 participants.
Susan B. Crew, Ph.D.
513-559-1193
www.numinousity.net
1/17/06
Save the date: Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Music Hall, noon, 17 January.
Huge chorale of multi cultural singers under direction of Cathy Roma and Todd O'Neal. 100 children (from all rainbow of different communities in the city) singing with on three numbers. Keynote address by the most eloquent Bp. E. Lynne Brown of the 1st District C.M.E. Church. Courtis Fuller as M.C. Mark Mallor to bring brief greetings. I always sing in the chorale and it is a blast, having rehearsals every two weeks during the fall, but the celebration on MLK Day is a lift off! Imagine singing "We shall overcome" and "Lift Every Voice" with 2,000 people in Music Hall. Over by 2:00 pm. Come. It's free, but a collection plate is passed to fund the next year's overhead. All participants are volunteers. ellen
And, if you really want to get in the King spirit, come first to the outdoors traditional civil rights march, at 11:15, this year starting at Washington Park between Race and Elm at 13th st. opposite Music Hall. Brief greetings at the gazebo, then m arch down Race to Central Parkway, up behind Music Hall, around to front door of Music Hall on Elm.
Want to do it up brown? Attend the Dreamkeepers Breakfast, at Music Hall ballroom starting 8 am, $30, the principal fund raiser for the Arts Consortium. This year the Arts Consortium has moved from Lynn st. to the Union Terminal building, continuing their fine work bringing music, dance, visual arts, drumming, etc. with an African slant to children in the community. This is a primo black community event, with all the movers and shakers, entertainment, speeches, awards to several prominent leaders given. Show your support. Order tickets: 381-0645. Want to show huge support? Buy a table for 6 for $300. You'll get group recognition.
Cathy Roma and St. John's Music Series
Jan 28, Sat. 8 pm
Sonic Om: Indian Percussion and Dance music
with Kanniks Kannikeswaren and friends
St. John's U. Church on320 Resor Ave 45220
$10 students and seniors, $17.50 others
Free Childcare
9 April 3 pm
Proud and Peaceful: A concert featuring Piano, Voice, and Comedy: Alix Thio, John Wright, Steve Mallory and Terry LaBolt
St. John's U. Church on320 Resor Ave 45220
$10 students and seniors, $17.50 others
Free Childcare
Weekly Events that repeat every week:
12/10
Need a cool gift? For someone else or... for yourself?
Neil Anderson gives a fantastic massage. Give a half hour or full hour massage with Neil at the Lloyd House. Can't be beat. Massage is a health and vigor restorer, a tool for self empowerment, a wonderful way to be nurtured, ... good for what ails you, man woman or child. Call him.
559-1726.
Reasonable rates.
Alan Bern calls Neil a "massage virtuoso". It's true. ellen
12/18
THE VEGETARIAN CATERER in Northside
(LOCATED INSIDE APJONES PIZZA)
Specializing in Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes & Bakegoods
Vegan Pizza , Hoagies & Sandwiches
Decorated cakes & cookies made to order
Let us cater your next party or event
Appetizers, Entrees, Soups, Salads & Desserts
Mawusi Tafari, Owner & Vegetarian
4252 Fergus Street
(Located behind the AP Jones Café¹)
Phone: (513)542-VEGE(8343)
³The Fruit of the Spirit Is Love²
11/12
Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center Events:
IJPC's Peace Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening, December 21, is CANCELLED. We'll see everyone back at the January meeting January 18.
Women in Black will NOT meet on Monday, December 26. In January the time for the weekly peace witness will change to 4:30 - 5:30 PM. The day - every Monday - remains the same. Hopefully the time change will add light and warmth to the event.
Everyone at IJPC wishes you happiness as you celebrate during this holiday and holyday season. Best wishes for a 2006 filled with peace and justice. Blessings on you and those you love.
IJPC's office will be closed from December 24 to January 3.
Remember WOMEN IN BLACK VIGILS continue weekly
Mondays
5-6 pm
Grassy island at corner of Vine St. and Central Pkwy
Wear black or dark- colored clothes.
All are welcome!
513-579-8547
12/3/05
Tender Yoga with Nonegenarian Phil Nightingale
St. John's Unitarian Church on Resor Ave in Clifton
Tuesdays 10:00 - 11:30
Easy, gentle yet effective yoga for "the rest of us". No one too old, too infirm, too stiff for this class.
11/21/05
buddha dharma study group
New group formed at Lloyd House to study the Buddhist scriptures from the original (most ancient) Pali texts.
Saturday mornings 9:30 - 11:00 (We will skip New Year's Eve, 12/31. Next session will be Jan. 7).
We will be slowly working our way through "In the Buddha's Words", translated and with introductions by Bikhu Bodhi
with foreward by the Dalai Lama.
This is a tasty little group. We will give you a copy of the book. Come join us!
Format:
9:30, arrive, remove shoes, come up to the (beautifl) third floor meditation room.
9:45: meditation for ten minutes
9:50: the leader for the week reads the short passage, next in sequence. Then the leader shares her/his reactions and thoughts. Then we go around the circle, everyone sharing or passing. No interruptions. After everyone who wants has given their response, we have open discussion until 11:00.
11:00: tea in the dinning room.
We have a web forum. Richard Blumberg has been studying this material for years. I love to listen to him explain it. He is the guy who gave that excellent introduction to Buddhism last year at the salon.
I have been meditating for decades, but had never studied the sutras. This is a treat! ellen
12/3
Good Odd Jobs Man Available Cheap
Noli Tobias, age 31, Philippino man, Physical Therapist awaiting U.S.
licensure. Married to Vietnamese woman, U.S. citizen. Has social security card.
Will work for $8 / hour. Housecleaning, maintenance jobs, yard work, etc.
I have met Noli and like him a lot. Spencer and friends have hired Noli doing moving and doing housepainting. They affirm that he is reliable, intelligent, pleasant, competent, quick. Such a deal! ellen
Announcement. Dr. John A. Kelly is beginning a local speaking tour on Healing the Racial divide. he is available to speak to your church or group.John completed his training at the Layministry Academy of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church on June 1. Dr. Kelly has a degree in Sociology from West Virginia State University, a traditionally black institution. He earned his master of social work degree at West Virginia University. John earned his doctorate in counselor education at the University of Cincinnati specialializing in multicultural counseling. He is a member of the board of directors of the Reconciling Ministries of the United Methodist Church. He is also on the board of directors of the Unity House World Peace Center. Dr. Kelly will present for the benefit of a love offering. Please contact him to schedule a speaking date at 242-7088; John is a member of the salon.
- end of Announcements -
Articles
TABLE NOTES F ROM MONDAY 19 DECEMBER, 2005
At the table Monday , 12/19/05: Dan Hershey, Chad Benjamin Potter, Judy Cirillo, Shirley Reischman, Patricia Sheerin, Janet Kalven, Dallas, Fish, Diane Fishbein, Brian Muldoon, Kenn Deigh, Mike Murphy, Vlasta Molak, Shari Able, Kate Kelly, Alan Bern, Steve Sunderland, Mira Rodwan, Ellen Bierhorst , Nikki Orleman, Neil Anderson
Announcements:
Steve: suspension of the US constitution today.
Dan: Bush News Conference. ³I am above the law; I can do what I want because I am saving you.² ³I have to become a dictator in order to save your rights.² I believe that the country will now focus on this evil. Recommend we call for end to this. Must be a challenge in the Supreme Ct., soon.
Steve: has authorized spying on suspected Al Queda terrorists.
I will draft a letter, for the Weekly next week. Edit it on Monday. (I have not received Steve¹s draft, probably due to his Peace Village activities in response to the Mosque bombing.)
Alan: several friends in Germany, headline news for a week, this German who was captured by CIA, tortured in Syria.
Shari: Bush talked of Alito as an eminent judge, much experience. :
Kenn: the Patriot Act did not pass.
Steve: it was sad that we did not have a journalist of stature to stand up to him today.
Mike: Jack Anderson just died. He thought white house press conf. waste of time.
Mike: Short Presentation on Peak Oil
We have brought out half the earth¹s oil reserves. That¹s why we are in Iraq. That¹s why we support some terrible dictators. ...we in US get 80% from fossil fuel, 14% from renewables. ... Hydrogen is not a feasible option, it takes energy to make it, and the infrastructure is too leaky.Shale oil, tar sands, takes too much heated water to get the oil from it; also tons of pollution.
Methane hydrate: algae, fall to bottom of ocean, cold down there, frozen. So much of this down there; a potential source of energy. The End of Fossil Energy and a last chance for sustainability.
John Howe. This is the best primer. Colin Campbell is quoted, ... depletion is simple. Irish Pub. Only so many more drinks before closing time. Œ94 founded Association for the study of Peak Oil.
Howe is a retired engineer. Here is a photo of him on his Solar tractor.
Second best author on the subject : Richard Heinberg The Party¹s Over and Power Down. (We have two copies of Power Down in the Lloyd House lending library. Come get Œem! ellen)
Diane: what should we be doing and thinking?
Mike: How about this. We could have a series of conferences here and invite the AEA (Local energy group, John Robbins and Jeanette Raichyk are co-chairs. Join online; google search Alternative Energy Association Cincinnati) and get them to help us learn how to ratchet down to 20% of our current energy budget. We only have 20 to 50 years (until there is zero petroleum. Already now we are in the period of soaring prices. Ellen). If we start now we¹ll be ahead of the game. Communities that share and care and teach others to become sustainable.
Three Principles of Sustainability:
Power down; Go Local; Build Communities. THis is the way to survive.
Think of your local community as h aving a 25 mile radius.
Heinberg: The Party¹s Over
Civilization as we know it is ending. Is this awful or great? Both. The new society depends on our actions. An empowering situation. Empowering for individuals, small groups.
Heinbefrg: Power Down. Much data.
I attended conference by Stelle, an intentional community in Stelle IL, first weekend in Dec.
(Pat Murphy --head of the group Community Solution in Yellow Springs who sponsored the Peak Oil conference there in September and in Œ04 in November-- gave a biblical quote and the room exploded after I objected. We lost half a day wrangling.)
I would like to see us have a series of conferences here in Cincinnati (at the Lloyd House?) to gnaw on this bone.
We need all to begin to do concrete things to reduce power usage. ... Have ongoing gatherings. City wide. Gather people like Jeannette Raichyk and John Robbins. Strategies.
Shirley: Green Ohio is a good group doing this work
.
Mike: we need to rethink how we live. Get along on 20% the energy we now are using.
Alan: the American mentality about energy conservation is so different from the European one. ICE train, like bullet trains in Japan, in Germany. A brochure on the energy savings. They use braking energy to generate electricity. In US they don¹t want to save energy, but rather want to use as much as possible. Where are our tax breaks? they are for SUVs!
Vlasta: Europeans and Japanese use half as much energy as we use here. And have a better life.
We could conserve up to 75% by using simple, doable tactics. Less car use; plant trees for shade and winter wind shield. Simple, doable things. Europeans are working towards hydrogen fuel cells. ... want to use renewable.
Kenn it is the oil cos. who are saying hydrogen is not feasible. It is just because they cannot make enough profits with hydrogen cells.
Alan: the book The War Against the Truth author claims that France, China, Russia had signed Euro based oil contracts with Iraq. This would erode the dollar. So he thinks that is really why we went to war.
Mike: as a group of thinking people we need to go beyond criticizing the status quo, but we can have a hand in designing the future. The White House et al are wrong, asleep.
Alan: I think they do know, not asleep; they are going just where they want. Collapse of governmental services, bring on a new era of private services (like water, etc.) and the rich will live well while everyone else will suffer.
Shirley: James has a video, The end of suburbia, which talks about Peak Oil. Has some suggestions. (Ellen: the Lloyd House bought a copy of this DVD and we could watch it any time again.)
Hellinger Systemic Constellation Work: an introduction by Ken Deigh and Patricia Sheerin
Patricia: Shiatsu; yoga teacher;
Kenn: (I have known Kenn for many years. L.M.T., shaman, presents a lot at Starwood pagan festival, used to have a Lily sensory deprivation tank. A knock out guy. Ellen)
My Good friend in Berlin, got into this 6 yrs ago. Flipped over it. We were giving a shamanic tour in Cornwall. She lead us in constellation work in the evenings. Then we trained intensively at the institute. Heinz Stark trained us. He is in Germany at the Stark institute.
It flies in the face of rationality.
Phenomenological practice; we try to avoid theory. When we put too much theory, it stops working.
Sitting around in a big circle and say you want to get something in your life changed?
Ask a few questions. then choose someone of our circle to represent yourself, other key players, and place them intuitively in the circle. This creates a ³field², energetically. Then we sit and watch.
Amazingly, those people representing you, others, start feeling things; might need to pull towards or away f rom another of the figures.
It is not necessary for the representatives to know anything about constellation work or about your family. Not even necessary for the representative to know who they are representing.
If we can change our perspective on our family of origin, it can make large changes in how we can function or what choices we make. Can take roadblocks away.
So we sit back and observe. Open the door so your soul can move forward.
You ask the representers what they are feeling. Typically turns out that is how the character in the actual constellation typically expresses.
There is generally one client at a time, but the field is such powerful medicine, all the people in the room get helped.
Levels of participation: client: a person who has some stuck issue you want worked on. You offer that as a focus.
People who are willing to be representatives, willing to stand in the place of ³the father² etc. No experience needed. Can even have representatives for abstract concepts.
You can use soul retrieval with constellation work.
Started 20 y ears ago, Bert Hellinger who had been a missionary with the Zulu in S. Africa. There is a strong reference for ancestors in the work, and that comes from Zulu tradition.
There are orders of love. Ways that things go together that work.
... I had bitter judgment towards my mother. Since doing this work, I feel happy and more successful.
Life flows from grandparents to parents to us.
Your parents gave you a gift you cannot possibly return: life. Everyone who gives us a gift we cannot return is ³bigger² than us.
Victims and perpetrators are always bound together.
Mike: There is a process called ³Radical Forgiveness². fit?
Kenn: no. someone who is further down on the orders of life to forgive someone higher then them disturbs the order of life. It is not the child¹s place to forgive the parent. Instead, you leave the problem with the parent / ancestor.
Mira: truth and reconciliation process in S. Africa. I have been amazed and thrilled to see how this works.
Kenn: they have done a lot of constellation work and it has helped a lot.
³I see you, I see that you are big and I am small. I acknowledge you for being big.²
(At 8:00 pm about 8 of us went up to the third floor Zendo with Kenn and Patricia and we did some actual constellations. I witnessed the first, which I found very moving and personally healing. The second was with a friend ³working² and I heard all about it later. It was life changing for her and she is really thrilled. ellen)
For more information on Soul Solutions with Ken Day and Patricia
Sheerin email enki@one.net or call (513) 481-3080. The next workshop
will be held at the Vernon Manor on Saturday January 21, 2006.
12/24/05
Gene Bierhorst on the sheer volume of bombs dropped on Iraq
12/12/05
Hi, Richard and Joan (Blumberg),
Several weeks ago when I heard Alex's fine piece on the number of
Iraqis we have killed, (the Blulmberg's son Alex is co producer of "This American Life" on radio) he said 50,000 bombs dropped. I thought that was
amazing and important and just wished he'd somehow found a way to repeat
that point a lot.
Now, the New Yorker article last week by Seymour Hersh says 1/2
million tons of explosives dropped by one Marine air wing alone. In
Iraq. On Iraq.
1/2 million tons. One ton is 4 times 500 pounds. So 1/2 million
times 4 = 2 million 500-pound bombs. Two million big bombs.
While I'm sure Alex is on top of this info...it can't hurt to mention
this to him just in case he's missed it.
He is onto an awfully important topic and I hope he'll be able to
keep updating it.
--Gene (Bierhorst, my brother in N.Y.)
12/24
Jane Auer on Hanukkah
(Jane is one of the most learned Jewish laypersons I have ever known. Lives in Lexington and, God love her, she reads the Weekly. Recently she said she had decided they should observe Kwanza instead of Hanukkah. You should know Jane is the daughter of a prominent Massachusetts Rabbi, Herman Schneider of blessed memory. Highly observant, elegant Reform Jewish family, got it? So when she said she was abandoning Hanukkah I wrote and asked her to explain to me, and for us at the Weekly. Here's what she aswered:)
Unfortunately I learned a little more about Kwanzaa. It falls short of my needs. *
The Great Sin of the 20th century (and it looks like its going to be in the 21st) is nationalism. There can be little doubt (and I welcome correction) that all misery that we have witnessed has its roots in it.
Therefore I refuse to celebrate Hanukkah- a nationalist holiday that is repulsive. O sure-the Maccabees were great soldiers with a lot of interesting gory guerilla tactics. But their success ushered in an age of nationalism and ethnic purity (proof of maternal Judaism all the way back to Babylon.) They hated Hellenism. What is great about that? There is a very good reason that this venture has been dumped into the Apocrypha. Apparently the editor of the Mishnah so despised this devotion to the fundamentalist Hasmoneans that it is barely mentioned in the Mishnah. He wanted to drop Purim and Tisha B'av as well. In this awful age of fundamentalism and totalitarian government, I sure as hell am not going to give a nod to atrocity.
I have been ambushed, however, by a three year old who goes to a nursery school that has never knowingly had a Jew in their midst. His mother (Jane and Steve's Daughter Debbie) made a point that Santa Claus was NOT coming to their house. So, very lovingly, the school included Chanukah on the not-to-be-missed list. He became more and more excited about lights. His brothers found my logic cogent-as long as presents would still be involved in what has become known as 'Jane's moveable feast.' So this year we will light lights and retell the story-but include the reality of what it meant. In other words, we acknowledge our deep sorrow and shame. And we will not reduce it to the ritual of the 10 plagues--not yet anyway.
Steve sends his love.
Jane
---------------------------
* I had to guffaw when I read this. YOu don't know Jane, but since I do, I know this line "Falls short of my needs" is loaded with napalm. Love that Jane. ellen
12/24
Nancy Dawley updating us on the Drake Hospital Privatization
Rather than summarizing the issue, I thought I'd include all of Todd Portune's letter to David Wells of the Cincinnati Enquirer written 12/09/05 regarding moving the management of Drake Hospital from Hamilton County to Health Alliance. That way you can view all of the pieces of Todd's disagreement with the move and what problems he foresees with the change. The vote has already passed, 2:1.
From: todd <msn://@mail.mar@/compose.htm?NW=true&mailto:tportune@zoomtown.com>
To: david wells <msn://@mail.mar@/compose.htm?NW=true&mailto:dwells@enquirer.com>
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 10:15 AM
Subject: Fw: Drake Hospital
Dear David:
I am forwarding to you the current proposed agreements dealing with Drake Hospital that the Board of County Commissioners may vote upon on Monday morning. I say "may" because in my conversation with Ken Hanover last evening he expressed reservations about several of the provisions in these documents and said that if they represent the "agreement" then there is no agreement yet.
And so it goes.
I will admit that I have not yet made up my mind about these documents in their entirety. I do have serious questions about several of their provisions that I will detail for you.
Regardless of those I respectfully urge you to consider weighing in on calling for an appropriate Public Hearing at Drake Hospital to permit a careful and thoughtful public airing of the issue. I have repeatedly asked that the Board permit a public Hearing at Drake Hospital so that those residents at Drake, who may have the keenest interest of all in what will happen to the institution, will have an opportunity to confront their government and voice their opinion. To date I have been rebuffed by the Board. I believe it unconscionable to refuse to accommodate people with disabilities about this issue.
I regret as well that the substance of the debate has now turned to become a focus on executive salaries or bonuses. I agree that the existing salary of Bobbie Bradford appears high and that her severance package is out of line. Ken Hanover said on Monday that they retainer bonuses to Nolan, Sutton and Zoellner were in line with what is reasonable when you need to retain key upper management during a transition.
But in any event those compensation packages are not the reason for the transfer nor do they jeopardize the delivery of care at Drake. And that is the real issue here. So rather than beating up on Bobbie Bradford some more we really should remain focused on what this deal means to the ability of Hamilton County to assure quality care and good outcomes for people who have sustained catastrophic injuries that cannot be treated or rehabilitated profitably.
I have no qualms about the Health Alliance other than there are issues about their treatment of employees from a benefit and wage perspective. That approach is sure to be applied to Drake where the agreements contemplate a termination of the employee benefit plan and a reduction in wages. Doing so will of course result in the loss of some employees and have impact on morale. The impact on quality of care is more difficult to ascertain but will, at some level, be felt.
The Alliance undoubtedly brings a level of efficiency and economy to the picture that Drake as a stand alone facility could not do for itself. That will bring a benefit financially. How much of one, and whether it can be sustained during a time when there is no levy, also remains to be seen.
Commissioner Heimlich has made numerous assertions during this debate that have been proven to be untrue. The most prominent of these was his assertion last week that the Health Alliance has demonstrated that Drake Hospital can be run and provide the same level of care without taxpayer support. They have done nothing of the sort. The Alliance desires to have $42.8 Million of taxpayer money over the next four years. They had wanted the ability to get up to another $15 Million over four years until the Commissioners created such pressure that the HA decided to absorb it and hope for the best. It is not the least bit informative about the extent of Commissioner Heimlich's shaded assertions that the HA, after all of the scrutiny, as recently as two weeks ago still felt that Drake required about a $13.5 Million annual subsidy - the exact amount the voters thought they were voting for one year ago but withheld by the Board in contravention of the 2004 election and results.
Heimlich also asserted that the Drake Board would confirm what he said when they spoke at the Public Hearing. Again he was wrong. Board Member Kevin Flynn said that Drake management had done a pretty good job and had pared expenses down to within a few hundred thousand dollars of being covered with the taxpayer levy. He said that the biggest cost issue that Drake had were stand alone expenses that the hospital had to incur that would go away if it was a party of the Alliance, but those were not mismanagement issues.
The Alliance, incidentally, confirms this. The best evidence is everyone's assertion that Drake is a gem. Assuming that to be true it does not square with it being mismanaged as grossly as my Commissioner colleagues would assert.
There were inefficiencies. Those were recognized last year and management committed to addressing them. Management committed during this levy term to do more. Management had trimmed about $5 Million in annual expenses this year to meet the Levy approved $13.5 Million annual subsidy. Management was doing what the voters of Hamilton County asked them to do
And also bear in mind, what Phil and Pat and Chris Finney and COAST and everybody on that side of the ledger wanted last year was NO LEVY SUPPORT at all for Drake. They wanted the levy to die. And they felt that Hamilton County's support for such was wrong. They said that no other hospital like Drake in Ohio had a similar arrangement. And they felt all of this should end immediately.
Had they had their way Drake would be in crisis today and with it the delivery of health care in our community. The voters voted and approved a levy that was $16 Million LESS than the levy that had been in place. Drake was getting $28 Million less than what the TLRC recommended. Financial reform was happening in a big way and commitments to do more had been made.
So for Phil to claim that what is happening today is what he intended all along is just plain wrong. He wanted nothing for Drake. Instead the institution, with a positive taxpayer vote, is moving forward with the reforms intended and promised and working on doing more.
So, in the end, where does it all stand and what is still at issue.
For one thing, the future of Drake as an institution to fulfill its full mission as envisioned by the voters is in jeopardy. The Health Alliance's commitment to Drake's Mission extends only so long as the term of the financial support agreement. After that all bets are off. The Alliance will, I think, do its best. But in the end they are subject to the limits of their resources. Outside of the loss of Drake levy support the Alliance is facing an uncertain Medicare reimbursement environment and a tax levy review of the indigent care levy that, I am told, will provide decreases in levels of support, not even inflationary increases. The Alliance will be hard pressed to do what Drake has become.
The agreements attached call for no further levy support. They bind the county to not seek levy support and for Drake and the Alliance to refuse to ask. The Agreements also write out the voters and taxpayers of Hamilton County from having any rights or interests in this even though it has been the voters and the taxpayers who have made Drake what it is and who have a vested interest in the outcome because of their support.
Two Commissioners' political agenda of eliminating a tax levy in Hamilton County that they did not like will jeopardize a voter approved health care delivery system.
What could change to alleviate concern?
Number one, let the voters and Drake residents an opportunity to meaningful review and debate. If the deal is a good one it should survive. If not, then it will be made better. Inherent in the Commissioners' approach of secrecy is a real disdain for the public and a disregard for the vote and the integrity of an election. There are broader issues at stake here beyond Drake hospital that we all should be concerned about. The first of these is the integrity of elections. In addition is the "behind closed doors" aspect. The people have been shut out. Even the Health Care Commission, that was supposed to report on Drake did not. Its mission was changed without a vote of the Board despite a Board approved and directed responsibility. How did that happen and who was involved? And then, there is the legal requirement that the Attorney General approve this. Given Phil is Petro'd Lt. Governor choice what does that mean or what issues does it raise?
Second, eliminate the provisions that bind all parties against seeking any levy support if needed in the future. I have had many in-depth conversations with Ken Hanover. I sincerely believe he is committed to doing all he can to lower costs and maintain Drake fully. But in the end he is limited to what he can do or guarantee. There is no reason not to trust him or not to trust future Boards of Commission. Leave it blank on whether future levy support is needed Let the Alliance and future Commissioners and voters of Hamilton County to decide that issue. Excluding the voters and taxpayers from having any rights and binding future Boards and the Alliance from seeking support at any level may be illegal. But regardless of that why do it? Let the Alliance do its work in a responsible manner and allow the health professionals to make that determination at the right time four years from now.
Third, even this aspect of the deal must be approved by the Attorney General. AG review and approval arises out of changes in control, not just based on a sale or some such. Accordingly, the Interim Control Agreement; this reorganization agreement, all should have been presented to the Attorney General for review by now yet have not been. They should, and its 60 day review period should begin.
To do otherwise truly inserts two Commissioners' views over that of the electorate and contrary to the expressed will of, and certified vote of, the people.
David, I know this is long. I do not expect it to appear as a letter or guest column. But the issues expressed and the facts of the situation are important for you to have a complete picture of the issues involved and at stake. Thank you for your time and attention.
I hope you'll call for a hearing at Drake. And I hope you'll encourage reformation of the agreements that allow the Alliance to determine whether it needs more help in the future based upon the then status of health care, and not based on the political agenda of county commissioners.
Sincerely,
Todd Portune
==============================
12/24
Elizabeth Motter on Drake Deal:
To everyone concerned about the Drake Hospital deal:
Carrie Davis has started a website with a petition for citizens to sign if they are concerned about this whole debacle. Below are the links. Please pass it around. Carrie says this issue is not yet a done deal, that we can petition the Ohio Attorney General. Let's fight it.
http://www.savedrake.com/
http://new.petitiononline.com/drake/petition.html
Brilliant letter, Bill. Thank you. I got the same form-letter response from Heimlich to my communication over this, but haven't had time to respond. You did a great job!
Elizabeth Motter
Bill Joiner wrote:
Commissioner Heimlich,
Thank you for your response.
Unfortunately I cannot agree with you. Drake Hospital is a public
entity and is accountable to the public. It is my understanding that
there were several studies of the financial management of Drake, and
most of those concluded it was well managed. The public expressed
its confidence in the Hospital and its management by passing the bond
levy. My further understanding is that although some studies
indicated that greater efficiencies could be introduced, none used
your language that they were "mismanaging the hospital's finances and
by wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money".
After the Hospital is taken over by the Health Alliance it will no
longer be a public entity, and it will no longer be accountable to
the public. I have spoken to someone involved with the Health
Alliance management and understand that this was a strategic
acquisition for them because they have a number of patients in their
higher cost facilities that they wish to offload into a lower cost
long term care facility like Drake. Thus their interests are not
necessarily those of the public's.
The fact that the Drake Board approved the deal is not very
impressive when one considers that you stacked the deck by appointing
to that Board your allies in trying to defeat the Drake levy.
Your supposed concern for fiscal responsibility loses all credibility
from the fact that in your rush to complete the take-over you did not
negotiate and guarantee in advance a price for the facilities
representing their actual worth.
You further showed your disrespect for the public by not holding
multiple hearings which were at convenient times and locations for
public participation.
You aspire to higher elected office. Do you believe that disregard
for the electorate, disregard for the worth of property built and
supported with public funds, and the uncaring regard for the public
interest in pursuing your single minded purpose of killing taxes that
pay for investments in needed public services qualify you for those
ambitions? I certainly do not, and I believe that when voters
outside Hamilton County understand that, many will agree with me.
Respectfully,
William Joiner
On Dec 23, 2005, at 11:12 AM, Heimlich, Phil (Republican Co. Commissioner) wrote:
>
> Dear Mr. Joiner,
>
> Thank you for your e-mail. It is safe to assume that when
> Hamilton
> County voters voted to support Drake Center, they were voting to
> keep the
> hospital in business. Unfortunately, despite the generous public
> support,
> independent health care experts confirmed that Drake's management had
> created a financial situation that was not sustainable. They did
> this by
> mismanaging the hospital's finances and by wasting millions of
> dollars in
> taxpayer money. This is most recently evidenced by the $2.3
> million in
> severance and bonus payments the top four executives received,
> money that
> should have gone to patient care.
>
> The two parties primarily responsible for running Drake
> Hospital the
> Drake Board of Trustees and the University of Cincinnati, both
> agree that
> the Health Alliance takeover is the best solution to keep the
> service at
> Drake intact. From the patient's standpoint, nothing will change
> at Drake
> except that it will survive and, once again, become the premier
> ambulatory
> hospital that our community has relied upon since 1989.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Phil Heimlich
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Joiner [mailto:
> Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 10:49 PM
> To: phil.heimlich@hamilton-co.org
> Subject: Drake Hospital
>
>
> Commissioner Heimlich,
>
> Please know that your behavior with respect to Drake Hospital, and
> your disrespect for voters in Hamilton County, will encourage me, as
> well as many other voters to work very hard against your future
> elections WHATEVER offices you may ever run for.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> William Joiner
>
> This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole
> use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain private,
> confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized
> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are
> not the intended recipient, employee or agent responsible for
> delivering this message, please contact the sender by reply e-
> and destroy all copies of the original e-mail message.
>
end of articles
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