Hey gang!

I am happy to report that the Hamilton ORCA meeting today went really well. Just a little recap, I met with the Director of the EDC about a month ago. I explained to her about AHEC and the ORCA project. I then asked for her assistance in setting up a meeting with the community leaders. I sent her a press release for the paper and created a flyer for her to distribute via email. We had the meeting today at the Hamilton General Hospital board room.  We had 16 community leaders in attendance, ranging from pastors,  school officials, and insurance agents.  Jill started off the presentation with some brief AHEC information and then  moved right in to  the ARRC model.  I finished the presentation with a review of the report as well as some discussion questions. They had great questions and feedback. Here are some examples:

1.       The superintendent stopped Jill during her presentation and said can I sign up for the health career presentations right now.

2.       The COO of the Hospital was already thinking about starting a Junior Volunteer Program and was so excited that we have one established in another community and can be a resource to them

3.       The Hico (another community in Hamilton county) EDC director was super excited because their only  physician is 80. They want to partner with us and do some succession planning

Questions:

1.       Can AHEC partner with the Hospital Foundation to apply for grants?

2.       How do you reach the career changing adult, there is not a common place that they meet?

Jill offered up the idea of starting an economic development committee, they were all for it. We had a sign in sheet and almost everyone starred their name to be on the committee.

 I am attaching the presentation we used. It is a combo of several presentations. Feel free to change what you want or not use it at all.  We gave every participant an AHEC 101 folder with APC , THM, ARRC, and housing information  as well as a hot jobs book and a take home copy of the report.