President's Pen

Greetings from Oregon!

I am visiting my grandsons after attending the Annual Leadership Meeting in Washington DC. Debbie and I spent last week at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill with other chapter presidents and executive directors on a number of issues.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2007, Debbie and I were in separate sessions with our respective colleagues. The chapter presidents had a day long leadership development training on the president’s duties and responsibilities, the treasurer’s duties and responsibilities and the board’s responsibilities. Included in this session were specific topics such as agenda setting, committee reports, etc. As I sat through this training, I thought that this would have been helpful for all our board members as well. It is too bad that we couldn’t send our board officers and members to such trainings. Or even afford to have national staff come to Hawaii to do this training. At the same time, it was a time for chapter presidents to share their ideas and common concerns as a leader.

We spent Thursday, April 26, 2007 on the Hill. Debbie and I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois constituents breakfast in hopes of seeing Senator Barack Obama. (After all, Debbie and Senator Obama attended the same high school – Punahou!) Unfortunately, Senator Obama could not attend as he was on his way to South Carolina for the Democrats’ Presidential Debate. On the other hand, we had the opportunity to hear Senator Richard Durbin and take pictures with him. You ask, how were we able to attend this event? The Illinois executive director and chapter president invited us to attend – especially knowing that Senator Obama had ties to Hawaii. Besides, Debbie wanted her book, “The Audacity of Hope,” signed by Senator Obama.

During our visit to the Hill, Debbie and I were able to meet with Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, Congressman Neil Abercrombie, and Senator Daniel Akaka. Unfortunately, Senator Inouye was not available but we met with Pat Deleon, his administrative assistant. The purpose of our visit to our congressional delegates was to discuss our identified issues: 1) Title IV-E funding; 2) Medicare reimbursements for clinical social work in nursing home facilities; 3) Social work research (S.106); strengthening social work training (S. 64); 4) loan forgiveness: and social work shortage. We were very fortunate that our congressional delegates and their legislative assistants were able to spend the time to discuss these issues with us. In fact, Senate bills 64 and 106 were introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye. Congressman Abercrombie said that he was willing to work on co-sponsoring the bill in the House. He was planning to contact Congresswoman Hirono’s office to work this out. This was quite an experience for me to see our congressional delegates in this element. And I must say that their offices are extremely busy with so many people in and out of their offices, like a revolving door of people!

Friday and Saturday were spent back at the hotel in general sessions. The focus was “Social Work Reinvestment Initiative.” All chapters were given the task of developing and eventually implementing a strategic plan. An outline was shared with us to work our respective boards on developing this strategic plan for our chapters. The deadline for submitting this plan to national is December 2007. This is right in line with our Board’s agenda. At our last meeting on April 12, we discussed the development of a strategic plan for our chapter.

Believe it or not, we had only one night free. We spent the nights in plenary sessions. Did we have time for fun? Sure we did! On Friday night, we had a reception with “sticky rice” and stir fried dishes (beef, shrimp and chicken). There were also door prizes (donated by chapters) and games.

After Saturday morning’s session, we went our separate ways – home and to other parts of the country. Debbie went to San Francisco to visit her daughter and I flew to Oregon. I should be home on May 13. But on May 17 I fly out to New York and Chicago for a consultant’s forum.

I will close for now. (I have to give my grandsons their bath!

Jeanette Matsumoto, LSW
President