July 5, 2005. It has been awhile since our last meeting and from my last posting. Since then, the IC has continued to move, albeit somewhat silently, considering how busy we all are in our lives, jobs and families.

     At this point, we have about 40 registered members. Not bad, considering we started with 13. There are several more that log on the website, although they don’t necessarily register or post, and many more who know about us but defer actually signing up. It is our job to at least try to convince them to make a move and register. It’s not easy of course, since here in the Chicago area for example I can count at least half a dozen alumni who don’t really participate. Everybody is busy and have priorities.

     Regarding funds, I have contacted our Treasurer (Dr. Aligaen) and we will soon post an update. Last March, we opened a Bank of America Business Checking Account under the IC’s name, which is being managed by Dr. Aligaen. Our Vice President in coordination with the Treasurer is managing the Paypal account. As we all know, we donated $500 to the Medical Foundation last March, and paid $ 250 to the Philippine-based alumni association for 14 member’s lifetime membership dues. This money was personally handed over to Dr. Villareal (Dean) and Dr. Palmes (Alumni President) by our VP Dr. Rolour Garcia. Copies of the checks and pictures are posted in the website.

     The IC turned one year old last April, and annual membership dues are now overdue. Only a few of the original members have paid updated annual membership dues however. Emails or a posting will soon be placed on whom needs to pay after Dr. Aligaen updates the financial report. All the officers also voted to give a pledge of at least $100 each, also due last April. Only 7 or 8 of the officers I believe have actually sent money so far. We have also received a few donations sent thru Paypal and by mail to our Las Vegas address. Thank you very much for the donations. We will continue to need this generous support so we can continue operations, and send the donations in terms of cash and medical supplies to our Alma Mater.

     Our $ 500 donation to the College of Medicine Medical Education and Research Foundation is for financial support of a deserving medical student in need, which we may call an “IC Scholar”. We have discussed the criteria, definitions and how to coordinate with the College of Medicine in the disbursement of this money thru our last teleconference and the Forum. No definite guideline has yet been decided. We need to discuss this in the next meeting. Also, Drs. Janay, Bajoyo and Arthur Del Rosario were assigned to look into Scholarship criteria and guidelines. A recommendation from them will be needed prior to the next meeting.

     I shall also be asking for an update regarding the task of looking into the process of getting a tax-exempt status for the IC which was assigned also to Dr. Bajoyo and Dr. Janay. We need this before we can do more fund raising activities in the future. Suggestions are welcome. Regarding the other prior proposals, it was decided that we would defer contributing to paying Internet access to the Medical Library, as they already have this available. They can use more computers, but we don’t have enough funds to donate even a single one. They welcome immensely any journals and medical books however, and we continue to encourage such donations. So far, we have sent only 5 Balikbayan Boxes to the College and University Hospital in our first year of existence. These consisted mainly of medical journals and medical supplies. A letter from the Residents can be read in the website, appreciating the much needed supplies we sent especially for indigent patients.

     The cost of medical care is ridiculously expensive and many patients die because of poverty, limiting their access to care. And even if they are forced to come in for medical care, they cannot afford the recommended therapy or treatments. Often, there is not even enough supplies for their emergent work up and medicines, that they perish before they can be properly diagnosed and treated. We have all seen this and know how frustrating, painful and sad it is. Every single penny, supply and drop of knowledge you send will be instrumental in saving lives and uplifting our College of Medicine and University Hospital.

     Our next meeting will be scheduled probably in early August (not June as originally proposed). I will be calling all the officers again, and coordinating with Dr. Garcia on when and how to contact all the officers and Drs. Guevara and Octaviano, whom we voted to include in these conferences. Please post suggestions, issues and topics and you can email me at docdan1@pol.net. Thank you very much.

     More power to the WVSUCMAA-IC!

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