Revised Strategy for AZELO
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Volunteer Call to Action
Volunteer Spotlight: Kem Ellis
Upcoming Events
Revised Strategy for AZELO
by Dwight Moore, Chair, Arizona End-of-Life Options (d.moore@endoflifeoptions.org)
As
you may know, there was little change in the composition of the state
legislature after the November 3rd election. The Speaker of the House
and most of the committee members remain Republican, and we were not
able to gain much traction despite efforts with the 7 Touches Campaign
and lobbying in the legislature. On January 13th, 2021, Representative
Pamela Powers Hannley submitted HB2254, our current medical aid in
dying bill for Arizona although we do not think it has a chance to be
considered in committee. We thank Leesa and Mandy for all their
help getting this bill submitted.
Going forward, we have revised our strategic plan. We now have 13
Educational Projects, 12 Legislative, 5 Endorsement, and 6 Support for a
total of 36 projects. We will put emphasis on the following:
Increased educational efforts
From increasing the social media presence, adding to our You Tube
collection, increasing the number of virtual house parties, conducting
radio interviews, writing letters to the editor, strengthening our Docs
for Dignity program to broadening our volunteer orientation and training
program, we have a goal of educating the citizens of Arizona about
Medical Aid in Dying over the next two years.
Expanding our reach in the legislature
Projects include identifying thirteen Champion legislators who believe
in our cause to help influence other legislators, develop relationships
with minority leaders, build a constituent base of 10 supporters per
legislative district for ongoing lobbying efforts, and develop action
plans to influence legislators who are on the fence or non-supportive.
We are taking the long view and preparing for the next election to get
the bill passed.
Expanding the number of endorsements
We have a specific target of gaining 6 more endorsements from
organizations this year. This will include influencing the medical
community, the religious leaders, and influential organizations like the
Arizona Democratic Party. Relationship building and education are the
cornerstones of these projects.
Support Projects
Expanding our pool of volunteers, polling the citizens about MAID
support, fundraising, and building our relationships with our national
partners are part of this strategy.
We need your help to accomplish these 36 projects. Please contact Kem
Ellis (k.ellis@azendoflifeoptions.org), Volunteer Coordinator, if you
want to increase the time and energy you spend on getting this important
Medical Aid in Dying bill passed in Arizona.
Sincerely,
Dr Dwight Moore, Chairman
Take the Survey!
What Medical Aid in Dying issues are you most interested in? This
newsletter is for you, our supporters, and we want to know what you
think! Tell us what interests you so we can make our newsletter
relevant to your needs.
Coach Mark, who is very busy with his Pickleball business, volunteers to be in the newsletter.
...but Believe in the Cause?
Here’s
an easy task for an already too-busy volunteer! Last month we
asked you to forward our newsletter to a friend since if everyone would
do this, we'll double our readership! This month, ask your friend
if they've read it, and if so, suggest that they subscribe as
well. They can do that on our website, by clicking on
the Arizona End-of-Life Options link at the bottom of this
newsletter.
Volunteer Spotlight: Kem Ellis
The
floor of the Driver License bureau in Bellingham, Washington is highly
polished linoleum. On the day I visited in November, 2018 it was also
wet with the water tracked in on a rainy Monday morning. Having moved to
Blaine, Washington from Greensboro, North Carolina the month before,
obtaining my Washington State driver’s license was just another task on
my checklist for becoming a legal Washington state resident.
Although the office was busy, the seasoned examiner who summoned me to
his station had been watching me out of the corner of his eye as I
walked gingerly about holding my husband’s arm. No sooner had I settled
into my seat than he wanted to know what was causing me to walk so
cautiously. At this moment I realized getting my driver’s license was
not going to be the usual routine chore I had anticipated.
Here’s where I’ll make a long story short. I told the examiner that due
to a neurological condition I had driven a car with hand controls but
had sold it before moving here. But not to worry, I had portable hand
controls for our remaining vehicle. Unfortunately, he said, my plan for
driving was not legal in Washington and he could not issue me a license
to drive.
Suddenly, after eighteen years of accommodating the losses imposed at
the whim of sensory peripheral neuropathy, I was facing another loss.
First diagnosed in 2000, I gradually lost feeling in my feet and lower
legs, followed by feeling in my hands. Eventually my sense of balance
bid me adieu. These earlier losses were gradual, losing my independence
was sudden. From now on I will have to depend on someone else to take me
anywhere I want to go.
My new neurologists decided my old neurologists were right. I do not
have any underlying condition to treat. I am simply the unfortunate
victim of a crummy roll of the genetic dice. Since that rainy Monday
over two years ago I have waged a pitched battle to keep walking. My
arsenal includes a cane, a walker, and my NuStep machine. Right now,
things are looking better for me physically, but I am homebound. The
addition of Covid restrictions has only added to my sense of isolation.
I have always been active in my community through Rotary as well as
serving on, and chairing, numerous local non-profit boards. After moving
across the country and losing my ability to go places on my own I was
sure my days of civic engagement were behind me. Well, not so fast.
Last July I had the opportunity to begin volunteering with Arizona End
of Life Options when I was asked to contact Arizona residents who were
interested in volunteering with AZELO. I had never really heard much
about Medical Aid in Dying before I started this project. The topic was
never top of mind in North Carolina and I was not even aware I had moved
to a state where Medical Aid in Dying was legal.
During the past six months I have enjoyed speaking with many supporters
of AZELO and its work. For many, Medical Aid In Dying is an important
personal issue. As each person shared their story and invited me to
share mine, I realized my sense of isolation was disappearing.
In December I agreed to expand on my work with our volunteers as
Volunteer Coordinator for AZELO. As usual, I have jumped into this new
role with both feet and guess what, I really think I have a “feel” for
it. So, if you’re reading this newsletter, it’s most likely we have
recently shared our stories or will soon!
Upcoming Events
If you haven't already, register for our
live webinar on zoom about the Six Choices at the End of Life. Other
recorded webinars are also available on the webinar page of the AZELO
website at https://AZEndofLifeOptions.org
