Prior to the dot-com recession and in the years hence, regardless of what the economy was doing, my conversations with local and regional business leaders continue to center on one key topic: the value of engaging their companies and their employees in the community.

While these conversations run the gamut, a common theme prevails: Many business leaders view community engagement and leadership as a successful measure of employee development. As a result, they see community leadership programs as an educational tool to enhance their employees’ professional and personal growth.

As I look around the world today, I can’t help but think that so many conflicts result from of a lack of cultural awareness, sensitivity and understanding. By celebrating the accomplishments and good of all cultures, I believe we make our world a better and more peaceful place.  

Arun Raha, former revenue forecaster for the state of Washington, defined the difference between recession and recovery by likening it to a person falling into a pot hole in the sidewalk or roadway. Once we leave the surface and start the “fall” to the bottom of the hole we are in “recession.”  Once we gather our wits, dust off our ego and take the first step up the side of the hole (regardless of how high of a step we take), we are in recovery. Staying with the analogy, Raha went on to say that only when we reached the surface would we be recovered.

The following letter to the editor was submitted in response to our March 2 Healthcare & Hospitals focus section article titled, “Will Clark County’s CUP be empty?”

I am an optometric physician in Clark County, and I’m not sure we will be any worse off without Columbia United Providers (CUP) in town.

It is my experience that patients don’t know whether they are covered by CUP or not. What’s worse, new ProviderOne cards do not clearly designate whether they are a part of the
plan or not.