WHAT YOU CAN DO-Current Events
Saturday October 25, 2008
Fall Mental Health Awareness Seminar and Liaison Training
8:30AM - 4:00 PM
Sue Bennett Studio-Photography On The Square
107 N. San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
This educational event is FREE and open to the entire river community.
(Persons interested in the Liaison Program are encouraged to attend.)
Our objective is to educate and to provide tools to the river community about real life challenges that guides, passengers, friends, and/or family members may experience on the river.
Lunch is provided as well as mileage stipends are available for out of town attendees.
Our Health Services Committee will present this seminar. To register:
PAST EVENTS
5th Annual GTS Health Fair.
This was the most successful Health Fair to date.
On March 29, 2008 more than 75 brave souls interrupted their lunch break at the GTS to run the gauntlet at our 5th annual Whale Foundation Health Fair. Originally conceived by Dr Tom Myers, we offer free screening for various potential problems including cardiovascular issues, skin cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, oral and dental health, diabetes, depression issues and physical therapy advice. Sixty-five vouchers for blood tests and mammograms were given out and the results will be forwarded to the guides that participated. This year’s Health Fair was located in Pop-Up tents on Hatchland’s cement pad. Special thanks go to Wyatt Woodard FNP for organizing this year’s Fair and a special round of applause to all the health care providers who volunteered their time and expertise: Dr Jim Marzolf, Susan Hamilton RN, Dr Karl Bigler, Dr Jane Bigler, Kelly Rowell PT, Dr Norman Hanson, Susan Ash, Alan Motter FNP, Beth Kennedy and Lauren Desadio. We also thank Hatch River Expeditions, Sonora Quests Medical Lab, and Northern Arizona Radiology, for their various contributions to this worthwhile effort. We'll be back next year!
Saturday November 3, 2007
Training and Workshop
"Leadership Skills for you Toolbox"
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Sue Bennett Studio
Photography on the Square
107 N. San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ
Lunch is provided
Mileage stipend available for out of town attendees.
This workshop will focus on how to prepare yourself for and approaches to use to deal with difficult or disrespectful situations on the river. We are offering this seminar in response to the many requests submitted on the Whale Foundation's sexual harassment questionnaire at the 2006 Spring GTS. The workshop is free and we encourage all members of the river community to attend. Lunch will be provided as well as a mileage stipend for our out-of-town attendees. To register or inquire:
This workshop will focus on how to prepare oneself for and approaches to use in dealing with difficult or disrespectful situations on river.
4th Annual WF Health Fair-Details
Sat March 31, 2007 Hatch Warehouse. Marble Canyon, AZ
Free screenings for Grand Canyon River Guides
We will enhance this year's Health Fair with more screenings and lab tests. Originally conceived by Dr. Tom Myers we offer free screening for various potential problems including high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues, skin cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, oral and dental health, diabetes, depression issues and physical therapy advice. Vouchers for blood tests and mammograms will be given out and the results will be forwarded to the guides that participated.
Don't miss this opportunity if you are an uninsured or underinsure river guide from Grand Canyon (or even an insured river guide). If you work for a Grand Canyon outfitter you qualify for these comprehensive and free screenings.Last year the donation of services by these health care professionals screening thirty-four individuals at what would be approximately $750/patient represents a total value of over $25,000.
Thanks go to all the health care providers who volunteer their time and expertise. We also want to thank Hatch River Expeditionsfor hosting the spring Guides Training Seminar and the Whale Foundation Health Fair.
2006 Fall Training Session
"Mental Health Training: Sexual, Substance Abuse and Hazing Issues"
The Whale Foundation's Health Services Committee hosted a professional presentation titled;
Mental Health Training: Sexual, Substance Abuse and Hazing Issues on Friday, November 3, from 8:30 to 4:00pm in Flagstaff.
3rd ANNUAL WF HEALTH FAIR
Sat March 25, 2006 Hatch Warehouse. Marble Canyon, AZ
Free screenings for Grand Canyon River Guides
On March 25, 34 brave souls interrupted their lunch break at the GTS to run the gauntlet at our 3rd annual Whale Foundation Health Fair. Originally conceived by Dr.
Tom Myers we offer free screening for various potential problems including cardiovascular issues, skin cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, oral and dental health, diabetes, depression issues and physical therapy advice. Vouchers for blood tests and mammograms were given out and the results will be forwarded to the guides that participated. Thanks go to all the health care providers who volunteered their time and expertise: Drs Norm Hanson, Michelle Grua, Rich Haag, and Walt Taylor, Alan Motter FNP and Wyatt Woodard FNP, Pat Heinz CNM, and Kelly Rowell PT as well as Kim Fawcett and Fran Joseph from the Whale Foundation. We also thank Hatch River
Expeditions, Alliance Medical Lab, Northern Arizona Radiology, Soroptimists International of Flagstaff, and the Sedona Cancer Center for their various contributions to this worthwhile effort. We'll be back next year!
(The Whale Foundation paid $172.84 for blood work.) Thank you again to all the health care professionals who donated their weekend to the river community and for their commitment to our well being!
Report on Active Listening Seminar from Saturday Feb 4, 2006
The Health Services Committee, held a training session in October and 20 volunteered to be liaisons within their companies to the WF’soutreach services. It was presented again February 4th with 15 attending. Dick McCallum, Chris Wright, and Dr. Norm Hanson led the discussions and many positive comments were received from the attendees. In 2006 the Health Services Committee will be hosting this popular “Active Listening Seminar” from time to time to help guides and outfitters hone communication skills with their passengers and each other.
Report on the
2nd Annual Health Fair
The second annual Whale Foundation Health Fair was held March 26 at the GTS. Informative materials and free screenings were provided including mammogram vouchers, breast self-exam education, blood pressure checks, dental exams, skin cancer exams, physical therapy evaluations, and vouchers for blood tests to include diabetes, kidney disease, cholesterol, and prostate cancer tests. 41 folks ran the gauntlet and seemed to be very appreciative of the services. Thanks go to the professionals who donated their services; these included Jim Marzolf for dental exams, Diane Hoffman and Eric Pitcher from Flagstaff Medical Center physical therapy, Alan Motter for blood pressure and cardiovascular prevention advice, and Tom Myers, Michelle Grua, and Walt Taylor for medical screenings and advice. Alliance Lab of Flagstaff provided discounted lab services. Soroptimists donated free mammograms, and of course a big thank you goes to Hatch River Expeditions for providing the space and set-up for the event. Thank you Ted, Steve and Sarah! We plan to be back next spring so until then be smart about your health and don't forget the sunscreen!
Report from the 1st Annual Health Fair
At the GCRG Spring 2004 GTS at the Hatch warehouse in Marble Canyon the Whale Foundation hosted the first ever Health Fair free to Grand Canyon River Guides. We had medical professionals on hand to perform free screenings for a variety of maladies such as skin and mouth cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, repetitive stress injuries and srceen for glaucoma, lens disorders, corneal and retinal disorders and visual acuity problems.Some basic metabolic profile vouchers were also available which included blood sugar level (diabetes), electrolytes (potassium, sodium, chloride) and kidney function.Then a full lipid profile: Total cholesterol, hdl, ldl and triglycerides. And, psa: prostate specific antigen for prostate cancer. When you stop to add it up, a retail examination by these docs would run about $75.00 each, a physical therapist $60.00, Marzolf $60.00 then with the two mammogram vouchers worth $200.00 each and the 20 lab work vouchers provided, saving each recipient $100.00, you can see what an incredible donation and ridiculous bargain this was. And as it turns out, some skin cancers were discovered which gave a couple of people a head start on treatment. Thank you Dr. Tom Myers, Dr. Walt Taylor, Dr. Jim Marzolf, Dr.Maureen Meyer, Dr. Diane Hoffman and Eric Pitcher, Dr. Michelle Starr-Grua and Lora Colten.
If you would be interested in volunteering to help out in some way, please contact a Board member or email us with a call back number or leave a message on our business line at 928.774.9440 and we'll be sure to get back with you. Thank you!
