Reminder--2006 IOGA Life Flight Group Membership Program. As a special benefit to IOGA members, you are eligible to enroll in the St. Alphonsus Hospital Life Flight Membership Program at a highly discounted rate. For 2006, IOGA members (in all four membership categories) may enroll themselves and their legal dependents for $8 per individual. IOGA Business Associate members may offer this benefit to their employees for $10 per employee. IOGA Outfitter Members may enroll extended family, employees and clients for $10 per person. As an IOGA membership incentive for guides, new IOGA guide members will receive this benefit at no cost.
Whether you live, travel, work or play in our vast geographic region, a Saint Alphonsus Life Flight membership can give you peace of mind in knowing the most experienced medical transport team can quickly respond to your medical needs. Established in 1986, Saint Alphonsus Life Flight has grown to be the leading medical transport system in the region. With bases in Boise and Twin Falls, Saint Alphonsus Life Flight provides critical care to the broadest geographic areas in Idaho and neighboring states. Life Flight is also the only medical transport service to enhance safety and aid wilderness rescue by adding state-of-the-art aviation technologies, such as real-time satellite tracking and night vision goggles. If, during the course of your program membership, you or any of your enrolled family members are ever transported by Life Flight, you will have no out-of-pocket expense. Life Flight will bill your insurance company and accept that payment as payment in full. If you do not have insurance, Life Flight covers all of Life Flight expenses. At this time, this program does not include Life Flight from Spokane or Missoula. If you require emergency medical transport, the fastest available transport provider will be dispatched. There is no guarantee in any geographic area that St. Alphonsus or its reciprocal partners will be your provider. Questions on the IOGA/Life Flight Membership Program? Contact IOGA Membership Committee chair, Alison Steen at alison@yjriverguides.com or (928) 773-9372.
IOGA PAC Supports Primary Election Candidates. The IOGA Political Action Committee, a separate non-profit organization funded solely from contributions, supported several Idaho legislative candidates in the recent May 23rd primary election. All IOGA PAC supported candidates were successful including incumbents Senator John Andreason (R-Boise, District 15); Representative Bert Stevenson (R-Rupert, District 26) and Representative Jack Barraclough (R-Idaho Falls, District 33). All three are current members of their respective Senate or House Resource Committees, key committees for the IOGA, and will have contested races in the November general election. Stevenson is the current chairman of the House Resources and Conservation Committee. In the open seat for Representative in District 27, formerly held by retiring Speaker of the House Bruce Newcomb (R-Burley), the IOGA PAC supported Fred Wood in the primary. Wood won. He is a former Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner and the 2004 IOGA Resource Manager of the Year recipient. Wood does not have a general election opponent. IOGA PAC procedures include recommendations for contributions from the IOGA Statehouse lobbyist Jeremy Pisca. Outfitter voting members of the IOGA Government Affairs Committee (Jerry Myers, Chris Swersey, Doug Tims, Shelly Fisher, Kari Allred, Barb Opdahl) endorsed Pisca's recommendations. The IOGA PAC's primary election contributions ranged from $50 to $100 per candidate.
Speaking of the November general election, two Idaho groups say they've gathered enough register voters' signatures to put separate citizen initiatives on the November 7 ballot-one to boost education funding (raise sales tax to 6% from 5 %) and another to tighten the state's eminent domain laws. Other efforts, inclu