Hospital Update Dec. 2008

Hospital Update Dec. 2008

The Hospital Upadate recieved from President and Chief Executive Officer of the Shriner's Hospitals For Children, Ralph W. Semb, Past Imperial Potentate contained the following information; The Endowment Fund for the Shriner's Hospitals For Children has lost $2.7 BILLION over the last nine months. The need for a 4.5% Merit Pay incresase still exisits within a ZERO PERCENT INCREASE budget request from the Joint Board.  Here is the official HOSPITAL BUDGET FOR 2009 $760,644.00. The Research BUDGET is $41,000,000.00. Justin Timberlake's involvement along with the PGA Tour is increasing our publicity for the hospitals. You can download the song "Follow My Lead" with the proceeds benefitting the SHC by going to http://www.myspace.com/justintimberlake where more than 1.5 million of Justin's fans visit also. It was pointed out that Shriner volunteers from Canada, Mexico and thoughout the United States showed up to volunteer. Portland has a new Chief of Staff, Dr. Mike Aiona. Dr. Michelle James, Chief of Staff, Orthopedics, North California has been named Deputy Editor of the Journal of Hand Surgery. Galveston is still under repair now that the island is no longer under water. Nearly three feet of water entered the hospital which is several feet above the street level. Neighbor and research partner University of Texas Medical Branch announced layoffs of 2800 people (media reports up to 4000) none of which are in the burn research area. Construction continues at Montreal, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Philidelphia, Portland, Chicago, Springfield, and Twin Cities. San Antonio's very own Clear Channel Communications has donated over $3,000,000.00 in advertising for the SHC.