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Clínica Msr.
Oscar A. Romero and Panda Express
Christmas Toy Distribution
 On
Saturday, December 16, 2007 Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero distributed about
300 toys to community children during our annual Christmas event;
subsequently about 200 more toys were distributed at a joint event with
SALEF, and at the 123 clinic. The
Christmas event and the collection of toys were organized by our Community
Organizing and Community Development Department (a.k.a. as PUA) thanks to the
generous initiative and toy donations from Panda Express employees and the
sponsorship of the Panda Corporation.
More than thirty Panda employees volunteered at the event and brought
canopies to cover participants from the rain.
Panda Express also donated food for 500 people. Clínica volunteers from different
departments participated during the distribution day and days before the
event to wrap up toys. Youth
volunteers from our community organizing project also participated in the
wrapping activity.
 Panda
Express representatives at the event expressed their satisfaction for the
opportunity to provide, for the second consecutive year, a moment of
happiness to so many community children. Our Executive Director, Eduardo Gonzalez, expressed on behalf of Clínica
Msr. Oscar A. Romero our appreciation to Panda Express employees and
corporation for making this toy distribution a reality. The successful results of the toy
distribution motivate us to continue this type of partnerships with businesses
like Panda Express.
We would like to recognize
the valuable support of Jeamilette Castro at Panda Express, and the
organizing work of our own Connie Corvera.
Clínica Msr. Oscar A. Romero thanks the staff and volunteers who
participated; we value your commitment with our community residents.
Thanks
to all and we hope to see you for Christmas 2007!
Clínica Msr. Romero’s 2006 End of the Year Celebration
 Throughout the year the staff at
Clínica Msr. Romero works diligently to sustain its mission primarily
maintaining quality of service to the patients and affordable health care for
every income level. Along with the
Internal Communications Committee, the staff at Clínica Msr. Romero
participated in the long awaited “End of the Year Celebration”.
The program started with an opening welcome to staff
from the Executive Director, Eduardo Gonzalez, who thanked staff for their
hard work throughout 2006 and
shared new plans and challenges for the New Year.
The holiday and dance music was provided by one of our
patients, who as a token of her appreciation for the medical services she
receives at Clínica, generously volunteered the services of her DJ Company.
An outstanding job!!
Another part of the program, lead by Rosa Xuncax with
the cooperation of Dr. Goretti Garcia, put together a nice Posada where the
choral group ensemble of the Front Office Department shared with us an
important part of the Latino tradition. The stunning voices of the group
reminded us of the Viena Children Choral.
We felt in heaven with their beautiful voices!!
 On this pleasant afternoon, we
were all grateful to Board of Director member Luke Williams’ and his sister
and children, who demonstrated the Kwanzaa celebration. Luke Williams, Jr.
began with an intriguing introduction and history of this tradition celebrated
by millions throughout the world. Clínica staff learned about this custom and
participated in the lighting of the seven candles or Mishumaa Saba in
Swahili. The staff truly enjoyed being a part of this tradition
celebrating family, community and culture.
In our strive to find natural talents among Clínica
Romero staff we were delightfully surprised by the American country music
trio of the one and only Dr. Kendra Gorlistky
and friends. The performance by Lost and Found was
reminiscent to the 60’s political trio of Peter, Paul and Mary and the voice
of Dolly Parton with a little touch of Patsy Cline. Thank you Kendra and Friends!!
Towards the end of the ceremony, through the auspices
and donations of supervisors and Board Members over 20 gift baskets were
raffled among staff. Thanks to all the
donors who made the staff gift distribution possible!
 The last part of the event (believe
us, the dancing floor performance was not at all planned) concluded with the
participation of a Pico Union “cumbianchero” (cumbia singer) Will Echegoyen,
a showman born and raised in the barrio.
To the frantic tropical rhythms and original songs of Will and the
spontaneous participation of innate natural dancers -almost ballet experts
–particularly Ana Monge, Sonia Chavez, Irma Azurdia, Jacqueline Kreitz and
Mariana Francisco- the staff of Clínica Romero was able to happily and
vibrantly say goodbye to 2006.
Special appreciations should be given to Maria Venegas
and Margarita for acting as the MC’s and facilitators for the event, Nuvia
Magaña for the exquisite desserts and drinks.
Wilfredo Ramos and Ruben Ureta who helped set the place, Ana Monge and
Idalia Xuncax for the decorations.
And most of all thanks to Clínica’s staff who with their presence and
supportive applauses made the afternoon an unforgettable and worthwhile
event. Thank you all!!
From the Executive Director’s Desk
Eduardo
A. Gonzalez, MD
 About the Board of Directors. At its recent annual Board retreat, our Board of
Directors elected new officers for the coming year. The new officers are: President, Mr. Carlos
Vaquerano (Executive Director of the Salvadorian American Leadership &
Educational Fund – SALEF); Vice-President, Ms. Rochelle McAdam (Community
Liaison, First Unitarian Church);
Treasurer, Mr. Agapito Diaz and Secretary, Mr. Roberto Corea. Please help me welcome the new officers and
extend our heartfelt thanks to our outgoing officers, President, Dr. Ignacio
de Artola and Secretary, Father Will Wauters (Vicar, Church of the
Epiphany)for a great service; fortunately for us, both will remain in our
Board of Directors.
Outreach Funding. We have recently received
notification from the County
of LA that we have been
recommended to receive a contract to perform Outreach, retention and utilization
of health insurance services for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy
Kids. This funding aligns perfectly
with our strategic plan that calls for an increase in the number of Medi-Cal
services we provide; the new project is scheduled to start March 1st
under the Women and Children program and will serve both facilities.
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