PO Box 2157  ~  Alachua, FL  ~  32616

(386) 462-1551  ~  (386) 462 1601 fax

History of the Florida Rural Health Association

The Florida Rural Health Association was developed to bring together individuals with an interest in rural health care and human services . The Association is dedicated to ensuring that residents of rural communities have access to a continuum of affordable health care services; to advocate for public policy initiatives; to facilitate those services; and to strengthen rural communities .

1992

In August of 1992, the first Organizing Committee meeting for the Florida Rural Health Association was held in Orlando . There were 27 individuals involved in organizing this Association .

Original Address:   William A silagra. (Chip) Cover, Jr ., President

Florida Rural Health Association

                                     P.O. Box 10174

                                     Jacksonville , FL 32247-0174

1993

By March of 1993, the Committee successfully defined a Mission , Goals and Objectives, and drafted a set of Bylaws. Articles of Incorporation were also drafted accutane online.

First Annual Conference, September 15-17, 1993, Clarion Plaza Hotel, Orlando , FL (no theme)

1993-94 Board of Directors/Officers: William A. (CHIP) Cover, Jr. (Pres), Carol Gormley (VP), Susan Moore (Sec), Linda Brainard (Tres), Nick Chapman, Jeannee Elswick-Morrison, Martin Goldstein, Alan Jameson, Stephen Mason, Bobby McKown, Bob Quam, Gyla Wise, and Marc Yacht

 1994

Second Annual Conference, September 21-23, 1994, Tampa Marriott Westshore, Tampa , FL – Theme: Improving Rural Health Care Through Networking – There was a Call for Presentations for this conference.

1994-95 Board of Directors/Officers: William A. (Chip) Cover, Jr. (Pres), Carol Gormley (VP), Nick Chapman (Sec), Linda Brainard (Tres), Gyla Wise, Gaye Williams, Stephen Mason, Marc Yacht, Jeannee Elswick-Morrison, Tammy Sanders, Richard Akin, Yvonne Duffe, and Alan Jameson

The first membership brochure, Working together for a better Florida , was designed and distributed .

The first FRHA Newsletter was published in April 1994 and the second one was published the Winter 1994.

The first FRHA Policy Book was drafted in 1994.

1995

Third Annual Conference, October 11-13, 1995, Clarion Plaza Hotel, Orlando , FL – Theme: Building the Future…Together – There was a Call for Presentations for this conference.

1996

New home address:    Carol Gormley, President

                                        Florida Rural Health Association

                                        11 West University Avenue, Suite 

                                        Gainesville , FL 32601

1995-96 Board of Directors/Officers: Carol Gormley (Pres), Alan Jameson (VP), Linda Brainard (Tres), and Nick Chapman (Sec), Rae Ann Lusik, Jeannee Elswick-Morrison, Chip Cover, Gaye Williams, Marc Yacht, Gyla Wise, Wayne McDaniel, Richard Akin, Tammy Sanders, and Larry Rooks

The first FRHA Strategic Planning and Implementation meeting was held on January 27, 1996

The FRHA initiated Regional Membership Committees and Advocacy Principles.

1997

The Fourth Annual FRHA Conference was held at the Orlando North Hilton, Altamonte Springs , FL , on January 29-31, 1997 – Theme: Creating a Rural Voice

1997 Board of Directors/Officers: Carol Gormley (Pres), Alan Jameson (VP), Linda Brainard (Tres), Jeannee Elswick-Morrison (SEC), Wayne McDaniel, Marc Yacht, Al Grant, David Duke, Tammy Sanders, Andy Behrman, and Gary Moore

This year, FRHA sponsored a Regional Conference:

·        Ocala Hilton, Ocala , FL , September 30, 1997 – Issues: Disease Management in a Rural Setting and Health Issues in the 1998 Legislature

1998

1998 Board of Directors/Officers: Carol Gormley (Pres), Alan Jameson (VP), Raeann Lusik (Sec), Linda Brainard (Tres), William Cover, Andy Behrman, Art Clawson, David Duke, Susan Gay, Sharon Haber, Martha Valiant, Gregg Glass, Al Grant, Tammy Sanders, and Gaye Williams

This year, FRHA sponsored a Regional Conference:

·        Chipola Jr. College , Marianna , FL , June 25, 1998 – Issues: Rural Children’s Health and 1998 Legislative Report

 1999

1999 Board of Directors/Officers: Andy Behrman (Pres), Linda Brainard (VP), Art Clawson (Tres), Gaye Williams (Sec), Carol Gormley (Past Pres), Raeann Lusik, David Duke, Lucia Maxwell, Rudy Reinhardt, Angeline Bushy, Susan Gay and Alan Jameson

The Fifth FHRA Conference was held at the Ocala/Silver Springs Hilton, Ocala , FL on January 27-29, 1999 – Theme: Healthy Hometowns in Florida .

FRHA held it’s first Legislative Day on March 23, 1999.

2000

New address:         Suwannee River AHEC

                             P.O. Box 2157

                             Alachua , FL 32616-2157

The Sixth Annual FRHA Conference was held at the Ocala/Silver Springs Hilton, Ocala , FL on February 23-25, 2000 – Theme: none

On March 29, 2000, FRHA joined other rural entities for the First Annual Rural Communities Day at the Capitol.

2000 Board of Directors/Officers: Andy Behrman (Pres), Linda Brainard (VP), Susan Gay (Sec), Joe Caridi (Tres), Greg Glass, Sharon Haber, Martha Valiant, Blake Warren, and Gaye Williams

2001

The Seventh Annual FRHA Conference was held at the Ocala/Silver Springs Hilton, Ocala, FL on January 31 – February 2, 2001 – Theme: 2001: A Florida Rural Health Odyssey

On March 28, 2001 FRHA joined other rural entities for the Second Annual Rural Communities Day at the Capitol.

2001 Board of Directors/Officers: Andy Behrman (Pres), Linda Brainard (VP), Susan Gay (Sec), Joe Caridi (Tres), Sharon Haber, Martha Valiant, Blake Warren, and Gaye Williams

2002

The Florida Rural Health Summit was held at the Sheraton Gainesville Hotel, Gainesville , FL on March 11-13, 2002 – Theme: Understanding & Responding to Changes

2002-03 Board of Directors/Officers: Robby Brown (Pres), David Duke (VP), Sharon Haber (Sec), Patti Stauffer (Tres), Andy Behrman, Susan Gay, Greg Glass, Raeann Lusik, Martha Valiant, Blake Warren, and Gaye Williams

2003

The Florida Rural Health Summit was held at the Sheraton Gainesville Hotel, Gainesville , FL on May 5-7, 2003 – Theme: Securing Health for Florida

2003 Board of Directors/Officers: Robby Brown (Pres), David Duke (VP), Sharon Haber (Sec), Patti Stauffer (Tres), Andy Behrman, Susan Gay, Martha Valiant, Blake Warren, Gaye Williams, Joe Peters, Frances Gardner, James Purcell, and Raeann Lusik

Annual Report 2002-03 was distributed at the annual meeting.

2004

The Florida Rural Health Summit was held at the Altamonte Springs Hilton, Orlando , FL on December 6-8, 2004 – Theme: Flip the Switch to Bright Ideas in Florida’s Rural Health

2003-04 Board of Directors/Officers: Robby Brown (Pres), David Duke (VP), Patti Stauffer (Tres), Andy Behrman, Susan Gay, Martha Valiant, Raeann Lusik, Blake Warren, Gaye Williams, Art Clawson, Mark Szurek, Paul Payne, Joe Peters, Marilyn Mesh, and Julie Pacheco

The FRHA reestablished the Semi-Annual Newsletter Rural Health Advocate, Winter 2004.

Annual Report 2003-04 was distributed at the annual meeting.

2005

2005 Board of Directors/Officers: David Duke (Pres), Patti Stauffer (VP), Joe Peters (Tres), Marilyn Mesh (Sec), Andy Behrman, Martha Valiant, Susan Gay, Gaye Williams, Art Clawson, Robin Albritton, Julie Paheco, Lat Penland, Sharon Schmidt, and Desiree Hayes

The FRHA published the Semi-Annual Newsletter Rural Health Advocate, Winter 2005.