Neil Strege: Washingon Round Table

Neil Strege is Vice-President of the Washington Round Table. This group of senior executives has focused on education reform. Their main objective is to fill the teeming job market with WA graduates. Otherwise, talent from outside shall have to be imported. And presently, the demand exceeds the supply. It is projected that 740,000 job openings will occur in the next five years.

 

He described three major career pathways, to wit:

  1. Career. High skilled, high pay. Academic credentials needed.
  2. Pathway. Blue collar. Skilled. Pathway to career jobs over five years
  3. Entry level. Low skilled, low pay.

Today 31% of WA high school students go on to earn a post-secondary credential. The goal is 70% by 2030. That is, a credential by age 26.

Not good! WA is 47th in the nation in college-going high school graduates. The 70% goal, if achieved, will yield significant social benefits, i.e., reduction of unemployment and poverty. It will be necessary to improve the performance of the K-12 system, enhance the participation of WA State in post-secondary education, and help students develop better awareness of careers that will be available.

It is a fact that poor students start behind and finish behind. There have been identified 255 low performing K-12 schools; more than one-third of school districts have at least one. However, only 100,000 students attend them. The challenge extends beyond low performing schools:

  • There is a correlation between poverty and race
  • Other factors include homelessness and the various reasons for it.
  • Steps to be taken:
    • Improve K-12 financing.
    • Enhance support and accountability
    • Increase access to educator talent
    • Close achievement gap early.

Comment: This is an important and far-reaching undertaking. The more successful  these efforts, the more everyone, statewide, will benefit.

Arnold Swanberg, Resident Historian-Last Years of WWI

Arnold Swanberg, Resident Historian, spoke characteristically without notes. On this occasion, his topic concerned the last year(s) of World War I.

1917 was the most decisive year, entailing such events as: The Russian Revolution and army collapse; The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, allowing the German army’s transfer to the western front; the battle-weariness of all combatants. Meanwhile the British under General Allenby had routed the Turks and marched into Jerusalem. This led to the British mandate over Palestine.

President Wilson, who had avoided US participation, had hoped to be the voice of mediation. For a while, German submarine warfare had been conducted in keeping with the rules of warfare. Then came the sinking of the Lusitania and the institution of unrestricted submarine warfare.

In addition, Germany had embarked on a Mexican strategy, hoping to entice Mexico to go to war with the US to gain back the territory it had lost in the southwest. This became known when the British deciphered a cablegram containing the Zimmerman Note which defined the plan. Moreover, Germany asked the Japanese to go to war with the US, the incentive being a Californian port. Overwhelmed by events, Wilson requested and got a declaration of war against Germany.

Events that soon followed: Our non-membership in the League of Nations, the temporary expedient of the income tax, and women’s suffrage.

Comment: It only took 20 years for global carnage to resume.

Stephanie Pietras-Bailey-Boushay House

Pres. Jim and Stephanie

Stephanie Pietras has worked in healthcare with a specialty in HIV/Aids for 28 years. She is currently director of volunteer services for Bailey Boushay House, which is affiliated with Virginia Mason. Stephanie earned a B.S. from Marymount and an M.S from Loyola, and has lived in Seattle since 2007.   Stephanie gave a well-constructed presentation on the history of Bailey-Boushay House and the developments in treating HIV/Aids.

The following is a synopsis of the development of the HIV/Aids disease and treatment since the beginning in 1981.

  • 1981 The New York Times reports on a mysterious illness.
  • 1982 The illness was given the name acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS.
  • 1984 A test for screening blood donations was developed and implemented in 1985, Rock Hudson died of Aids, R.I.P. Chimpanzees were used to develop the test. Poor Chimps…
  • 1987 The drug called AZT which was developed in mice was approved for treating AIDS. Poor mice…
  • 1988 The Surgeon General of the United States sent every household a letter detailing the known causes and precautions for Aids. 1990 It was estimated that 8 million people had AIDS.
  • 1990 Condoms became the preferred method of protection from AIDS. Buy stock in condom companies.
  • 1995 There was an increase in the disease in the women//children population, but infant infections started to fall due to AZT treatment.
  • 1996 Combination treatment of antiretroviral were developed, also known as the “cocktail”.
  • 1997 Aids related deaths in developing countries begin to drop, however 22 million people still have HIV.
  • 2007 33 million people have HIV.
  • 2010 Macaques and mice are once again used in testing for the drug called Truvada, which reveals positive results. Poor mice and Macaques.
  • 2011 Antiretroviral are shown to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV by 96%.
  • 2012 Most people worldwide eligible for antiretroviral are now receiving them.

Bailey-Boushay House continues to provide inpatient and outpatient hospice services for men living with HIV/AIDS. They have 172 volunteers working 13 hour shifts, and this is their 25th year in operation.

Yeah!