STATE

KATHERINE WALLIN LED THE UTAH GROUP TO CHICAGO FOR LDC, OCTOBER 4-7, 2008. WITH HER WERE STATE HEALTH PROMOTIONS CHAIR, KAREN WHITING, AND PARTNERS IN MEDICINE PRESIDENT, CLAIRE DONNELLY. PAT KLETTKE WAS ALSO THERE AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE AND ANN TAKASAKI MADE AN APPEARANCE MONDAY MORNING TO ASSIST MARSALI HANCOCK WITH A FAUX PAW INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION.

THE EVENT WAS FULL OF WONDERFUL SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOPS, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON OUR HEALTH PROMOTIONS PROJECTS. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM THE SOTILES ABOUT 'LETTING GO OF WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK.'

BEING AT A NEW LOCATION, THE DOWNTOWN MARRIOTT RATHER THAN THE DRAKE, MEANT A RIVER WALK INSTEAD OF A LAKESHORE WALK. WE WERE CLOSER TO THE SOUTHERN END OF THE MAGNIFICENT MILE, WHICH STILL ALLOWED FOR MAGNIFICENT SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES. WE WERE ALSO CLOSER TO MILLENNIUM PARK - A FAVORITE SIDE TRIP.

THE MONDAY NIGHT WESTERN STATES DINNER WAS HELD AT THE WEBER GRILL, JUST TWO BLOCKS WEST OF THE HOTEL. WE HAD PLENTY OF FOOD, FUN DOOR PRIZES (SEVERAL DONATED BY PAT'S SISTER, JO), AND TIME TO ENJOY ONE ANOTHER'S COMPANY.

ALSO AT LDC, WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OUR PHYSICIAN SPOUSES AND OUR FAMILIES. WE DISCUSSED STRATEGIC PLANNING. WE HEARD FROM DONALD J. PALMISANO, A PHYSICIAN AND LAWYER, WHO SHARED INSIGHTS ON LEADERSHIP.

IT WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR SENSORY OVERLOAD, AND WE ALL CAME AWAY WITH GREAT MEMORIES AND NEW INSIGHTS.

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WESTERN STATES RETREAT

ALLIANCE LEADERS FROM OUR REGION GATHERED AT THE HOME OF ANN TAKASAKI OCTOBER 23-25, 2008, FOR THE ANNUAL WESTERN STATES COALITION RETREAT. IN ATTENDANCE WERE: NANCY SCHNEIDER, CA; MARY RICE, CO; BARBARA THOMPSON, NV; EVA GERMAINE SHIMOTAKAHARA AND LEANNA LINDQUIST, OR; ANN TAKASAKI, KATHERINE WALLIN AND PAT KLETTKE, UT; AND OUR SPECIALLY INVITED GUEST, AMAA PRESIDENT ELECT NANCY KYLER FROM VIRGINIA.

THE RETREAT INCLUDED A MIX OF RELAXATION, FORMAL AND INFORMAL INFORMATION SHARING, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, WSC BUSINESS, AND A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT A POTENTIAL WESTERN STATES REGIONAL CONFERENCE. PAT SHARED THE FISH! PHILOSOPHY WITH THE GROUP AND A FELLOW GIRL SCOUT TRAINER, GABRIELA RICHARDSON, CAME DOWN TO HELP US FIND OUR WAY OUT OF THE HIMALAYAS. ANN DID A COOKING DEMONSTRATION WITH USEFUL TIPS AND A RECIPE FOR ORIENTAL SALAD. MOST OF THE DELICIOUS MEALS WERE PREPARED BY ANN. KATHERINE BROUGHT SOME HOMEMADE RED AND GREEN TOMATO SALSA. SPECIALTY CHEESES AND CRACKERS FROM IGOURMET.COM WERE ALSO ON HAND. WE ATE AT TUCANO'S ONE NIGHT, THEN PLAYED ROCK BAND AND DDR TO WORK OFF SOME OF THE FOOD.

EACH OF US RECEIVED A BAG OF KITCHEN TOOLS, AN EMBROIDERED APRON WITH "WESTERN STATES RETREAT 2008" ON THE BIB, CUTE YARN FLIP FLOPS TO TIE ONTO OUR LUGGAGE, AND A UTAH TRUFFLE CANDY BAR. ALSO, WE WROTE EACH OTHER LITTLE 'LOVE NOTES' AND PUT THEM INTO ENVELOPES TO TAKE HOME WITH US SO WE CAN REMIND OURSELVES OF THE CONNECTIONS WE MADE DURING THIS RETREAT.

WHEN PAT'S YEAR AS CHAIR ENDS ON MAY 31, 2008, EVA SHIMOTAKAHARA WILL BE CHAIR. HER VICE CHAIR WILL BE MARY RICE.

MANY THANKS TO ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND ESPECIALLY OUR UTAH CREW FOR THE SPECIAL TOUCHES THEY SHARED TO MAKE IT A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.