Letters 09-12-2016

Sept. 9, 2016

WRC: A Culture of Change

Per the recent article and the letter to the editor, I am concerned about the negativity being spewed about the Women’s Resource Center. Whenever there is a culture of change, there is a negative reaction from people who prefer to remain at the status quo. In this agency, like many other nonprofits, controversy abounds whether the changes are positive or negative.

By bringing in an "outsider" such as CEO Juliette Schultz (i.e., not from the good ol’ boys’/girls’ network), there has been controversy and problems from disgruntled workers and disgruntled community members. But Juliette has done excellent work by focusing on changing this culture and employing quality staff dedicated to the mission.

In order to keep the Center viable, programs not related to domestic violence have been evaluated, as should be. Examining the short-term use of grants as ineffective for long-term survivability, the current administration is seeking ways to increase funding while keeping the doors open for a Center that has had fiscal problems.

So instead of adding to the dysfunction of victimization, I hope that we can all work together to keep this important agency solvent. And it is beyond time to embrace the culture of change that Juliette, the Board, and employees are focusing on to make this a healthy agency, but more importantly, to help victims of abuse recognize that they need to move beyond surviving (victimization) to thrive.

Dr. Carol Anderson, D.Min., ACSW, LMSW, Traverse City

Yay Profit"¦Forget Regulation

On an August Saturday in 2015 my wife and I hiked Clay Cliffs. Returning to the car my wife veered off the path to photograph wildflowers. This proved to be a very bad idea as she was swarmed by bees, suffering several stings. Arriving at the car she was getting weak and disoriented. It was 2:30; Urgent Care and Hometown Pharmacy in Suttons Bay closed at 3:00. Both stayed with us 1.5 hours past closing time to help. Very grateful to Dr. Lemak, his staff, and Pharmacist Ned for patiently dealing with the insurance company. If you are wondering where this is going, be patient, and when hiking trails, stay on the path.

We purchased an EpiPen kit for $450, but with insurance, we were "only" $80 out of pocket.

Another scenario: A hypothetical couple was enjoying Clay Cliffs trails. Same bee sting. Wife went into anaphylactic shock. Both are unemployed and have no insurance; seeking expensive drugs was out of the question. She went home. Funeral services for Mrs. Hypothetical are Thursday at the Church of the Holy Skeptic.

"So what?" you say, "It’s not our fault!"

Then who’s at fault? This is not a takeit-or-leave-it drug like Viagra; this drug is life-saving and Mrs. Hypothetical couldn’t afford it. So let’s put the blame where it belongs: on greedy pharmaceutical companies and overpaid executives; insurance companies’ restrictions; high co-pays; and excessive profit motives in the health care industry. Problems include lack of regulation (dreaded "R" word) and our do nothing, dysfunctional, bought and paid for Republican Congress who will not intervene when it comes to obscene drug prices. So to all you anti-regulation conservatives out there: Stray off the trail, get stung, and experience firsthand what it’s all about.

W.D.Bushey, Elmwood Township

Internet Connectivity In Leelanau County

My husband and I have been thrilled with our decision to return to northern Michigan, but we have been frustrated with the lack of available high speed internet service in the area.

Earlier this year when I learned of the formation of the Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation( LPEF) Technology Committee I jumped at the chance to get involved in helping to develop a broadband plan for our county. I was astonished at hearing stories about students sitting in library parking lots after library hours to finish school assignments because internet was not available at home.

The problem goes beyond the convenience of streaming videos to the necessity of "keeping up" and offering our residents the services we all deserve. Very simply put...Leelanau County is at a disadvantage. Our businesses suffer and our children and residents don’t have the advantages others enjoy.

There is a critical survey underway to gather data to build a case for enhanced broadband access for the entire peninsula. The more surveys that are completed the richer the data will be and the stronger the business case will be. The survey can be accessed here: http://connectmycommunity.org/Leelanaupeninsula/

Mary Ann Borton, Lake Leelanau