This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Salem Free Clinic has been in business for several years and has posted an incredibly positive record of success.

Not for itself.

But, for the citizens it has helped in the face of a dislocated health care system.

Here are new statistics.

• The Clinic provided 5,600 free patient appointments in 2022, about 900 above the previous year.

• The top three diagnoses related to mental health issues.

• Patients ranging in age 1 to 97 years old were served.

• Out of the total, 16 different languages were represented, including Chinese, Hebrew, French, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and a number of others.

The Free Clinic is possible because of the volunteerism of more than 70 churches in the Salem-Keizer area.  Yes, 70!  They work together to produce a clear success.

The main location is at the church my wife and I have attended for more than 30 years in Salem, Salem Alliance.

The entire project is a great example of “putting feet to the gospel of Christ” – as well as hands, skills, good words, and love.

Patients are always asked if those serving them can pray for them.  If the patients answer yes, prayer occurs.  Perhaps more conversation.  If they say no, that’s as far as it goes.

My wife and I are proud to support Salem Free Clinics.  The good news is that people who need help are served, and credit goes to God, not us.