Yesterday was inspiring.
I spent some quality time with two former students, both University of Oregon grads and both dynamic leaders with beautiful and productive minds.
I also enjoyed another glimpse of the phenomenal team effort on the local level to expand Medicaid in Idaho.
Such activity is happening all over the state, thanks to organizational efforts over the past year to get the Medicaid Initiative aka Prop 2 on this fall's general election ballot.
My first interaction with a former student took place over a cup of coffee and a couple of hours.
I also enjoyed another glimpse of the phenomenal team effort on the local level to expand Medicaid in Idaho.
Such activity is happening all over the state, thanks to organizational efforts over the past year to get the Medicaid Initiative aka Prop 2 on this fall's general election ballot.
My first interaction with a former student took place over a cup of coffee and a couple of hours.
I hadn't seen Liz McNeil for at least 20 years, long enough anyway for her to discover that there IS more than one Starbucks in our community.
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| Former student Liz McNeil (left) took the selfie! |
Our visit was a bit delayed because Liz was still operating somewhat in old Sandpoint mode and learning that the town where she graduated from high school in 1994 has changed.
Eventually, she found her way to the Ponderay Starbucks, where the second person she met, after we had reconnected, served her a coffee drink.
This young Starbucks staff member also heard how her mom was one of the nicest people Liz had ever known.
This young Starbucks staff member also heard how her mom was one of the nicest people Liz had ever known.
Yup, Grace Meyer waited on us, and it was a beautiful spontaneous moment as Liz poured out her heart about memories of Grace's mom, the late Jenny Jacobson Meyer. The two attended Sandpoint High School at the same time.
Jenny both envisioned and continually inspired the annual Celebrate Life Fun Run/Walk, which completed its 15th and final year this past weekend.
Grace is now a senior at Sandpoint High School.
Once we left the counter, Liz and I never stopped talking until we climbed in our respective vehicles and went our separate ways.
During the time she was a student in my honors English class, Liz shined as a student with a pure and passionate love for learning, which, happily, continues through every day of her life.
Over the years she has amassed a host of personal and practical skills through work experience to go along with her formal education.
Nowadays, she supervises a staff of 70 at her office in Eugene where, on a daily basis, she focuses on issues of poverty and its consequences.
A firm and disciplined believer in helping people who demonstrate the desire to help themselves, Liz's passion is evident in virtually every sentence she utters.
That beautiful mind of hers is at work, making a difference.
The other beautiful mind was at work yesterday afternoon pumping up the Sandpoint team of door-to-door proponents spreading the word about how the Medicaid Initiative will bring Federal dollars coming from Idaho taxpayers back to Idaho to help 60,000-plus Idahoans.
"If Idaho expands Medicaid, the federal government would cover 90 percent of the cost, tapping federal tax funds that Idahoans already pay," a Spokesman-Review story featuring the Medicaid Initiative efforts reported earlier this year. "And current state programs to cover catastrophic medical bills for Idahoans who can’t pay wouldn’t need the millions in state and local taxes they now consume."
"'Medicaid expansion would immediately start saving taxpayer money, and then in the medium term it would generate all kinds of economic benefits by bringing so many of our federal dollars back into Idaho,” [Luke] Mayville said.
Luke and his classmate Garrett Strizich founded Reclaim Idaho. From that evolved the massive and ambitious effort to put a Medicaid Initiative before Idaho voters.
Over the past year, Reclaim Idaho and its ever-increasing team of volunteers across the state have succeeded in securing more than enough signatures for the Initiative to appear on the general election ballot this November.
As a natural follow-up, the teams are now knocking on doors and talking to voters about the Initiative.
An intensive effort of door knocking in 20 communities over 20 days throughout Idaho began at Evans Bros. Coffee House yesterday afternoon.
Luke, a Sandpoint High, University of Oregon and Yale grad who teaches at Columbia University, came home from New York to help steer the newest Medicaid Mobile to each community.
After yesterday's local team spent a few hours talking to community members---with mostly positive results, Luke asked me if I'd like to join him in the Medicaid Mobile on a quick trip to Sen. Shawn Keough's home.
Twas my first time riding in the big green and old motor home, and I must say that Luke knows how to maneuver the rig through the tight spots in downtown Sandpoint, waving all along the way.
We enjoyed a nice visit with Mike and Shawn, and then had fun taking a few photos.
In addition to seeing the dedicated team members preparing for their mission, I was delighted to enjoy a short but businesslike visit with Luke.
His beautiful mind has certainly been at work benefitting and inspiring others throughout our state.
It's truly a joy, as a former teacher, to see these young people using their minds and their education and devoting their lives for the good of others.
When I see younger people like Luke Mayville and Liz McNeil Runte, I see two of the many wonderful examples of hope IN ACTION for this country.
Yes, it was an inspiring day.
Grace is now a senior at Sandpoint High School.
Once we left the counter, Liz and I never stopped talking until we climbed in our respective vehicles and went our separate ways.
During the time she was a student in my honors English class, Liz shined as a student with a pure and passionate love for learning, which, happily, continues through every day of her life.
Over the years she has amassed a host of personal and practical skills through work experience to go along with her formal education.
Nowadays, she supervises a staff of 70 at her office in Eugene where, on a daily basis, she focuses on issues of poverty and its consequences.
A firm and disciplined believer in helping people who demonstrate the desire to help themselves, Liz's passion is evident in virtually every sentence she utters.
That beautiful mind of hers is at work, making a difference.
The other beautiful mind was at work yesterday afternoon pumping up the Sandpoint team of door-to-door proponents spreading the word about how the Medicaid Initiative will bring Federal dollars coming from Idaho taxpayers back to Idaho to help 60,000-plus Idahoans.
"If Idaho expands Medicaid, the federal government would cover 90 percent of the cost, tapping federal tax funds that Idahoans already pay," a Spokesman-Review story featuring the Medicaid Initiative efforts reported earlier this year. "And current state programs to cover catastrophic medical bills for Idahoans who can’t pay wouldn’t need the millions in state and local taxes they now consume."
"'Medicaid expansion would immediately start saving taxpayer money, and then in the medium term it would generate all kinds of economic benefits by bringing so many of our federal dollars back into Idaho,” [Luke] Mayville said.
Luke and his classmate Garrett Strizich founded Reclaim Idaho. From that evolved the massive and ambitious effort to put a Medicaid Initiative before Idaho voters.
Over the past year, Reclaim Idaho and its ever-increasing team of volunteers across the state have succeeded in securing more than enough signatures for the Initiative to appear on the general election ballot this November.
As a natural follow-up, the teams are now knocking on doors and talking to voters about the Initiative.
An intensive effort of door knocking in 20 communities over 20 days throughout Idaho began at Evans Bros. Coffee House yesterday afternoon.
Luke, a Sandpoint High, University of Oregon and Yale grad who teaches at Columbia University, came home from New York to help steer the newest Medicaid Mobile to each community.
After yesterday's local team spent a few hours talking to community members---with mostly positive results, Luke asked me if I'd like to join him in the Medicaid Mobile on a quick trip to Sen. Shawn Keough's home.
Twas my first time riding in the big green and old motor home, and I must say that Luke knows how to maneuver the rig through the tight spots in downtown Sandpoint, waving all along the way.
We enjoyed a nice visit with Mike and Shawn, and then had fun taking a few photos.
In addition to seeing the dedicated team members preparing for their mission, I was delighted to enjoy a short but businesslike visit with Luke.
His beautiful mind has certainly been at work benefitting and inspiring others throughout our state.
It's truly a joy, as a former teacher, to see these young people using their minds and their education and devoting their lives for the good of others.
When I see younger people like Luke Mayville and Liz McNeil Runte, I see two of the many wonderful examples of hope IN ACTION for this country.
Yes, it was an inspiring day.
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| Oops! Didn't have my glasses on when I signed and transposed that "h" in Idaho. Oh well, like Navajo blankets, the "flaw" makes it unique! |
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