Travis County Commissioners Court
August 25, 2009,
Item 6
>> number 6 is to approve proclamation declaring Tuesday, August 25, 2009 as "national minority donor awareness day.
and ms.
michelle segovia is here, should I read the proclamation.
>> please.
>> it contains important facts.
whereas 18 people die needlessly each day because there are not enough organ donors in this country, one person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.
whereas more than half of the 120,000 awaiting a life saving transplant in this country are minorities and more than 9,000 are texans, whereas african-americans, asians and hispanics are three times more likely than whites to suffer from kidney disease and native americans are four times more likely than whites to suffer from diabetes; whereas, transplants are usually more successful in the or gone -- if the organ donor and transplant recipient share the same ethnicity anding donor groups, there -- whereas no costs directly related to oregano tissue or eye donation are passed on -- organ tissue or eye donation, giving the gift of life lightens the grief on the family.
we the members of the Travis County Commissioners court proclaim, Tuesday August 25th, 2009, as national minority donor awareness day in Travis County.
and encourage all residents of Travis County, especially minorities, to become organ donors by registering at www.donatelivetexas.org.
i move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
and I want to thank you for having me here and to speak with you, judge Biscoe and the Commissioners.
we recently, Texas organ
>> [indiscernible] alliance, developed a multi-cultural donor organ advisory council.
judge Biscoe graciously agreed to be on that council and helped us get the word out to the minority population.
as he stated in the proclamation, more than 100,000 people are awaiting a life saving transplant in this country alone right now, 18 die every day because there aren't enough organ donors.
over half of the people waiting are minorities.
that is significant because transplants are usually more successful if the donors and recipients have the same genetic similarities which we find among ethnic groups.
i would like to invite each member of the Commissioners court and everyone listening today and watching to register their intentions to donate.
donation, when you no longer need your organs, www.donatelifetexas.org.
your life saving gift could save up to eight lives and make the difference in the lives of your family members and the legacy you leave.
so please consider doing that and talking to your family today.
thank you.
>> thank you.
this is one of those things that you don't think about -- normally.
>> can we no longer check the box in the back of our driver's license; is that no longer available?
>> this new state registry does make it available when you go to do your license at the d.p.s.
offices, they are supposed to ask you.
if they don't prompt them and say can I check the box then your name will go on the registry, that takes the place of the little donor sticker on your license.
>> okay.
thank you.
>> you mentioned, in this proclamation itself, you did mention a -- an internet site.
that you can go to.
is there another source of persons who may not have computers so say hey I would like to become a part of this, is there a telephone number someone can call other than doing it via the internet?
>> yes.
thank you for asking, Commissioner Davis.
they can call me, michelle segovia, 459-4848 I would be happy to mail out a form.
>> repeat that just in case no one didn't have a pencil when they heard you, when they do the replace.
>> 459-4848, my name is michelle at Texas organ sharing alliance.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
>> try to help get out the word.
appreciate it.
>> all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> we have a beautiful proclamation for you to take with you.
which you are required to do.
>> I really appreciate it.
i do have the brochures for county employees.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 2:07 PM
