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NEWSLETTER

Kiwanis Club of Cedar Rapids

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Bob Hatala, Esq.  23  Members in attendance.

Guests:  None

Birthdays:   Sr. Charmaine

Anniversaries:      None

Announcements:  Reminder: Jan 7 meeting is at Janet Blackledge; John Schweitzer has arranged for the Xavier choir at our December 17 meeting; Sr. Charmaine explained the process for frozen cinnamon rolls distribution this year.

Happy Bucks:   Jim Platt was happy for the sunshine today; Kay Bloom celebrates the arrival of two new Swedes in her family – Anika and John; Duane Kurrelmeyer shed a crocodile tear for Joe Schmall’s disappointment over the Xavier loss to Cedar Falls (Duane’s grandson plays for the winners); Janet Blackledge was happy that the burglar that damaged her lockset failed to gain entry; Don Grimm was happy to report his mother’s good progress after surgery, and that he was going to Texas for Thanksgiving; Pam Landon paid up for having her picture in the paper.

Speaker:  Sue Hawn of the Mercy Hospital Development organization reviewed the period of early June through the floods.  The hospital’s Incident Command Center at first prepared to serve the community during the flood, and then found they had to switch modes to that of flood victim.  Mercy is outside the “500 year” flood plain, and has flood insurance.  Early in the event, they lost power and switched to backup.  Also early on, all elective procedures were postponed.  Eventually, the threat of flooding in the lower levels threatened even the backup power, so the decision was made to evacuate the hospital.  The image of transporting 180 patients down stairwells in the dark from the upper floors was just too powerful.   Ambulances from around the area were summoned, and the patients were distributed to nursing homes and other hospitals.  Mercy caregivers accompanied each patient to assure continuity of care.

Mercy reopened in two weeks.  The hospital has been renovated, and thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. 

142 families of Mercy employees were directly affected by the floods, and continue to receive support.

Word for the day:  

Submitted:   Dan Breitbach - El Verboso Bloviatoro