This is one of my daughter’s projects

She has to get enough clicks on this egg – to hatch a dragon.

Carol, Lousia and Anna on the Dock at the Isle of Hope Marina

Carol’s cousins arrived from Frederick, Maryland – Anna Tringali will be attending SCAD this fall – Fashion Design

J

Jeanie’s Dad, Erik, Jeanie and Carol – we ran into them at the Marina -

Birthday Party for Jeanie’s Dad – he turned 75 last weekend.

Erik and Jeanie gave us a private lesson – Fighting Fitness – a 30 minute ultimate workout

Erik – a black belt – Jeanie a certified trainer, me, and Hollywood Ron

Hospice Community Encourages All Americans Who Value Compassionate Care for the Dying to Speak Out Against Hospice Rate Cuts

In 2006 my father was under Hospice care in Savannah, GA for six months. He got to LIVE at home. Our hospice nurse DAWN, made regular visits to the house. She was such a help to Daddy – and to me. I’m grateful we didn’t have to put Daddy in a nursing home. Hospice can issue Morphine to a hospice patient if they have pain OR if they have a hard time breathing. Every time he got scared about not being able to breathe, he would take .05 ml of morphine. You’ll never know how important HOSPICE IS unless you have been through it -

Daddy died of lung cancer, July 18, 2006 – in my arms.

(Alexandria, Va) – National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is asking all Americans who understand the importance of hospice care for dying individuals and family caregivers to contact President Bush and ask him to stop the issuance of the regulation that will cut hospice rates under Medicare.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a proposed rule scheduled to go into effect on Friday, August 1, 2008 that would significantly impact hospice reimbursement in a devastating way. The proposed rule involves phasing out an annual adjustment that is applied to the hospice wage index.

Cutting the reimbursement levels essentially translates into less care to patients and caregivers during the end of life reports NHPCO.

“It’s important that we explain why compassionate end-of-life care should not be put in jeopardy by a significant cut in rates,” remarked Jonathan Keyserling, NHPCO vice president for public policy. “Research has shown that hospice saves the Medicare system money, is highly rated by family members, and enables the patient to die at home in most cases. I don’t understand the logic behind this action at this time.”

NHPCO suggests two methods to voice your support for hospice:

1. Call the White House Telephone Comment Line at 202-456-1111.

2. Visit the NHPCO Advocacy Center online where you can send a message to the White House; go to http://www.nhpco.org homepage and click on the link for “Become a Hospice Advocate.”

Key Talking Points:

• On August 1, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is expected to issue a final rule on CMS-1548, which would cut Medicare reimbursement rates for the compassionate end-of-life care provided by hospices.

• According to MedPAC, the hospice community already experiences very low margins, around 3.4 percent; hospice providers cannot afford rate reductions.

• Unlike other health care sectors, hospice goes to where patients live, so hospice professionals and volunteers are already suffering the economic impact of high gas prices.

• Ask that President Bush to halt any further action on the regulation.

“By issuing a rule, rather than going to Congress, CMS is getting around Congressional oversight and instituting what is essentially a cut in rates,” Jonathan Keyserling said. “NHPCO strongly opposes this proposed rule.”

NHPCO has been coordinating advocacy efforts from the hospice community and more than 40,000 messages have been sent to Congress and to officials at CMS.

Whatever your political beliefs, this is a chance for those who value hospice care for the dying to be heard,” noted Keyserling.

Considered to be the model for high-quality care at the end of life, hospice involves a team-oriented approach to care that includes expert medical attention, pain-and-symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support. The quality of a person’s life is emphasized, not the duration. Moreover, services and support are provided to family caregivers, in addition to the patient.

More information about hospice care is available from NHPCO’s Caring Connections at http://www.caringinfo.org/or the HelpLine at 800-658-8898.

Leadership Savannah 2002-2004 Class Reunion

Rick Monroe of Monroe Marketing and Joe Marinelli of the CVB presented at Buy Local Savannah

Ms Warren, Mike, Joe Ippolito

… lisa in the middle, and Greer on the right

Diana Morrision and Greer

WJCL Savannah interviews Chris Miller about CHESS IN THE PARK

Pegasus statue at the Tucson Airport

“I like Cezanne – Cezanne”

Monty, thank you for showing me this video. I LOVE CEZANNE. years ago, I even named my cat Cezanne.

I love Carol’s expression in this photo

Pooler GA, Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum receives $19,100 Marketing Grant from the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum receives $19,100 Marketing Grant from the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

(POOLER, GA) The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum was a recipient of the 2008-2009 Tourism Marketing Co-Op Program. The goal of the program is to create and implement projects designed to stimulate and expand travel and tourism within Georgia. The Museum met the core needs of the grant program and will use the funding to expand the advertising efforts of the Museum, increase awareness of Pooler and the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum as a destination for group tour travelers, families, and school groups; and promote the Museum to active duty and retired military.

Dr. Walt Brown, President and CEO of the Museum, said “This grant money comes to the Museum at a perfect time. We plan to increase our advertising to promote Pooler as the perfect ‘play and stay’ destination. Our Museum is ideal for group bus tours, families, and students groups of all ages. There is ample lodging and terrific restaurants in Pooler. We know the Museum has a large, positive economic impact for the city of Pooler and the state of Georgia, and we are happy we can help continue to increase the tax revenue for the area.”

Activated in 1942 in Savannah, GA the Eighth Air Force was an important strike element in World War II and remains an active force today. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum honors the Mighty Eighth’s proud legacy by preserving the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is open daily from 9AM until 5PM except New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  The Museum is located just minutes from downtown Savannah in Pooler at 175 Bourne Avenue off I-95, exit 102. For more information, please visit http://www.mightyeighth.org or call 912-748-8888.

The prettiest sunsets I have EVER seen – Tucson, AZ

The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum -the prettiest Zoo I have ever seen

Monty’s grandfather donated Gems to this museum (CHARLES L TOWLE)

Monty, Lori, Carol

Meeting the “kids”

Fried Bread and Honey are served at the Mission

Carol and my cousin Monty

San Xavier Mission in Tucson

Catalina Rotary Club of Tucson

Sam Robison, the president of the Catalina Rotary Club of Tucson, gave me their copper flag. It is beautiful! I gave them our flag from Savannah

The Catalina Club Web url is: www.catalinarotary.org

Steve Pender took this photo. He owns Family Legacy Video, Inc.

www.familylegacyvideo.com

http://familylegacyvideo.blogspot.com/

Check Mate in Forsyth Park, Savannah-GA

WHEN:      5:30pm, Tues July 22nd

WHERE:      Forsyth Park promenade between the Fountain and playground.

WHY:      It makes Savannah better by helping kids and keeping things interesting

The official launch
of something really BIG and really cool -

CHESS IN THE PARK – a Chris Miller Project

Tarantula in Tucson. He tried to follow Monty to the car.