March 2012 Meeting

Health Care and Financial Crisis:

An Evening in Honor of Connie Ojile

Meeting, 7:00 pm, Sumner School, Rotating Gallery G-4

Pre-meeting get-together, 5:30 pm Beacon Bar and Grill

The March meeting will be dedicated to our long-time member, Connie Ojile, a recipient of a WAPA service award.  Connie survived a virulent form of  leukemia for 13 years and died in 2011.  In addition to leaving a rich legacy of contributions to WAPA, she shared with us several years ago at a monthly meeting what it meant to lose work, income, friends, and family in the midst of a long-term illness.  Connie also discovered many ways of coping and building a life within illness.  This meeting will be dedicated to understanding the predicament of the chronically ill and looking at potential avenues of effective personal and governmental changes.

Barbara Lancelot, our speaker for the March 6 program, grew up without health insurance and had no secure medical care until she was a college student.  This left her with three chronic illnesses and a deep understanding of the importance of guaranteed health care for all.  Her professional work in the areas of early childhood development and disability was found in teaching and managing state-run programs until 2006 when the agency for which she was working was sold and lower level employees replaced the staff.  She lost insurance.  The story of her and others’ struggles to get health care coverage is the topic of the program.  Today, Ms. Lancelot is active in the Montgomery County Health Care Action organization and the Annapolis Committee for Health Care.  She has advised Barbara Mikulski and Chris Van Holland in Congress and contributes to on-going database reports of Families USA and Medicaid Matters.

Commentary on the talk will be led by WAPA member, Barbara Lenkerd, who is herself active in health care advocacy in the state of Maryland.  Ruth Sando, who is an active WAPA member and past-president, will discuss the possibilities of WAPA’s continuing involvement in Connie Ojile’s mission to provide attention to our members’ occasional needs for health care and other encouragement and support.

How to get there:  The Sumner School is located at 1201 17th St NW (corner of 17th St and M St NW).  The entrance to the meeting area is on 17th St under the black metal stairway. Directions from Metro Red Line: From Farragut North station, take either L St exit, walk one block east to 17th St, turn left and walk 2 blocks north.  Enter the building through the double doors under the black metal staircase.  NEW MEETING ROOM:  Rotating Gallery G-4 (ground floor)

Pre-meeting:  Beacon Bar & Grill (one block north of Sumner School)

How to get there:  The Beacon Bar & Grill is in the Beacon Hotel located at 1615 Rhode Island Ave NW (corner of Rhode Island and 17th St).  Directions from Metro Red Line Farragut North station: take either L St exit, walk one block east to 17th St, turn left and walk 3 blocks north (one block past Sumner School).  All are welcome.