Spring Meeting Minutes

PNHP-Minnesota Chapter Meeting Notes
4/13/08

I. In attendance: Jim Letts, Becca Brackett, Morrison Hodges, Paul Pentel, Caroline Toll, Jim Hart, Jack Garland, Elizabeth Frost, Ann Settgast, Marissa Lightbourne (medical student), Titi Adegboyega (medical student), Rebecca Trotzky Sirr (medical student)

II. New PNHP-MN Chapter Website – It is live and open for visitors! Please peruse at www.pnhpminnesota.org or click on the MN icon on the national site. We welcome feedback and are very grateful to Caitlin Spinelli-Moore (daughter of member Bill Spinelli) for her wonderful work.

III. Current treasury balance: $ 2,593.50

IV. The Ad
a. We discussed the decision by the board of directors of MN Medicine to block publication of our ad. Two MMA members (publisher of MN Medicine) from our group, Becca Brackett and Caroline Toll, agreed to write letters of complaint. Please let us know what feed back you receive!
b. Plan to publish our ad (chapter resolution in favor of HR 676 and its signature list) in the MN Physician May issue instead
i. Design meeting at the MN Physician office 4/17/08. Let us know if you are interested in accompanying us to this.
ii. Signature update – please see attached signature list. May 1 is the deadline to add signers. Could everyone get JUST ONE MORE NAME?
iii. Can also sign up by going to the website and sending us an email.

V. Minnesota legislative update
a. The Minnesota Health Act, SF 2324 (single-payer bill by Senator John Marty) – heard by the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee 2/18/08. PNHP-MN members Morry Hodges and Ann Settgast both testified. Large supportive crowd present with excellent reception. Passed 8-3 w/ bipartisan support. Has not gone onto further committees at this point.
b. Senator Berglin health care reform bill (SF 3099) and companion bill HF 3391 – both have passed through all committees and in the Senate & House and will now go to conference committee. Unfortunately, neither call for meaningful reform (ie. single-payer healthcare) and if enacted will add expense and could delay real change.






VI. General updates
a. Annals of Internal Medicine 4/1/08 survey results
b. Recent media coverage (MPR w/ Gary Eichten 2/5/08, press conference on SF 2324 2/11/08 , KFAI radio interview, Star Tribune editorials by Jack Garland and Elizabeth Frost 4/6/08)
c. Women in Medicine wine & cheese event, 4/11/08– Elizabeth and Ann both spoke. The audience was mainly first & second-year medical students. The enthusiasm of the group was inspiring! Several students expressed interest in forming ties w/ PNHP-MN and came to our meeting today! Thank you.
d. Open Letter to the Candidates Campaign – if you have not added your name on the national PNHP website, PLEASE DO SO NOW!! It takes 2 minutes.
e. Check out these opinion polls: http://www.pollingreport.com/health3.htm. They are a great resource for talking points.

VII. Upcoming events – please attend as many as you can to support each other!
a. April 16, 6-9pm - “Consumer Choice vs Single Payer” – Elizabeth Frost will be debating. Location Willey Hall room 125, U of M (campus map available by google).
b. April 20, 3pm Air America AM 950, “Of the People”radio series – we need 2-3 physicians. Jim Letts is tentatively speaking. Elizabeth Frost will email some of the members not present today to volunteer. If you are interested, please contact us.
c. April 22, 7pm DFL Links, Maplewood Library (3025 Southlawn Drive) – Ann Settgast is presenting
d. April 22 - Lake Country Progressives (DFL Links) Christos Restaurant,, Hwy 7, Minnetonka - Lisa Nilles will speak
e. April 24 - Progressives on the Prairie (DFL Links) Davanni's Pizza, 8061 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie - Lisa Nilles will speak
f. May 7 “Sicko” viewing and discussion at Mankato State University – Glen Peterson is organizing it. Elizabeth & I are driving down. Please carpool with us.
g. May 9-10 conference at the U of M, “The True Workings of Single Payer Health Systems: Lessons or Warnings for U.S. Reform” Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota and Journal of Health Policy, Politics and Law – Kip Sullivan will be a discussant.
h. July 9 Pediatrics Grand Rounds w/Lisa Nilles & Glen Peterson
i. July 15 Psychiatry Grand Rounds at HCMC by Jim Letts
j. Caroline Toll introduced us to http://del.icio.us/ where you can bookmark interesting articles and share them. She has named them PNHPMN and her bookmarks can be viewed under “CarolineToll”


VIII. Steering Committee
a. 8 volunteers: Morrie Hodges, Julie Hottinger (in absentia), Jack Garland, Jim Letts, Paul Pentel, Caroline Toll, Elizabeth Frost, Ann Settgast. Please let us know if you were not present today, but are interested in being a SC member.
b. Will meet ~ monthly and be actively involved w/ chapter decision-making
c. Goal for decision-making will be consensus with voting if needed
d. One-year commitment
e. Proposed positions w/in the SC: secretary, medical student liason, treasurer (Jim), press advisor (Julie), outstate liason, and chair (Ann & Elizabeth)
f. Medical student liason: we would like to have a medical student fill this position. Titi and Marissa had to leave prior to this discussion. Elizabeth Frost will contact them and our other interested medical student parties.
g. Remaining chapter members will continue to meet quarterly, maintain email contact, and be as active as desired

IX. Meetings planned
a. US Rep. Jim Oberstar – Faris Keeling is arranging
b. US Rep. Tim Walz – Glen Peterson is arranging
c. US Rep. Betty McCollum – Jim Letts will arrange. Jim Hart would like to attend.
d. US Rep. Keith Ellison – Becca Brackett will arrange to discuss his views on the other MN legislators currently not signed on to HR 676
e. MN Senator Berglin – Caroline Toll will arrange
f. Morrie Hodges will be meeting w/ Ashwin Media (running for the US House seat from Minnesota’s 3rd district that will be vacated by Jim Ramstadt) to educate him on single-payer in the next month. Thank you Morrie! He will also gather information from his daughter (Minneapolis City Council member) regarding rationale of current HR 676 non-signers
g. Isaiah meeting – Jim Hart will provide the contact to arrange this
h. Chamber of Commerce mentioned as venue to pursue. Will contact Julie Hottinger about following this up.

X. First steering committee meeting: May 27, 2008, 7pm.
XI. Next chapter quarterly meeting will be in August – date TBA