spokanepharmacyassociation Newsletter

March Newsletter

Message from the Board
By: SPA Executive Vice President Steven Webbenhurst

As our weather turns warmer and the days get longer, we all start to get spring fever. It’s a busy time of the year as we all start spending more time outside, whether in our yard, exercising or simply enjoying the weather on a deck or balcony! I know my fridge is stocked and ready for the warmer weather 🙂

Spokane Pharmacy Association has been busy these first few months of the year. We have had 3 CE presentations with another scheduled for April 15th. We just celebrated with our annual meeting and awards banquet which was quite a smash! We also have another social program coming up on April 8th. We are bowling at Players and Spectators and will enjoy pizza and beverages while we bowl. Get more details and register here.

These are just a few reasons to remain a member. If you’re not a member, why not join today? You’ll save on our CE presentations, social events and more. And it’s great to invite coworkers to join and participate together in all our events!

Have an idea for a CE presentation or a social event? Reach out to us at info@spokanepharmacy.org or email me directly.

spokanepharmacyassociation social events

Social Event | Hatchet Throwing & Pizza

February may be the month of love, but it is also hatchet throwing month for Spokane Pharmacy Association. Join us as we learn to throw hatchets starting at 6pm, followed by some pizza and liquid refreshments at Pizza Pipeline. Come by yourself or with your pharmacy friends and test your hatchet throwing skills!

When & Where

Monday, February 21st, 2022
6:00-8:00pm

Heber Hatchets
2015 N. Division St.

Cost

Free for everyone, but limited to the first 24 to RSVP.

RSVP

To register for the event, email steven.webbenhurst@gmail.com with your name.

spokanepharmacyassociation social events

Social Event in combination with WSPA

Come join us for a drink and/or dinner (families are welcome). The bar will be available in addition to inside and outside seating for guests. Event is come-and-go from 4-7pm to assist with schedules for pharmacists and technicians. Hope to see you there!

When & Where

Tuesday, August 10th
4-7pm

De Leon’s Taco and Bar
1801 N Hamilton Street
Spokane, WA 99207

spokanepharmacyassociation Newsletter, Uncategorized

July Newsletter

Message from the Board
By: SPA Executive Vice President Steven Webbenhurst

Are you tired of getting bad news? Well we have THREE great things to share with you!

First, our annual award banquet/meeting is extra special this year. It will be the 100th anniversary for the organization. That’s right, it’s our centennial. We are celebrating at The Centennial Hotel (how appropriate) on Friday, September 17th. Tickets are on sale now, and you can save some money by taking advantage of our early-bird pricing. Members/guests are just $25 each and non-members are $35 each. Hurry, as early-bird pricing ends August 1st. If you’re not a member, it’s a great time to join or renew and save with our member rates. Click here to register! It’s a 1920’s themed party starting with social hour from 5-7pm with live music, then a plated dinner with dessert. We have a special entertainment surprise plus our keynote speaker is Dr. Mark Leid, Dean of the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. And don’t forget, it’s also award night. Nominations are now being accepted for Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacy of the Year, Pharmacy Student of the Year and Pharmacy Technician of the Year. Who will you nominate?

We are also joining with WSPA and having a special night on August 10th. It’s a social event for members and non-members and the theme is S’mores (because it’s national S’mores Day). More details to follow and starts at 5pm.

We are also having a July CE event online for pharmacists and techs. It is on Wednesday, July 28th from 6-7pm. It’s on Antimicrobial Stewardship Strategies in Ambulatory Healthcare which is an under discussed topic. Hope you join us for 1 hour of CE credit. Click here for more details and the Zoom meeting link.

spokanepharmacyassociation Newsletter

March Newsletter

Message from the Board
By: SPA Executive Vice President Steven Webbenhurst

“Oh what a night…” is the first line in a song by The Four Seasons which was released way back in December, 1963.

I think we should come up with a song that starts “Oh what a year…”

I think we can all agree that the last year has been remarkable, and not in a good way. But we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. With three approved COVID vaccines being given (many by pharmacists, technicians and interns), fewer cases along with hospitalizations due to COVID rapidly declining, we are starting to see a new phase taking over.

The board is excited to make plans to return to in-person events. Although we’ve had some great continuing education events virtually this last year, many of us long to mingle with friends and colleagues at such events. And we have several social/networking events being planned, just waiting for venues to be open to larger groups. So watch your email and faxes for information on both interesting CE programs as well as exciting social events that will be coming in the next weeks.

And as you look at your calendars, be sure to INK IN our fabulous Centennial Bash which will include our annual awards and meeting. Because this is the CENTENNIAL year of our organization, we have big plans that will blow our usual annual meetings out of the water!!! It is going to be Friday, September 17th at the Centennial Hotel (for our centennial 😊). More information will be sent later this spring.

And for our technician members, you can also mark Saturday, October 2nd as our annual Technician Day event with continuing education on topics chosen by you!

I’m sure you’re as excited as we are to return to something close to “normal”. So watch your email and faxes in the next few weeks for more information.

And if you haven’t renewed your membership, there is no better time than now. You’ll enjoy our free CE and social events this year as well as a discount for our Centennial Bash and Technician Day. See our website for more details!

spokanepharmacyassociation Newsletter

January Newsletter

Message from the Board
By: SPA Executive Vice President Steven Webbenhurst

Happy New Year!

I’m sure almost all of us are happy to see 2020 fade away. There were some positive parts of last year, but COVID cast a shadow over most of it.

The board is excited to announce four new board members. They are Alex Hayfetz, Candice Boyd, David Kim and Nicole Rodin. Christeen Hancock was also re-elected to a 2nd two year term.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to those who are leaving the Board. They include Shurrie Morris, Peter Martsin and Andrew Yabusaki. We appreciate all their work and support. James Hendrix-Ward’s term also expired but he has agreed to help with the upcoming awards banquet.

2021 is an exciting year for our organization. Did you know that the association began 100 years ago? Hard to imagine, but we will celebrate our centennial this year! Our plans were to hold a Centennial Bash (our annual meeting and awards ceremony) in March of this year, but due to the lingering COVID epidemic, we are waiting until later in the year for the celebration.

The Centennial Bash will be a grander celebration than our usual banquet. It will be held at The Centennial Hotel (for our centennial) and will have a 1920’s theme. As a new date is picked, we will announce that information so you can reserve the date.

I received an email reminding me that my membership expired at the end of the year. If you received the same email, please follow my lead and renew yours as well. Thank you everyone for your continued support.

May 2021 be a fantastic year for all of us.

spokanepharmacyassociation social events

November Social Event

Need a cure to COVID confinement fever? Let’s try something new. Steven Webbenhurst invites anyone interested to join him on Thursday, November 12th at Lumberbeard Brewing at 6pm for a social hour. We will sit in smaller groups to socialize and possibly play some type of game. You’re welcome to wear masks for protection throughout the evening.

Interested? Text Steven at 509-499-2917 if you want to join him.

Lumberbeard serves craft beer and local cider and is located at 25 E. 3rd Avenue (across from Dick’s Hamburgers).

spokanepharmacyassociation Newsletter

June Newsletter

Message from the Board
By: SPA Executive Vice President Steven Webbenhurst

As I mentioned in my last message, 2020 has been different than any of us could have imagined. As COVID-19 becomes a more stable issue, other issues continue to arise. One thing that has been apparent is how quickly information changes. As COVID began to emerge, there were so many unknowns regarding the virus. We heard different things from different people or agencies. We were constantly bombarded with facts and theories.

For many of us, it was really information overload. That overload lead to stress and anxiety for most everyone, but especially for those of us in healthcare as well as for “essential” workers. If I checked news in the morning, by lunchtime there was something new. By dinnertime, there was still more new information. It was amazing to see the pace at which information came at us. The COVID topic was constantly in our faces. It was nearly impossible to avoid the topic. Whether you checked news sources or social media, it was the majority of what both covered.

As we worked our way thru the initial weeks of the epidemic, we were all amazed at how some information changed over time. We were told that masks weren’t necessary unless you had COVID or took care of someone with health issues. Then we were told to wear masks. Then not to wear masks. And then to wear masks as many people were asymptomatic carriers. And the mask controversy continues to evolve.

I think more importantly, we all realized that we got conflicting information depending on our sources of information. One official said one thing and another said something different. I hope that over time, most people were able to find a reliable and consistent source of information. And I’m sure it’s a shock, but not all the information on the internet (or Facebook) is true. 🙂

I have some information that has been verified. The Spokane Pharmacy Association is moving to a new membership platform this summer. You will receive information on how to create a profile along with other emails explaining this new platform. Like anything new, there may be a few hiccups along the way, but this will allow us to better serve all of you in the future with the added features this platform offers.

Stay well. Stay safe. We will be in contact regarding possible summer activities and we appreciate all you do for the community!