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	Author of: A Three-Turtle Summer As Brown As I Want: The Indianhead Diaries Custer and His Naked Ladies Bears in the Hibiscus Free Pecan Pie  and Other Chick Stories Janelle Meraz Hooper In the past, I was active on park boards, charities, land use, and politics. But I've mellowed. Lately, most of my volunteer work has been on the Internet, but that doesn't mean it has been boring! Just last week, I did some volunteer work for a Japanese University who is printing educational comic books for children, and communicated with the Comanche tribe on a similar idea. I also mentor writers, of all ages. That's because I'm old, and I know stuff.  Look below...I have all this space left over. I'd better get busy!

	Sue Robinson, author   HEALTH CARE REFORM IS THIS DIVIDE AND CONQUER?                                                             S. J. Robinsin   The argument on health care reform is usually stated as, “Should we reform health care in order to provide health care for all?”  This not only misstates the real issue, it also pits those with and without health care against each other, because those with health care think that they will lose what they have in reform.   But did you know that 98,000 people die every year due to medical error?  Did you know that the US is ranked 37th in the world in health care delivery, just after Costa Rica?  Did you know that experts say that unnecessary and wasteful procedures constitute 30% of what you and I pay for health care and that these procedures and unnecessary care can kill?  We are told that US health care is the “best in the world” for those who have it, not according to these statistics.   The current system puts insurance companies (including managed care and hospital corporations) in control of treatment, because they control what is reimbursed and how much is paid.  Because these companies work on the “for-profit” model, they attempt to collect the maximum amount for premiums and pay the least amount for care.  As a result, our current system treats people mainly after they are sick, and lacks real emphasis on prevention.  If an insurer emphasized prevention, it might find itself paying to create healthy patients who could then go to a competitor offering a lower rate.   If the goal of those controlling our health care were not profit, but rather providing the best health care for all, the money drained from health care dollars (about $12.5 billion for the seven top US insurers, plus 20% for overhead) could go for treatment.  More importantly the profit motive’s impact on health care practice would be removed and more money would be available to hire and pay health care givers.  Practitioners could concentrate on effectiveness of care rather than maximizing the volume of patients and procedures.    Health care reform has been a goal of the nation since President Truman.  Every time the issue arises, the argument is couched as an “us-or-them” choice.  Either those with health care insurance keep things the way they are or they give up their preferred status to allow those without health care to have it.  That is a false choice.  The real choice is not “us-or-them”—the real choice is whether insurers continue to control delivery of health care, and our health care is run in a way that maximizes next quarter’s profits.   Why is it that the argument turns to us-or-them?  This method of pitting the public against each other has worked for other political issues--for example tax, job security, education, and racial policy.  Is it by chance that the argument frequently turns so divisive?  If you were making huge profits on the US health care dollar, wouldn’t you want to steer the argument away from the current status of our care?  You decide.   SJ Robinson is a former nurse, medical malpractice attorney, and author with inside knowledge of our health care system.  Her substantial on-the-ground experience and research of health care economics convinces her that our health care system can and should be reformed.  Read more about our health care system in The Price of Death, a romantic mystery revealing what goes on behind the scenes in health care, Available on sjrobinson.com and Amazon.com.  You won't look at your health care the same again!

	Lisa Joy Winter   Lisa Joy Winter recently won Volunteer of the Year and the PTA Golden Acorn Award for Kapowsin Elementary School, in Graham, Washington.  She has been a community volunteer for many years.  Recently she was interviewed about her years of service.   Could you please tell me about the committees or jobs you’ve done at Kapowsin Elementary? “I’ve been a PTA member for 10 years.  I’ve been blessed to volunteer at Kapowsin for five years.  At Kapowsin, I chaired many committees like: PTA membership, book fair, and newsletter.  I’ve assisted with vision and hearing screenings; family fun nights; health and safety fairs; reflections; field days; student stores; walk-a-thons; emergency packs; sixth grade committees; sixth grade camps; financial review; and volunteered for the Kapowsin Leadership Team.”   “I’ve been a weekly classroom volunteer at Kapowsin for five years.  This year, I’m assisting both sixth grade teachers with fluency in reading.  I volunteer every Thursday, and take special time with students who need a little extra help with reading.”   Tell me about your community and church involvement. “For six years, I’ve volunteered my time at author forums and non-profit groups to help promote reading and children’s literacy.  I’ve been a Sunday school teacher for 26 years.  I’ve coordinated the curriculum, and volunteered to teach students whose ages range from kindergarten through sixth grade.”   Please tell me about other supervising activities, like scouts or coaching. “I’ve been a Girl Scout leader where community service was emphasized.  I’ve supervised children in dozens of community service projects like: food and clothing drives, cleaning parks and cemeteries, and raising money for kids in need.”   In closing, is there anything else you would like to add? “My family supports and encourages me with my many volunteer activities.  I could not do it without their love and support.  I choose to volunteer, because to me, it’s all about the kids!”   Lisa Joy Winter’s book Lila Stone—Disaster Prone is a children’s novel that emphasizes the importance of a healthy self-esteem. For more information, go to LisaJoyWinter.com or LJWinter@comcast.net.