Charleston, SC- Love Zombies for Healthcare will invade Charleston February 10-14 to bring information about the new Healthcare Law and the importance of using the federally funded Medicaid Expansion to bring efficient healthcare to 400 thousand more South Carolinians. Events will include a zombie enabled pampleting of King Street, a teach in and a Zombie canvass to distribute unbiased information on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in the City’s medical district on Valentine’s Day.
“It’s clear from previous efforts here that most people in SC are misinformed about the law and what it does. Many people are opposed to the healthcare exchanges which open next year, but say they want a system which works exactly like them instead. Others have inaccurate information about who actually qualifies for Medicare. Most people know nothing about the new annual cost caps which protect families from bankruptcy.” According to organizer William Hamilton, a Charleston Attorney.
Among the materials that will be distributed to the public are over a thousand copies of Health Reform: 7 Things You Need to Know Now by the highly respected Consumer Reports.
Gov. Nikki Haley has said she will block a 400 thousand person expansion of Medicare in the state, but some members of the legislature are working to override her decision, which might be possible given the drastic impact of the Governor's decision on a state with low rates of coverage and poor health like SC. Zombies will help inform the public about that issue as well.
The effort will begin with a Zombie Training Academy at Gage Hall on Tuesday, February 5 at which volunteers will prepare costumes, learn about the law and make props for the street theater driven effort. Full information is available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/... or interested persons may call (843) 870-5299 or email wjhamilton29464@gmail.com.
The full schedule of planned events is set out in the Extended part of this post.
Love Zombies for Health Care Action Plan- .
Feb. 10-14- Charleston, SC
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/...
Twitter Hashtag #lovezombiechs, ph 843-870-5299
This effort will focus on increasing understanding of the Affordable Care Act and it’s benefits to businesses, the public and medical providers and also develop support for the Medicaid Expansion in SC which would bring more efficient healthcare to 400 thousand South Carolinians.
Feb. 3-8- Prop & Costume production
We’ll spend the week before the actions getting our props, costumes and makeup together. We need a gurney and possibly some wheelchairs, the older and more decrepit (while still safe) the better.
Tues. Feb. 5, Zombie Training Academy
7-9 pm, Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St., Charleston, SC
Bring your zombie scrubs or hospital gown to get our logo ironed on. Learn how to put on your zombie makeup. Get a quick briefing on the important points of the new healthcare law and the SC Medicaid expansion being blocked by the Governor which may keep 400 thousand South Carolinians from gaining access to healthcare. Do some role playing to prepare for interacting with the public. Review plans for the following week and offer input on making the effort more effective. Coordinated by William Hamilton, wjhamilton29464@gmail.com, (843) 870-5299
Sun., Feb 10- Radio Show Radio Show, Columbia, SC over phone from 32 Sowell St., Mount Pleasant, SC
Sun. Feb. 10- 2 pm, King Street- Street Theater
We'll gather at the NW Corner of the Queen Steet Parking garage (Intersection of King & Queen Streets, Diagonally opposite Ben Silver) to get our zombie on with makeup. Come wearing scrubs or another medical costume, Doctor, nurse, paramedic or patient. We'll roll (role?, roil?) up the Second Sunday on King street with a full zombie operating team, interacting humorously with the public and distributing the Excellent 7 Things You Need to Know About Healthcare Reform booklet from Consumer Reports and other material. We'll have stethoscopes, blood pressure cups and tongue depressors for those in the public who want to play along. We'll have our cold gray fingers on the pulse of the community! Our zombie medical team has a prescription for what ails South Carolina. Despite our pre existing political conditions, our state is about to get better. Check back for weather updates. We'll go in a drizzle, but if the weather's impossible, we'll reschedule for March. Coordinated by William Hamilton
Small Actions- Small zombie units may do events in the city during the week, such as outreach outside the Frankly C. Fedder Clinic, at Bus Stops and on the CofC campus.
Tues, Feb. 12 Evening Teach In
International Longshoreman’s Hall, 1142 Morrison Dr, Charleston, South Carolina, 29403
Health Care reform isn't dead in South Carolina, despite the Governor's attempts to pound a stake in it. It's coming to South Carolina this year. The new laws aren't perfect, but there is progress and opportunity here to build on for a lot of people. Our zombies invite you to an evening teach in to learn and share so you, your family, your business and your community can get the most benefit at the lowest cost. Check back for exact time and location. Coordinated by Dr. George Hopkins. Hosted by the International Longshoreman’s Assn.
Thur. Feb. 14- Zombies Get a Medical Complex
10 am, Starbucks, 165 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC - We'll gather Starbucks for Coffee, get our zombie makeup on and head out in stumbling teams of two to distribute information about healthcare reform to the surrounding clinics, offices and hospitals. It's Valentines day! We're bringing the best in Zombie love to our community's hard working health care providers. They deserve a system which devotes more of its energy and money to healing and less to overhead and paperwork. We can't let Health Care Reform sit dead in the Water in SC. Coordinated by Donna Marie Ellington.
Draft January 21, 2013