Answer from the Board regarding open meeting on February 22, 2007

November 13, 2006 To Whom it may concern, I am a member of the general public. I would like information on how to add a topic of concern to the agenda for the February Open meeting. I am plan to attend this meeting and I want to follow proper procedure. Are the topics picked by the Board? Are topics open for discussion or is the public there only to listen to the Board? Answer to these questions would be most helpful. Thank you for your interest in the February 22 2007 VCH Open Board meeting. The meeting will be held in Richmond. I am unable to confirm the exact location at this time, as the facility contract has not been finalized. Holding open Board meetings is one of the many avenues used by the Authority to ensure accountability and communication with the public; other avenues include establishment of community advisory committees, website information and regular reports to the public. Open meetings do not mean meetings at which the public is entitled to participate. Under the Health Authorities Act, the public is entitled to observe the meeting. Therefore, I am unable to schedule a formal presentation period at the Open Meeting. However, the Board will hold a public question and answer period, following adjournment of regular business. This normally takes place from 11:00 to 12:00 noon, but is dependent upon timing/length of the final business agenda. You are welcome to participate in this open Q&A session and will be given the opportunity to speak to the Board at that time. If you are unable to attend to speak during the Q&A session, your suggestions may be submitted in writing. There will be a drop box and writing materials available at the meeting, or the query may be mailed direct to my attention at the address listed below. Thank you. Louise Kokotailo, Board Liaison Vancouver Coastal Health 11th floor, 601 W. Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4C2 Email: [email protected]

Hi Sarah, Thanks for posting this reply. The part that says, if they have time, they take questions from the public makes me think we should be prepared to not get any time to ask questions at all. If that happens we might want to pickett in front of their building. And I think we need to let the news know we are going to talk about a solution to severe and morbid obesity etc etc etc. I am not sure if news items do much good. Maybe it is far better to do something dramatic like set up a tent and refuse to move til they make some promises to set up more bariatric programs. They only seem to respond to negative press. I guess we need to work on what questions to ask. Like When will they be starting a new bariatric program? What are they doing right now, today to help morbidly obese people? Why are they choosing to put knee and hip replacement surgery ahead of surgery for the morbidly obese? What did they use to base the decision on? I wonder what their mission statement is? I think we will need to put alot more pressure on the MLA's and politicians. Hope you have a good week Janice It's not like they don't get letters from us all the time.