Healthy Debate

Well, it’s been quite the summer.  I hope that all of you had an opportunity to take some well earned vacation, and perhaps to find some summer weather, given how little of it we saw here.

I had the incredible opportunity to join the ‘Ride for Africa’ on its climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and at the same time raise some funds for two grassroots projects in Africa.  The ‘Ride’ connected with ‘Hands Across Africa’, a charitable group that has its genesis with HSAA members. 

Money is still coming in, so the final total is, as yet, unknown.  My profound thanks to all contributors, individual and organizational, identified and anonymous, who helped me and the other climbers to reach their fundraising goals of $2000 each. 

The climb was tough, but I think acting as Director of the annual Alberta Federation of Labour’s ‘Kids’ Camp’ may have been tougher.  However, the amazing volunteers, including five connected to HSAA, made that five day adventure a lot of fun, and quite gratifying.  Kudos also to the AFL staff who did the yeoman’s work of organizing the myriad of details prior to the camp; Kevin Flaherty of the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre who created fun and interactive curriculum to introduce the youngsters to occupational health and safety, the staff at Goldeye Centre and the Centre for Outdoor Education in Nordegg, and the Greyhound bus drivers who got the 105 kids there and home safely. 

Meanwhile, back at the office, staff have been busy effecting the integration of the EMS and former AADAC workers who have been taken over by Alberta Health Services.  Transition negotiations are under way, and new HSAA members have opportunities to learn about their new union through a number of workshops. 

Other efforts include work with pharmacy technician members who will become regulated professionals in the near future.  While technicians support regulation, the process that has been developed to qualify them for licensure is demanding and quite costly.  HSAA has been advocating on a number of fronts to advocate on behalf of the members, and these efforts continue.

Preparations for our Labour Relations Confernence in October are well under way, and I encourage as many of our members as possible, and particularly local unit representatives, to attend, as the conference will be part of the preparations to lead into the upcoming round of provincial bargaining (and therefore has implications for all agreements).

And finally, for this post, we have once again seen the wrath of nature.  Pakistan is still reeling from historic flooding.  Millions are homeless, and the need for the most basic human necessities is dire.  I’ve heard friends and family express their concerns about foreign aid being misdirected, and the reality that there will be some corruption.  That is a reality, but surely we cannot accept that as a reason not to make an effort.  The HSAA board will have Pakistan on its agenda next week, to determine our organization’s response. Clearly the need will be ongoing for a long time, so we can wait until our regular meeting.  For individuals, however, there is an urgency.  The federal government will match your individual donations until September 12, so I encourage all of us to dig as deep as we can to help ease the misery.

July is here, and I hope you all enjoyed a happy Canada Day. 

Most members will be going on some hard earned Rest and Relaxation (assuming you can get the time off).  I hope that you will have a great time connecting with family and friends, and just getting away from the incredible demands that the system you work for puts on you.  Recharge the batteries, remind yourselves that there is more to life than work.

I am heading out for the adventure of a lifetime which has been dubbed ‘Ride for Africa’ www.rideforafrica.org, in support of a local group named ‘Hands Across Africa’ .  I will be joining an intrepid group of adventurers to climb Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in July, and while we are at it, to raise funds for two grassroots projects. One is a rehabilitation centre in Sierra Leone, which has been helping the victims of the terrible civil war, in which rebels chopped off limbs of civilians – men, women and children. The second is the Amani home for street children in Moshi, Tanzania, which provided a roof, food, and vocational training to children who have no other means of support.

Two adventurers, Axel and Mike, are already underway, having started their trek on motorcycles at the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton on April 20. Hence the name Ride for Africa.  The rest of the group will connect with them in Moshi, at the foot of the mountain, and on July 17, I hope to make it to the summit.

Hands Across Africa was started by a group of Health Professionals who are also members of HSAA. Some of them worked as volunteers in Africa, and that was the motivation to do more. They work in partnership with Change for Children, a registered charity that looks after the administrative details.  This is the second organized climb of Kilimanjaro, and in total, Hands across Africa has raised over $120,000since 2005.  I am thrilled to be joining this year’s effort, which is made all the more meaningful by the fact that it is initiated by HSAA members. 

Many thanks to our amazing staff and our board of directors.  You are in good hands in my absence.

With luck I will make it to the top, and hope to take a picture with the HSAA flag!

Wishing all of you a fabulous summer! 

Elisabeth

HSAA members and other residents of Medicine Hat may have a hard time believing that we are supposed to have a semi-arid climate.  Over the past 15 years, the city has seen flooding at least three times. 

Once again, Mother Nature has packed a wallop, flooding homes, washing out roads and bridges and either drowning crops or preventing farmers from seeding in the first place in southern Alberta.

One of the benefits of belonging to a union is that we support each other, and this is one of those times where membership makes a difference. 

Members who have been affected by the floods in southern Alberta may be eligible to access the HSAA Members’ Assistance Fund.  This fund is available to members affected by emergencies.  While funding is not automatic, members who meet the criteria may be eligible for a grant of  up to $2000.  An application form can be downloaded from the membership services page of the HSAA web site. 

Our thoughts and best wishes to all as you deal with the clean-up. 

Elisabeth