ALMH volunteer luncheon to feature Howard Peters III

[October 16, 2009]  Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Auxiliary's annual fall luncheon for volunteers will feature "Current News of Health Care Reform," presented by Howard A. Peters III. The luncheon next week will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Maple Club.

Along with ALMH volunteers and their guests, anyone who is interested in learning more about the auxiliary or becoming a volunteer is also invited. Reservations are required by calling 732-2161, ext. 75185.

The featured speaker is currently senior vice president of advocacy and government relations for the Illinois Hospital Association. He works in Washington, D.C., Naperville and Springfield to ensure that hospitals receive the kind of support they need, particularly as it relates to providing services to poor and uninsured people.

Peters has a long history of public service, including two cabinet positions under former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar.

His public service experience includes 22 years with the Illinois Corrections Department. In 1991 he became the first African-American to head that department.

From 1995 through June 1997 he served as deputy chief of staff to Edgar and was responsible for overseeing operation of the state's human services, public safety and government administration agencies.

In 1997 Edgar selected Peters as the first person to lead the Department of Human Services. A massive reorganization consolidated programs that were formerly administered by a half-dozen agencies with about 20,000 employees and put them under single management. He was the point person for implementation of welfare reform, and 120,000 families moved from welfare to work during his tenure.

Peters earned his master's degree in guidance and educational psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1971.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital]