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Byhalia chamber busy with activities
• Publicity push ongoing By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Photo by Sue Watson
Luncheon
Trinity Mission hosted last week’s luncheon. From left are guest speaker William Thompson and director Mary Peebles. |
The Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce now has a page on Facebook. Executive
director Sarah Sawyer, during the quarterly luncheon last Thursday,
announced the new addition to the chamber’s way of broadcasting its
news and pictures. The luncheon was held at Trinity Mission Health and
Rehab of Great Oaks. The Facebook page adds to the chamber’s website, www.gobyhalia.com. There
were lots of “thank you’s” at the meeting with the announcing of
several awards. Mary Peebles, director of Trinity Mission, received the
president of the year award from her company. Dr. Dana Nash was
presented medical director of the year, and Rhonda Reeves was chosen
director of nursing of the year by the company. In
other good news, Pam Thomas, president of the chamber and employee of
WESCO Distribution, announced the Byhalia distribution center received
the top award for most outstanding distributer in its large network.
This is the second time WESCO at Byhalia has been recognized by its
cooperate office for excellence. Sawyer
recognized officers and staff of the chamber for their worthy service
including Jim Robinson, first vice president and Leah Grant, second
vice president. She also praised Trinity Mission for its great staff and landscaping, as well as its beautiful facility.  | Photo by Sue Watson
Welcoming members and guests
From
left are Carla Paradine, Servpro (Hernando), Bennie Mayfield and Debbie
Smith (Lonesource), Angela McComsey and Jacob Jones (New York Life),
Kent Mathis (UBS Financial Services), David Olds (Servepro) and Mary
and Vick Crain, guests of Sarah Sawyer. |
The
membership at the chamber stands at about 240, including business and
individual memberships. It is the membership, pledges, sponsorships and
investments every year that help make the chamber’s budget every year,
Sawyer said. The Business of the Month Golden Cup award went to Byhalia Drugs after staying with Trinity Mission for the last 30 days. Sawyer
announced the poker run set for June 5 in Byhalia with proceeds going
to the chamber and to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. Participants do
not have to ride to participate and the ride ends with dinner, live
music and a free T-shirt at El Nopalito. Music will be provided by
Greenleaf. Mississippi Main Street has stretched
out its hand to Byhalia. Kent Mathis with UBS Financial Services Inc.
and board member of the chamber, has agreed to take the lead on
bringing Main Street to Byhalia. After Peebles
recognized her managing staff, Stephanie Cotton, nutrition; Billy
Logan, activity director; Gwen Shaw, social worker; Rhonda Reeves,
director of nursing; Sue Haley, business manager; and Lanita Pew,
marketing director; she introduced the guest speaker, William Thompson,
vice president of ancillary services. A nurse of 30 years and 20 years in long-term care nursing, Thompson spoke briefly on the new national healthcare bill. He
said it will take 10 years for the bill to go into full effect and by
the time that 10 years roll around, the bill may not look much like it
is said to be today. “Everybody is confused,” Thompson said, including himself. Some of the immediate impacts of the bill include: •
a requirement that employers with 50 or more employees offer some type
of insurance to their employees. They may do so by providing vouchers,
a federal health employee type plan as offered to postal workers and
veterans, or private insurance. There will be multiple types of
offerings available for employees to choose from. • insurance companies will be allowed to market their products across state lines. • parents may keep their college-age children on as covered dependants up to age 26. •
government will require insurance companies to pay for preventive
screenings such as colonoscopies and will require insuring for
preexisting conditions. • insurance companies
will not be allowed to put a cap on coverage that has in the past
caused the sick and elderly to lose their benefits. “In
10 years, I’ll guarantee you it is not going to look like what it does
now,” Thompson said. “What’s confusing is I am in health care and
reading it every day (on the Internet) and every day something new
comes out.” |
