Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Billy Dee’s harrowing fight for survival P.5 Chris Gates cheats death P.7 Greyhounds double dilema P.9 More stories inside! 2008 Annual Report HAAMTM Letter from the Chairman of the Board Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Dear Friends: Carolyn Schwarz, Executive Director The year 2008 was an exciting year for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and me personally. In January I P.O. Box 301496 became the Board Chairman, and my enthusiasm for our organization’s mission and the musicians we serve redoubled. Austin, TX 78703-0025 I love living in Austin, and the abundance of live music is one of the aspects that makes it such a wonderful place to live. www.MyHaam.org Our city’s culture and economy rely heavily on the music industry (to the tune of $1 billion in economic activity and $25 512-322-5177 million in tax revenue), and yet the musicians themselves live on very low incomes and are uninsured; they are amongst the ranks of the working poor. Our Mission Before HAAM, affordable healthcare services were out of reach and musicians would delay seeking care until forced to go to the emergency room, the most expensive place to receive treatment. Since the inception of HAAM four years ago, more Health Alliance for Austin Musicians provides access to affordable than 1,400 musicians, most of whom earn less than $15,000 a year, have gained access to needed medical, dental and healthcare to Austin’s low-income, uninsured working musicians. mental health services, thus freeing up the emergency rooms for those in critical need of that care. Thank you for making this possible! Our Service Providers: In 2008, Carolyn Schwarz formally stepped into the role of executive director and I am proud to report that under her leadership HAAM maintained its 94 percent approval rating for quality of care and services. Thank you not only to Carolyn Seton Family of Hospitals but also to the affiliate service providers from Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David’s Community Health Foundation provides primary medical care. Leadership and The SIMS Foundation, which provides quality care year-round to HAAM member-musicians. St. David’s Community Health Foundation Leadership People often ask me what the music industry is doing to help its own. In 2008, the music community truly did its part provides basic dental care. to help provide for the health care of musicians. Thanks to The Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards, Austin City Limits The SIMS Foundation Music Festival, Blurt, Nancy Coplin, Roky Erickson, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Old Settler’s Music Festival, Diane Scott, South provides mental health and addiction-recovery services. By Southwest and Texas Heritage Songwriter’s Association for your contributions this year. Additionally, because of the generous donation from Gibson’s Austin GuitarTown project, HAAM was able to create a reserve fund as a first step to move forward on its dream of creating an endowment to support musicians’ health in perpetuity. Our Board of Directors: Kudos also to the Austin business community that clearly recognizes the important role our musicians play in the local Lidia Agraz, community leader community. More than 200 businesses, both large and small, stepped forward to support musicians’ health through Karen Bartoletti, shareholder, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody special events like the first Corporate Battle of the Bands and the third HAAM Benefit Day. We thank you for your support Ray Benson, Asleep at the Wheel and hope you’ll join us again in 2009. Mark your calendars; Corporate Battle of the Bands is slated for Tuesday, April 21, Carol Clark, general counsel, and the fourth HAAM Benefit Day on Tuesday, September 22. St. David’s Community Health Foundation Of course there is no way a non-profit like this one would be successful without the time and talent of volunteers. We Marsha Cook, executive director, thank all of our HAAMbassadors, including members of the Board and HAAM Benefit Day Committee, interns, and the St. David’s Community Health Foundation Leadership Dental Program nearly 150 volunteers who gave of themselves this year to further our mission. Betty Dunkerley, partner, Civic Interests LLC Jesus Garza, executive vice president and COO, In 2009 we are exploring opportunities to expand service offerings. We surveyed the member-musicians to learn what Seton Family of Hospitals additional services they desire and we learned that optometry and audiology services are high priorities crucial to their John T. Kunz, president, Waterloo Records & Video profession and financially out of reach. Hearing loss can severely debilitate a musician, and vision loss can be prevented through early diagnosis and treatment. With your continued support we will be able to add these much needed services. Diana Resnik, senior vice president, Community Care, Seton Family of Hospitals Thank you for keeping music in Austin alive and well! Edward Safady, chairman, Central Texas Area, Prosperity Bank Richard Topfer Robin Shivers, The Shivers Group and president, RRS Management Tim Taylor, partner, Jackson Walker LLP Richard Topfer, Topfer Family Foundation and managing director, Castletop Capital Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Annual Report 2008 HAAM Services in 2008 Seton Family of Hospitals provided: HAAM Members 1,714 clinic visits to 757 patients 1200 1,199 No medical insurance kept him 694 prescriptions 1000 927 from going to the doctor. He 616 hospital services including outpatient, inpatient and emergency room procedures 800 almost paid for it with his life. 667 36 referrals to specialists 600 450 400 St. David’s Community Health Foundation Leadership 200 provided: 716 dental visits to 417 patients 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number of Members The SIMS Foundation provided: more than 3,100 sessions of counseling, psychiatric and addiction-recovery services 78% Members who earn Billy Dee less than $15,000/year 66% Billy Dee has paid his dues, and then some. He has my blood and that’s when I found out I had diabetes. My been the consummate side-man, singer, and songwriter doctor said I probably had it for two or three years and Members who are to great and famous musicians over many years. He lead didn’t even know it.” under the age of 40 Gilley’s house band for six years, then played bass for “I had just signed up for HAAM. Without it, I would have to Redd Volkaert and Dale Watson. Billy has now decided to go to the emergency room which would cost a lot of money go on his own and perform his original music. that I couldn’t afford. They said if I had waited another day I “I’m a full time musician. I have my own band but I also would have ended up in a diabetic coma.” “I would not be in such good mental health without the play with other people like Haybale, Cornell Hurd, Jessie “Without HAAM I couldn’t afford the insulin and all the assistance of SIMS. They helped me get the care I needed Dayton and Dale Watson. I keep pretty busy.” other medications that go with it. HAAM has made a huge in a crisis and then continued to lend me support for 94% “I would say I make enough to keep a roof over my head difference in my life.” a year of psychotherapy. The experience absolutely and pay the bills. But that’s about it. ” “I’m healthy now and I feel a lot better. I’ve lost about changed my life for the better. SIMS is a lifesaver.” Approval rating for quality of care and services “About 2 years ago, I felt lethargic one day. I couldn’t eighty pounds and can sing better because of it. I love —HAAM member musician get out of bed and I thought something’s wrong here. I singing for people. I want to be the best musician I can and had to get a friend take me to the doctor and the nurse I’m thankful that Austin gives me a place to do that. I love asked if I ever had my sugar checked. I said no. They check to entertain people and make them feel good.” Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Annual Report 2008 Sustaining Sponsors The goal of the HAAM Sustaining Sponsor campaign is to Corporate Battle of the Bands secure and expand musicians’ access to affordable healthcare “The tremendous response from the business community services in the years to come. Sustaining Sponsors recognize for Corporate Battle of the Bands shows that the passion for that the medical, dental and mental health needs of low- making music extends beyond Austin’s live music scene and Chris income, uninsured musicians are ongoing, and they make a goes into the boardrooms of some of Austin’s most successful 3-year commitment of $5,000 or more each year. companies. We thank these business leaders for their support HAAM wants to recognize the pioneers of this campaign, of musicians’ health.” including AT&T; The Garber Family Foundation; Robin and Allan — Tim Taylor, partner at Jackson Walker LLP, and chairman Gates Shivers Jr.; A. Bratten Thomason; and Neil Webber. Your multi- of the HAAM Benefit Day Committee. Punk pioneer, headbanging rockstar, year commitment is a great gift to the musicians of Austin! On Wednesday, September 3 HAAM held its first-ever singer-songwriter, and family man Corporate Battle of the Bands fundraiser and concert. Eight survives 29 years of the rock ‘n’ roll 2008 Special Events bands made up of business professionals who play music as a lifestyle, with some help. Roky Erickson’s Psychedelic Ice Cream Social hobby competed against each other in front of celebrity judges Psychedelic rock pioneer Roky Erickson hosted and and their friends to raise awareness and funds for HAAM.