Volunteers in Medicine-Jacksonville

February is mixed bag of seasonal weather. Sometimes we have really cold and wet weather and others we have some beautiful sunny weather. The Donna Deegan Marathon for the fight against Breast Cancer is an annual event each February that draws thousands and thousands of people participating in the run, volunteers and spectators. It is a well-run event but like all well attended events it requires lots of volunteers and patience from all the participants. Don’t forget to take your time, plan to be at all the events early and of course, parking will always be an issue.

Become a Breast Cancer Marathon Race Crew Volunteer has all the information for becoming a volunteer and having a good time while helping a good cause. You will even get some great stuff for participating. It is a huge event with lots of people coming from all over the U.S. and some are even from other countries. The events start on Wednesday, February 8th to Sunday, February 12th. There are lots of events going on that needs volunteers not just for the race day on Saturday.

Check it Out!

If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, what are you waiting for? Now, more than ever the flu shot is one of the best way to help you prevent or lessen the symptoms of the flu in the coming months. Even employers, especially healthcare employers, are beginning to require flu shots as part of the continuing employee health program. Some are offering FREE Flu shots and if yours does please take advantage of it. The American Lung Association has a database for people to locate the nearest place to get your flu shot based on your zip code:
http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/influenza/flu-vaccine-finder/

Some general prices for the flu shot by place:

Solantic Urgent Care is charging $30
Walgreens Takecare Clinics $31.99
CVS Minute Clinic - $29.99
Walmart offers Flu shots at their various locations through their partnership with Mollen Immunization Clinics but only for limited hours. For $25
Publix Pharmacy – $30
Winn Dixie – Look for their Placards in front of your local stores.

For those of you who do not qualify for healthcare help here at VIM-Jax because you make too much money you might want to try the federal government program that each state must administer called the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Program. Yes, there are some requirements before you can apply but if you meet them it will allow you a chance to get insurance. Check out the website: https://www.pcip.gov/ Read through the website and then go to the state page to be taken to your state’s insurance page.

For Florida State Plans page go to: https://www.pcip.gov/StatePlans.html They have a listing for Florida with costs. Sadly, the “Cover Florida” guaranteed insurance coverage program was disbanded due to overuse. So, get out there and find yourself some insurance coverage.

The Fall Human Race is fast approaching. The race is October 8th at the St. Johns Town Center. For more information, an application and more go to the 1st Place Sports website: http://www.handsonjacksonville.org/HOJ_HumanRace#top You can also download our flyer here: The Fall Human Race Flyer 2011 If you cannot participate in the run then please help sponsor someone who would like to run.

Get out there and have fun! But also help support Volunteers in Medicine – Jacksonville….

Attention all friends, Volunteers and supporters of Volunteers in Medicine-Jacksonville:

VIM-Jax has been recognized and chosen as one of 35 nonprofits nationally to compete in a voting contest by Aetna in a campaign called ”Aetna Voices of Health”.

First place is worth $25,000 – second place is $15,000 – and third place is $10,000 – so this is a wonderful opportunity for you to help us raise funds (without actually donating money yourself).

Please take just a few seconds to click on the link below and vote for us.

http://www.aetnavoicesofhealth.com/agencies/vim-jax.php

You can vote up to 10 times from any single email address – and you can vote all ten times in a row at one sitting.

It’s quick and easy – just enter your name and email address and click on the green Vote for us now! Button.

Please also forward this email to all your friends, family, business contacts and Facebook and Twitter contacts – and urge them to vote for us as well.

Thank you so much as always for all your help in supporting VIM-Jax care for our working uninsured patients,

Look Below for the New PSA for VIM-JAX. If you came from the Home Page you also saw the new informational video as well.

Yes, we had some problems with the website but, hopefully, they are now at an in as well. Enjoy the new movie, commercial as well as the new photo galleries. We are constantly trying new things to keep the website updated and user friendly.

YOU AND A GUEST ARE INVITED!

Below you will find the invitation to the VIM-Jax Volunteer Appreciation Evening, to be held at the Independent Building (Modis) on Friday April 15, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The volunteer appreciation awards will be between 5:00 and 6:00, followed by food and music for your enjoyment during the art exhibition. Our hosts are Dr. and Mrs. George Dorion. (Dottie)

Please RSVP to this e-mail, or call me at 399-2766 ext 103 to respond by April 8. We look forward to honoring you!

In appreciation,
Catie

Hi All,
Please see below “Save the Date” for our spring volunteer appreciation event in your honor. An invitation will follow. Volunteers will be recognized during the 5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. time slot.
Thank you for all you do!

Catie Wallace
Volunteer Coordinator

Save The Date Volunteer Appreciation Event

We have added a Volunteer Orientation Page for those who are new to our organization: Check it out click here: Volunteer Orientation

We are currently experiencing some technical difficulties with the website so that all the functions are not really working properly. We have contacted our web host provider and hope to have all the various functions such as the contact page, picture viewing, secure log-in, etc fixed very soon.

We really appreciate your patients and hope you will keep checking back.

For the next several weeks we will be getting ready for the holiday season. With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas and New Years ahead we should try to prepare as much as possible for the upcoming changes as well as the holidays themselves. We often put pressure on ourselves to make every holiday season a special one for our family and friends but we should also take a little time out for ourselves as well. Stress is one of the major factors affecting our health during the upcoming holidays. Finding ways to reduce that stress should be one of the top things you try to do now before the actual holidays arrives. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa get into the spirit of things by making lists before you go to the store and stick to your budget; don’t wait until the last minute to do everything (a little bit each day will see you through); take time out to ride around your neighborhood and look at the lights and decorations; listen to your favorite holiday music while you are wrapping presents, cooking meals or decorating your home; and finally allow yourself time to de-stress by curling up on the couch with your favorite beverage and an old holiday movie.

Just a note for those patients who are under 26 years of age: Be sure to check with your parents to see if you can obtain health coverage through one or both of them. With the new changes in the Affordable Healthcare Law most insurances through employers have already allowed their subscribers to add their children to their policies who previously did not qualify. According to the law that includes children between the ages of 18 and 26 who may or may not be in school, may or may not have a job AND who may or may not be married! Most require that the children (and step-children) be added during the “Open Enrollment Period” and for most companies that is generally now through the end of the year so check it out.