We estimate at least 75 people attended our May Spring Social. All who were there enjoyed great refreshments from our sponsor, Jan Meirick of Saliba's Extended Care Pharmacy. Thanks, Jan.

There was a lot of networking going on, and many new introductions were made. For those who joined us, thank you. For those unable to attend, we look forward to seeing you at our December Holiday Social (details TBD).

 Our June monthly forum will be held at United Healthcare, 3141 N. 3rd Ave., Phoenix in the Cafeteria Room. Park on the west - to the north side of the building. All meetings thereafter (unless otherwise advised) will be held at United Healthcare.

Our June meeting sponsor will be Sunwest Pharmacy.

A word from our sponsor:  

           5 Key Areas of Effective Communication  

Effective communication is a skill that is learned through practice.  

1. Listening - The most important part of communication is learning to listen with a purpose. Focus on the individual speaking to you and don't allow other people or things to distract you while listening.  Listen for the real meaning or main point of what the person is saying. Make sure your body language is accepting.  Don't prejudge.
2. Body Language - This is the non-verbal way we communicate. Body language can show feelings that may not be said verbally. 
3. Understanding - Confirm what the person has said in your words to make certain you understand what they are saying. Ask questions if you don't understand or need further clarification.
4. Empathy - Put yourself in the other person's shoes and try to understand how they feel.
5. Responding - Only after you have listened attentively and understand what the other person is communicating should you respond.When responding do not become emotional. Don't try to control or manipulate the person.  Look at it as an opportunity to learn.  Be careful of your own body language. Look the person in the eye and assure that you have their attention. Keep an even calming tone in your voice. Begin by clarifying your understanding of their situation, and ask questions that may help them to deal with the situation. When offering advice, make it constructive and not degrading.

For your FREE Copy of Communicating Effectively including sample policies, procedures and communication techniques, please e-mail kathi@pcalic.com, visit our website at www.pcalic.com or call 1-800-673-2558.

We are pleased to announce that our website, AALHA.org, is now fully functional. If you are an AALHA member, you should have received an email containing your login information. If you have not received the login instructions, please advise, and we will resend.

This new website is one of the most important benefits of your AALHA membership. As our website matures and grows, it will rise in the search engine rankings and become an important source of new business for you. It is in your best interest to make your directory listing as attractive and appealing as possible. The listings are fairly easy to modify. However, if you are not comfortable doing this, we are offering a service to do it for you, for a minimal fee. If you would like more information, please contact Linda Thompson at admin@aalha.org.

For an additional $49 per year, you can upgrade your directory listing to an "enhanced listing." The enhanced listing allows you to add more information and photos to your listing, making your business stand out from the crowd. To opt for the enhanced listing, log on to the website and on to your listing. Click the link to enhance your listing. You will then be directed to our online store to complete your purchase. Once your payment has cleared, we will authorize your listing, and you can begin to add content.

Also, we are adding items to our  events calendar continually. Please get in the habit of checking this calendar for education, networking, and other events throughout the state. For details of listed events, mouse over the event and click.