Health Care Decisions Week ‘05

October 31 – November 5, 2005

Dear volunteer,

Thank you for volunteering to participate in “Plan Ahead…Health Care Decisions Week ’05.” The goal of this week-long effort is to help Ohioans better understand advance directives.Health care providers and attorneys will be available at local public libraries to answer questions about advance directives – particularly living wills, health care powers of attorney – and to help participants complete these documents if participants desire.

This effort is a partnership among the Ohio State Bar Association along with metropolitan and local bar associations, the Ohio State Bar Foundation, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, and the Ohio Library Council.

We have included a list of volunteers, locations, dates and times for our events. Please check your assignment (start with your county, then look for your name at the libraries by dates and times). If you do not see your name on the list it means that we were not able to accommodate your availability, but we sincerely appreciate your interest. If you have questions, please contact Jessica Emch, Ohio State Bar Association, P.O. Box 16562, Columbus, Ohio43216-6562, . She also can be reached by phone at 614/487-4424.

We are also making the following materials available to you for use at your assigned location and time. Please go to these materials:

  • a news release being issued statewide to announce the event;
  • a flier you can use locally to publicize the activity. (Please print and post);
  • talking points for volunteers;
  • a disclaimer explaining the scope of the event.(Please print a copy and post at your event site);
  • advance directives forms(Here is a link to these forms online for your advance review: We will send you hard copies by mail for your use during your assigned times);
  • an informational brochure entitled “Living Wills and Health Care Powers of Attorney” (We will be sending you hard copies by mail for your use during your assigned times. You will also receive under separate cover background materials from the Ohio Hospice & Palliative Care Organization);
  • a list of Lawyer Referral Information Systems.(Please make several copies to use during your assigned times);
  • a list of pertinent website addresses.(Please make several copies to use during your assigned times);
  • a sign-up sheet for participants. (Please take a few copies with you and have each participant sign in. Please return these completed sign-up sheets to Jessica when your volunteer service is completed. We will be using these sheets to document public participation.)

I’d like to address some housekeeping issues. Each of the participating public libraries will provide us with space for our event. Please check at the desk when you arrive (and please come a little ahead of your scheduled time) to determine your location. If your room becomes too crowded, please find a location in the library for folks to wait. If you run out of materials, please ask at the desk for assistance in making additional copies (or do so at your office in advance).

You will be asked questions and, in some cases, you will be asked to help complete forms. Use the forms we send you for this purpose. If someone only wants to pick up materials, please provide them with the brochure “Living Wills and Health Care Powers of Attorney,” the list of local Lawyer Referral Information Services and website addresses. We would prefer that those people who do not meet with you to complete forms tocontact Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization for a complete set of forms and instructions.

If you have more people than you can help during your shift, please check the list of volunteers to see if other times will be available at your assigned library and provide those times to your visitors. If there are no other times in your area, please hand remaining visitors a brochure “Living Wills and Health Care Powers of Attorney,” a list of Lawyer Referral Information Service, and the list of pertinent websites. Patrons can visit theses websites for additional materials and assistance.

Again, we sincerely appreciate your participation in this important statewide event. Please contact us with any questions, or with suggestions for improvement.

Sincerely,

Ken Brown

Director of Public & Media Relations

Ohio State Bar Association

1700 Lake Shore Drive

Columbus, OH43204

614/487-4426 (office)

614/746-2457 (cellular)