MadApostate
JoinedPosts by MadApostate
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Bloodless Surgery Cuts Hospital Stay and Bills
by MadApostate inatlanta business chronicle - february 11, 2002. .
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2002/02/11/focus10.html.
cost savings .
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Bloodless Surgery Cuts Hospital Stay and Bills
by MadApostate inatlanta business chronicle - february 11, 2002. .
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2002/02/11/focus10.html.
cost savings .
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MadApostate
Atlanta Business Chronicle - February 11, 2002
. http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2002/02/11/focus10.html
From the February 8, 2002 print editionBloodless surgery cuts hospital stay and bills
Ray Glier
Contributing WriterYou've heard the horror stories, or else you've seen the horrific bills up close and too personal. Just a one-day stay in a hospital can give you yearlong sticker shock.
But what if you could trim a day off that stay in the hospital? What if the seven-day stay at approximately $3,500 a day was trimmed to six days or even five?
Imagine the savings to you and the glee on the face of your insurance company.One of the advantages of the "bloodless" medicine program at Atlanta Medical Center is it can get you out of the hospital faster. In bloodless surgery, a patient does not use transfusions of banked blood during an operation, thus reducing the risk of infection and further problems.
During bloodless surgery, physicians reduce blood loss by using laser and harmonic scalpels, argon beam coagulators and drugs that help minimize blood loss.
"Bloodless surgery allows a patient to recover a lot faster because of not having a foreign body added to their system to suppress their immune system," said Melvin Satterfield, the program administrator of Atlanta Medical Center's bloodless surgery program. "One of the complications of a blood transfusion is an added hospital stay."
Cost savings
Shorter hospital stays mean less for the insurer to pay.
"Just think if a person had a double or triple bypass," Satterfield said. "If you can cut a couple of days off that length of stay, then just divide that by the $50,000 or $60,000 cost of the stay, you can see the savings."
There is no distinction in reimbursement to hospitals when insurance companies handle bloodless medicine claims, said Deborah Tolich, director of the bloodless medicine program at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland.
Savings aren't just realized by a patient's shorter stay in the hospital.
"A lot of people don't realize the cost of blood, the cost of storage, the administrative cost, the cost of cross-matching," Satterfield said. "There are some that are considered indirect cost. There is reduced cost of medication because sometimes the medication a person might take is to fight an infection from their body being suppressed by the foreign blood."
The cost of bloodless medicine procedures compared with transfusion procedures can be the same or significantly lower, Tolich said. The actual costs depend on the procedure.
Atlanta Medical Center has a full menu of surgeries in its bloodless medicine program including open-heart, heart bypass, hip replacement and cancer removal. Even the most complicated of surgeries like the "Whipple," where organs have to be disconnected and moved, can be done without a blood transfusion.
Atlanta Medical Center already had several pieces of general surgical equipment in place when it started its bloodless medicine program two years ago. One piece of equipment that must be purchased is called a cell saver, which typically costs between $5,000 and $10,000.Religious accommodations
The bloodless technique was developed approximately 60 years ago by doctors treating Jehovah's Witnesses. For religious reasons, such patients do not accept blood transfusions, so techniques were developed to minimize blood loss.
The Jehovah's Witnesses' position is a non-negotiable stance outlined on the group's Web site ( http://www.watchtower.org), which states, "Those who respect life as a gift from the Creator do not try to sustain life by taking in blood."
Ninety percent of Atlanta Medical Center's patients use the surgery for religious purposes, said Dr. Edward "Mac" Mason, general surgeon and medical director of the center's Bloodless Medicine program. But, in other cities, the mix becomes 50-50 once the program becomes more well-known. Houston, Chicago, Cleveland and Los Angeles are other cities with advanced programs in bloodless medicine.
From a surgeon's point of view, the bloodless medicine technique makes perfect sense in terms of the health of a patient following surgery.
"We know that in certain types of illnesses, the long-term effect of giving blood is harmful," Mason said. "We've known for a long time that patients who have had surgery for colon cancer and receive blood don't have as good a survival rate as those patients who don't receive blood. When you use stored blood, you are using a lot of factors than can complicate the surgery, both from a respiratory point of view and the kidney point of view."
The bloodless technique used by hospitals does not involve a heavy commitment to retraining doctors or sending them off to school.
"Bloodless medicine is really a no-brainer," Tolich said. "You teach doctors how to limit lab draws and how to prevent patients from getting severely anemic. The hardest part in the training is to get them to limit their transfusion trigger so they aren't running for blood."
Many hospitals mistakenly think they are practicing bloodless medicine techniques, said Tom Johnson, president of Autologous Blood Resources Inc. of Lawrenceville.
"They're not," he said. "They don't understand how it all fits together. They think they are using less blood, but they could do even more. It goes outside the operating room. It involves laboratory, how lab samples are handled, how a patient is prepped for surgery, how there are medications that are given to them so they would not have to get blood in the surgery."
Copyright 2002 American City Business Journals Inc. -
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Report from the Publishing Committee
by JEMIMAH inthe following is part of a report to all bethel family members.
and is the reason why the uk bethel move to milton keynes.. -------------------------------------------------------------------.
a report from the publishing committee on making the best use of contributed funds.. five years ago because of construction in the united states and throughout the world on k. h. and a. h. and branches the needs were greater than the available funds putting quite a strain on the resources.. the design build committee limited any building projects to only those absolutely necessary.
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MadApostate
Are the dubs really hurting that much for money that they are talking about turning off light bulbs?
Yeh, sounds like the converting of millions of donated $$$$ into "corporately-owned real property" really has the WTS hurting.Sounds more like an Investment Banker complaining that the economy has hurt him so bad that he can only afford to build a $20 million dollar home versus his desired $25 million dollar home.
If so...Hot Damn...that gives me many interesting ideas!
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First Prize Is WHAT??? A REVELATION Book???
by MadApostate inevery week in "knoxville found," we'll print the photo of a local curiosity.
if you're the first person to correctly identify this oddity, you'll win a special prize plucked from the desk of the editor (keep in mind that the editor hasn't cleaned his desk in five years).
e-mail your guesses, or send 'em to "knoxville found" c/o metro pulse, 505 market st., suite 300, knoxville, tn 37902. .
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MadApostate
What is this? Every week in "Knoxville Found," we'll print the photo of a local curiosity. If you're the first person to correctly identify this oddity, you'll win a special prize plucked from the desk of the editor (keep in mind that the editor hasn't cleaned his desk in five years). E-mail your guesses, or send 'em to "Knoxville Found" c/o Metro Pulse, 505 Market St., Suite 300, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Last Week's Photo:
Tricky, this one was. A little obscure, hard to identify, even impressionistic (nice photo, Kim). It is, in fact, the head of the spring in Fountain City Park that eventually feeds into the duck pond there. Or, as Fountain Citians insist on calling, into the "lake." (Hey, if the Tennessee River can be a lake, so can a duck pond.) And it wasn't too obscure or impressionistic for Jack Mitchell of North Knoxville—our first and only correct respondent. For such astute observation, Mitchell wins his very own copy of the vital tome "Revelation", a handsome hardcover published by the Jehovah's Witnesses and featuring chapters like "Abhorring the 'Deep Things of Satan'" and "Judging the Infamous Harlot." Don't miss the numerology chart on page 19!
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CCoJWs Requests/Denied Local Tax Money Allocation
by MadApostate inthis city of columbia sc webpage shows that ccofjws requested, but was denied, allocation of local tax dollars from the city's accommodation tax budget allocation.. .
http://www.columbiasc.net/city/funding.htm.
any locals here that can check out the person that actually formalized this request, and how did ccofjws say they were going to use the $$$ to promote columbia?
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MadApostate
This newspaper article points out the reason that some city's news media are hesitant, or flat out refuse, to run stories about WTS Conventions receiving grants of tax dollars from the city or the CVB, or about city-owned or state-owned venues giving the WTS deep discounts off the regular rental rate.
Part of the problem is that local CVBs far overestimate the $$$ impact of WTS Conventions, which makes the local politicians eager to give the WTS as much as $16,000 a year.
Probably 75% of WTS Conventions receive rental rates which range from free to 75% of the regular rate.
As shown in the posts starting this thread, in some cities the WTS has even conspired with the local CVB or city tourism dept to illegally obtain $$$ from the local room tax fund, which state legislation says is to be used to "promote tourism", (not directly subsidize individual convention's expenses).
These scenarios will continue until the exact scenario is investigated in each city, with disclosure then made to local taxpayer groups who aren't favorable to, what is in effect, donation of tax dollars to the WTS.
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Friday January 04 02:10 AM EST
TCC losing out on concert revenue
By Joe Burchell,
ARIZONA DAILY STARCompetition is pushing the Tucson Convention Center, once the only place in town to see big-name performers ranging from Elvis to Elton John to the Rolling Stones, into the background of the concert picture here.
The TCC's fall from concert popularity comes as the City Council is contemplating cutting off the center's yearly $3.1 million taxpayer subsidy, requiring it to bring in enough money to cover its operating costs of $7 million.
With the city facing potential budget deficits during the next several years, Vice Mayor Carol West said at a recent City Council budget meeting that making the TCC self-supporting, so the $3.1 million taxpayer subsidy can be used for other needs, should be a priority.
Touring concerts are among the most profitable users of the 31-year-old center, helping to offset the losses resulting from the council-mandated discounts given to conventions and local nonprofit groups.
Six concerts were staged in the 9,700-seat TCC Arena last year, down from nine in 2000.
Last year's events also tended to be smaller draws. The largest crowd was 7,558 at an Ozzy Osbourne concert in November, compared with more than 8,500 for both Elton John and Kiss in 2000.
Meanwhile, the county's Tucson Electric Park got into the concert business last year, drawing more than 10,000 people to two of its four events; two casinos opened concert venues with acts that once might have played the TCC; and Old Tucson continued to upgrade its summer concert series.
Competition for the concert dollar only figures to get stiffer this year because the casino concert facilities that opened in the fall will be in operation for the full year and TEP is planning to expand its concert offerings.
After clearing a $54,000 profit on four concerts last year, TEP hopes to hold six shows this year.
"We are really trying to push public service and public safety and cooperation to get our foot in the door with the promoters," said Kate O'Rielly, the county's director of community services.
The Pima County Fairgrounds, a nonplayer in the concert arena the last couple of years, has hired a new executive director and marketing director who hope to start staging concerts there.
For the TCC to break even, Director Hymie Gonzales said the city needs to increase the rates for conventions and nonprofit groups, on which it now breaks even or loses money when those events are held. Or the city could bring in more commercial events like concerts and family shows, which could require displacing some of those low-revenue users, he said.
For example, every summer the Jehovah's Witness convention occupies much of the facility for five weeks. The group pays discounted rent, gets free parking, allows no concession sales, and generates no ticket fees, which means the TCC loses money on the event.
But pushing the event out of the convention center would set off protests by hotel and restaurant owners who count on the 15,000 attendees to pump up summer business, he said.
Gonzales said he's trying to establish better relationships with concert promoters and developing plans to co-promote some events as first steps toward re-establishing the TCC's position as a concert venue.
Danny Zelesko, president of Evening Star Productions, confirmed TCC representatives are reaching out to promoters more.
"They're very anxious to get more shows in there, and they are anxious to make deals to get the right shows." he said. "In the past, there were people down there who didn't seem to care if they had shows in there or not."
Zelesko said THE TCC is a victim of changes in the concert business and of increased competition. The big-name groups are playing fewer dates, charging more and ignoring smaller markets like Tucson.
Gonzales said the cost of doing fewer and smaller shows is significant. Financial breakdowns of each of the major concerts were not available. The Convention Center did bring in $3.9 million last year for all its events, including conventions, trade shows and concerts.
Ozzy Osbourne brought the TCC nearly $70,000 before expenses, and it wasn't nearly as successful as the bigger shows from past years, he said. The next-biggest show last year was rapper Snoop Dogg and Friends, which drew just over 5,600 people.
Concert promoter Ryan Dahlstrom of C&R Entertainment said TCC rental rates are one of the reasons business is going elsewhere.
One night in the arena is $2,530 or 10 percent of the ticket sales, whichever is more. Plus the center gets a 5 percent box office fee, a $1 ticket surcharge, 35 percent of merchandise sales and all concession revenue.
Dahlstrom has mostly promoted shows at Old Tucson and Desert Diamond Casino, which he said is upgrading its lighting and sound systems to be more attractive to concerts.
Gonzales said it costs more to rent the TCC than most other venues because it costs more to heat, cool, light and maintain an indoor facility than an outdoor one.He said he can't compete on rent with places like Old Tucson, the New West nightclub in Marana and the casinos because they are using concerts to attract customers to their primary business and absorbing much of the shows' costs.
Rob Horgan, director of marketing and public relations at Old Tucson, confirmed that's what the park is doing.The park, which has gotten increasingly into the concert business since reopening in 1997, needed a way to attract Southern Arizona residents in the summer so it included free admission to eight concerts as part of its $45 annual pass, Horgan said.
Dahlstrom also promoted five other concerts at Old Tucson, for a total of 13 shows in 2001.
With just 4,000 seats, Horgan said he doesn't believe Old Tucson is competing with TCC. But of the six arena concerts at the TCC, only two attracted more than 4,000 customers.
* Contact Joe Burchell at 573-4244 or at [email protected]
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Russian JWs Meet With Council Of Europe Politicos
by MadApostate inrussian jws continue to rely on satan's politicians from the council of europe, rather than jehovah, to intercede with their own government.. .
20-23 november [2001].
parliamentary assembly monitoring co-rapporteurs visit russia.
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MadApostate
Russian JWs continue to rely on Satan's politicians from the Council of Europe, rather than Jehovah, to intercede with their own government.
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20-23 November [2001]
Parliamentary Assembly monitoring co-rapporteurs visit Russia
David Atkinson (United Kingdom, EDG) and Rudolf Bindig (Germany, SOC), co-rapporteurs on Russia for the Parliamentary Assembly's Monitoring Committee, will meet ministers, senior members of the judiciary, parliamentarians, media representatives, religious organisations (including the Salvation Army and Jehovah's Witnesses), and NGOs.
Contact : Angus Macdonald, Tel. +33 3 88 41 34 39 ; E-mail: [email protected]
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Origins and membership:
The Council of Europe is the continent's oldest political organisation, founded in 1949.
It:
groups together 43 countries, including 19 ex-communist countries (see paragraph on "the pan-European dimension"),
has applications from 3 more countries,
has granted observer status to 5 more countries (the Holy See, the United States, Canada, Japan and Mexico),
is distinct from the 15-nation European Union, but no country has ever joined the Union without first belonging to the Council of Europe,
has its headquarters in Strasbourg, in north-eastern France.
...
...The main component parts of the Council of Europe are:
the Committee of Ministers, composed of the 43 foreign ministers or their Strasbourg-based deputies (ambassadors/permanent representatives), which is the Organisation's decision-making body. It is currently chaired by Liechtenstein.
the Parliamentary Assembly, grouping 602 members (301 representatives and 301 substitutes) from the 43 national parliaments and Special Guest delegations from the two parliaments of east European non-member states. The current President is Lord Russell-Johnston of the United Kindom.
the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, composed of a Chamber of Local Authorities and a Chamber of Regions. Its current President is Llibert Cuatrecasas of Spain.
the 1300-strong secretariat headed since 1999 by Secretary General Walter Schwimmer (Austria) former Vice-President of the parliamentary Assembly and former President of the Group of the European's people party.
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CCoJWs Requests/Denied Local Tax Money Allocation
by MadApostate inthis city of columbia sc webpage shows that ccofjws requested, but was denied, allocation of local tax dollars from the city's accommodation tax budget allocation.. .
http://www.columbiasc.net/city/funding.htm.
any locals here that can check out the person that actually formalized this request, and how did ccofjws say they were going to use the $$$ to promote columbia?
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MadApostate
Here is a Television Station (NBC 25) webpage that reports the Tri-Cities scandal. (I'm borrowing this from Amazing who placed this in a separate thread, so all links on this issue can be found in one place.)
---------------------------------------Contribution may have to go elsewhere
KNDU News
Jan. 22 - Kennewick's city attorney says the city may have to re-nig on a six-thousand-dollar contribution.
The city was planning on giving that money to the Watchtower Convention, that's a Jehovah's Witness convention that comes to the Tri-Cities every year. The state auditor's office had concerns the money wasn't being spent properly. And, in a report to the auditor's office, city attorney John Ziobro admits the funds weren't going to the right place.
As an alternative, the city can give the money directly to the coliseum. But that's something council members will have to decide."The money was not going to marketing and promotion, but instead was going to rent subsidy and that's what caused the auditor to question how the money was being utilized."--John Ziobro, Kennewick city attorney
. http://www.msnbc.com/local/kndu/m140058.asp -
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CCoJWs Requests/Denied Local Tax Money Allocation
by MadApostate inthis city of columbia sc webpage shows that ccofjws requested, but was denied, allocation of local tax dollars from the city's accommodation tax budget allocation.. .
http://www.columbiasc.net/city/funding.htm.
any locals here that can check out the person that actually formalized this request, and how did ccofjws say they were going to use the $$$ to promote columbia?
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MadApostate
This was previously posted as a separate thread, but I'm adding it to this thread so as to keep info on this TAX $$$$ topic together.
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Wonder whether this was a BIG THANK YOU for $$$$$ or FREE ASTRODOME RENT provided by city of Houston???
$81,000,000 Impact??? Come on! Sounds more like, "Fellows, don't worry, your "investment" paid off bigtime."
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City Council Chamber, City Hall,
Tuesday, July 7, 1998A Regular Meeting of the Houston City Council was held at 1: 30 p. m., Tuesday, July 7, 1998, with, Mayor Lee P. Brown presiding and Council Members Bruce Tatro, Michael J. Yarbrough, Martha J. Wong, Jew Don Boney, Jr., Rob Todd, Ray F. Driscoll, Jean Kelley, Felix Fraga, John E. Castillo, Annise D. Parker, Joe Roach; Orlando Sanchez and Chris Bell; Mr. Harlan Heilman, Chief of Claim Subrogation Division, City Legal Department; Mr. Jesse Cantu, Director, Citizens Assistance Office; Mr. Dan Jones, Agenda Director, and Ms.
Martha Stein, Assistant Agenda Director, present. Council Member and Carroll G. Robinson out of the city on personal business.At 2: 02 p. m. Mayor Pro Tem Boney called the meeting to order and stated Council Member Kelley would lead in prayer. Mayor Brown, Council Members Tatro, Yarbrough, Todd and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
At 2: 03 p. m. Council Member Kelley led everyone in prayer and then led everyone in pledging allegiance to the flag. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
At 2: 04 p. m. the City Secretary called the roll. Council Member Robinson out of the city on personal business. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
Council Members Castillo and Bell moved that the minutes of the preceding meeting be adopted. All voting aye. Nays none. Council Member Robinson out of the city on personal business. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
MOTION ADOPTED.
Mayor Pro Tem Boney stated that Council would begin with a presentation by Council Member Wong. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
Council Member Wong invited all those present for her presentation to the podium. Mayor Pro Tem Boney greeted former Mayor Bob Lanier and his wife Elise. Council Member Wong
stated that it was her privilege to introduce the co-chairs of the City's 161st Birthday held last year, Mr. Joe B. Allen and Mrs. Helen Allen and Mr. Kenny Friedman; that Mrs. Ann Friedman
could not be present because she was teaching today, through both wonderful couples the city celebrated its 161st birthday and it was their privilege to honor Mayor Lanier and Elise and as a
result of that party they were able to raise $60,000 to be donated in honor of Mayor Lanier and Elise for the Sesquicentennial Park. Mr. Friedman stated that it was a pleasure to be a part of something that meant so much to the city and to honor two people who had done so much for the city. Mr. Allen stated that he hoped this years committee would have as easy a time raising money as they did. Mrs. Allen stated that she would speak for both Ann and herself; that it was a pleasure working with the city departments, everyone was very helpful and it was their pleasure
to present the check to Mr. Bob Eury for the wonderful addition of the Sesquicentennial Park; and she hoped the City of Houston and the downtown area would continue to do very well. Mr. Eury
thanked everyone for the check and stated they were all partners in finishing Sesquicentennial Park and some things took a while to happen; that this started in 1986 during the city's 150th
birthday year and twelve years later finished; and children born in the sesquicentennial year, 1986, did the art work and they had wonderful feedback on it and they were thankful to everyone
for making this work and for being associated with something honoring the great deeds of Mayor and Mrs. Lanier. Mayor Lanier stated that one reason he and Elise identified with Sesquicentennial Park was they could see the speed with which it was completed; that first of all
to Kenny, Ann, Joe, Helen and Martha the party was magnificent and very touching to him and Elise and they appreciated it and were proud to see the development of the bayou and downtown. Mrs. Lanier thanked everyone and stated that it was a very wonderful event; and thanked Council Member Wong's staff for all their work also.Council Member Fraga invited those present for his presentation to the podium. Council Member Fraga stated that a very important international convention would be taking place in Houston this week and invited Mr. Alex Martinez, one of the coordinators, to speak. Mr. Martinez stated that he wanted to thank Council and the City of Houston for the welcome and special thanks to Council Member Fraga for all his hard work; that they would have fourteen countries coming to the Astrodome in a couple of days Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Venezuela; that they had 114 countries in North America that had attended the assembly with the theme "God's Way of Life" and it showed the brotherhood could be accomplished through God's way of life; that they also wanted to thank Mr. Richard Vacar, Aviation Director, for his help at the airport for their delegation; and introduced Mr. John Apeledeo.
Mr. Apeledo stated that he had the privilege of being assigned by the governing body of Jehovah's Witness to serve as rooming coordinator for the international convention; that having conventions in Houston was nothing new for Jehovah's Witness as every summer for the last twenty years the English speaking Jehovah's Witness had a convention at the Dome and it involved about 20,000 to 30,000 in attendance, but this convention was different as it would be Spanish speaking and about 27,000 would be coming into the city and staying at 28 hotels, using about 3,500 rooms a night with the estimated impact of about $81,000,000 total for the convention; that the real challenge was to see about putting 4,000 from Latin America in private homes so the call went out and they ended up with twice as many rooms so the local hospitality came through; and the convention would be this Friday at the Dome from 10: 00 a. m. to 5: 00 p. m. and would be in Spanish; and their objective was that all delegates would leave speaking of how warm and friendly Houston was.
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CCoJWs Requests/Denied Local Tax Money Allocation
by MadApostate inthis city of columbia sc webpage shows that ccofjws requested, but was denied, allocation of local tax dollars from the city's accommodation tax budget allocation.. .
http://www.columbiasc.net/city/funding.htm.
any locals here that can check out the person that actually formalized this request, and how did ccofjws say they were going to use the $$$ to promote columbia?
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MadApostate
THE OREGONIAN
STATE DIGEST
01/15/02State auditor asks for review of cities' tax aid promise KENNEWICK
The state auditor's office has asked the city attorneys for Richland and Kennewick to review a promised contribution of $12,000 in hotel-motel taxes to help pay for a Jehovah's Witnesses convention this summer.
The review was requested in response to public inquiries about the cities' agreements to provide $6,000 apiece to the Tri-Cities Hotel and Motel Association to subsidize the convention.
The five weekend sessions at the Tri-Cities Coliseum in Kennewick would bring about 28,000 people to the area.State law requires that hotel-motel taxes be used exclusively to promote tourism or to support tourism-related facilities.
The hotel and motel association asked the two cities to provide the money to cover the difference between what the religious group would pay to rent the coliseum and what it actually costs.The subsidy would end up as revenue for the coliseum, which is owned by the city of Kennewick and managed by Promotions Management of Green Bay, Wis.
"We've told the cities they need to run this scenario past their attorneys," said Mindy Chambers, a spokeswoman for the state auditor's office.
If the attorneys approve the idea, then the state attorney general's office will review the deal, she said.
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JWs Appear Before Houston Council Re Convention
by MadApostate inwonder whether this was a big thank you for $$$$$ or free astrodome rent provided by city of houston???.
$81,000,000 impact???
sounds more like, "fellows, don't worry, your "investment" paid off bigtime.".
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MadApostate
Wonder whether this was a BIG THANK YOU for $$$$$ or FREE ASTRODOME RENT provided by city of Houston???
$81,000,000 Impact??? Come on! Sounds more like, "Fellows, don't worry, your "investment" paid off bigtime."
---------------------------------------------
City Council Chamber, City Hall,
Tuesday, July 7, 1998A Regular Meeting of the Houston City Council was held at 1: 30 p. m., Tuesday, July 7, 1998, with, Mayor Lee P. Brown presiding and Council Members Bruce Tatro, Michael J. Yarbrough, Martha J. Wong, Jew Don Boney, Jr., Rob Todd, Ray F. Driscoll, Jean Kelley, Felix Fraga, John E. Castillo, Annise D. Parker, Joe Roach; Orlando Sanchez and Chris Bell; Mr. Harlan Heilman, Chief of Claim Subrogation Division, City Legal Department; Mr. Jesse Cantu, Director, Citizens Assistance Office; Mr. Dan Jones, Agenda Director, and Ms.
Martha Stein, Assistant Agenda Director, present. Council Member and Carroll G. Robinson out of the city on personal business.At 2: 02 p. m. Mayor Pro Tem Boney called the meeting to order and stated Council Member Kelley would lead in prayer. Mayor Brown, Council Members Tatro, Yarbrough, Todd and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
At 2: 03 p. m. Council Member Kelley led everyone in prayer and then led everyone in pledging allegiance to the flag. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
At 2: 04 p. m. the City Secretary called the roll. Council Member Robinson out of the city on personal business. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
Council Members Castillo and Bell moved that the minutes of the preceding meeting be adopted. All voting aye. Nays none. Council Member Robinson out of the city on personal business. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
MOTION ADOPTED.
Mayor Pro Tem Boney stated that Council would begin with a presentation by Council Member Wong. Mayor Brown, Council Members Yarbrough and Roach absent. Mayor Pro Tem Boney presiding.
Council Member Wong invited all those present for her presentation to the podium. Mayor Pro Tem Boney greeted former Mayor Bob Lanier and his wife Elise. Council Member Wong
stated that it was her privilege to introduce the co-chairs of the City's 161st Birthday held last year, Mr. Joe B. Allen and Mrs. Helen Allen and Mr. Kenny Friedman; that Mrs. Ann Friedman
could not be present because she was teaching today, through both wonderful couples the city celebrated its 161st birthday and it was their privilege to honor Mayor Lanier and Elise and as a
result of that party they were able to raise $60,000 to be donated in honor of Mayor Lanier and Elise for the Sesquicentennial Park. Mr. Friedman stated that it was a pleasure to be a part of something that meant so much to the city and to honor two people who had done so much for the city. Mr. Allen stated that he hoped this years committee would have as easy a time raising money as they did. Mrs. Allen stated that she would speak for both Ann and herself; that it was a pleasure working with the city departments, everyone was very helpful and it was their pleasure
to present the check to Mr. Bob Eury for the wonderful addition of the Sesquicentennial Park; and she hoped the City of Houston and the downtown area would continue to do very well. Mr. Eury
thanked everyone for the check and stated they were all partners in finishing Sesquicentennial Park and some things took a while to happen; that this started in 1986 during the city's 150th
birthday year and twelve years later finished; and children born in the sesquicentennial year, 1986, did the art work and they had wonderful feedback on it and they were thankful to everyone
for making this work and for being associated with something honoring the great deeds of Mayor and Mrs. Lanier. Mayor Lanier stated that one reason he and Elise identified with Sesquicentennial Park was they could see the speed with which it was completed; that first of all
to Kenny, Ann, Joe, Helen and Martha the party was magnificent and very touching to him and Elise and they appreciated it and were proud to see the development of the bayou and downtown. Mrs. Lanier thanked everyone and stated that it was a very wonderful event; and thanked Council Member Wong's staff for all their work also.Council Member Fraga invited those present for his presentation to the podium. Council Member Fraga stated that a very important international convention would be taking place in Houston this week and invited Mr. Alex Martinez, one of the coordinators, to speak. Mr. Martinez stated that he wanted to thank Council and the City of Houston for the welcome and special thanks to Council Member Fraga for all his hard work; that they would have fourteen countries coming to the Astrodome in a couple of days Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Venezuela; that they had 114 countries in North America that had attended the assembly with the theme "God's Way of Life" and it showed the brotherhood could be accomplished through God's way of life; that they also wanted to thank Mr. Richard Vacar, Aviation Director, for his help at the airport for their delegation; and introduced Mr. John Apeledeo.
Mr. Apeledo stated that he had the privilege of being assigned by the governing body of Jehovah's Witness to serve as rooming coordinator for the international convention; that having conventions in Houston was nothing new for Jehovah's Witness as every summer for the last twenty years the English speaking Jehovah's Witness had a convention at the Dome and it involved about 20,000 to 30,000 in attendance, but this convention was different as it would be Spanish speaking and about 27,000 would be coming into the city and staying at 28 hotels, using about 3,500 rooms a night with the estimated impact of about $81,000,000 total for the convention; that the real challenge was to see about putting 4,000 from Latin America in private homes so the call went out and they ended up with twice as many rooms so the local hospitality came through; and the convention would be this Friday at the Dome from 10: 00 a. m. to 5: 00 p. m. and would be in Spanish; and their objective was that all delegates would leave speaking of how warm and friendly Houston was.
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