Year End Report
January 04, 2005
FOUNDED 3 MONTHS AGO:
Founded September 16, 2004, Final Exit Network is slightly
over three months old.
The organization has accomplished
many things in its brief history
MEMBERS SERVED:
We have just completed our first case of being there to
guide a Member when he self-delivered peacefully, quickly,
painlessly, and by his own hand.
CASELOAD BUILDING:
Most significant, the Network has 17 potential Members'
cases signed up for future Exits. We will soon have Exit
Guides meeting with these Members to discuss their needs.
STRONG POLICIES:
The Network created a new kind of right-to-die organization
with its brave stand that Members do not have to be terminal
to be eligible for the Exit Guide program. Exit Guides
handle any case where in the Member has a diagnosed physical
disease that is causing intolerable pain and suffering
that is more than the Members can bear. These diseases
include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS, MD, Huntington's,
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), cancer, emphysema, and all
neurological diseases.
MEDICAL EVALUATION TEAM:
The Network's Evaluation Team is extremely experienced.
It is headed by Lawrence Egbert, MD, Reverend Ken Phifer,
and Wye Hale-Rowe, a Hemlock
Society veteran. They evaluate the criteria of those
Members seeking Exit Guide services from the Network.
HEADQUARTERS:
The Network has established its headquarters in Marietta,
Georgia. PO Box 965005, Marietta, GA 30066
ROUND THE CLOCK SERVICE:
Even though run by volunteers, the Network is accessible
to its Members even on nights and weekends - 365 days
a year, 24 hours a day - through its 800 number 1-800-524-EXIT
(3948).
TRAINED EXIT GUIDES:
The Network has already trained 15 Exit Guides in its
procedures and policies. These are the volunteers that
go into the field to meet with Members seeking our service
and to be with them when they self-deliver.
WEBSITE UP & RUNNING:
The Network has established a beautiful website at www.finalexit
network.org.
FIRST NEWSLETTER MAILED:
The Network's first 4-page newsletter was published and
mailed from our headquarters in Marietta, Georgia.
FIRST FUND-RAISER MAILED:
Response to the organization's first fund-raising letter
has been very strong. Thank you!.
MEMBERSHIP CARDS:
Membership Cards (thin plastic) are being printed. These
will imprint the Member's name, the year they joined,
and on the back, offer places to list their Surrogate's
name and phone number as well as information about the
Member's wishes regarding Do Not Resuscitate.
SPEAKER'S BUREAU:
Founding Members are available to explain the Network
to any club or organization.
VOTING ORGANIZATION:
Members will be provided the opportunity to vote in elections
for members of the Board of Directors.
BOOKS & VIDEOS:
The Network sells appropriate videos and books, including
Derek Humphry's Final Exit.
RESEARCH:
The Network is pledged to contribute to research world-wide
that will find new and better ways to self-deliver. $1000
is being sent to well-known Australian doctor Philip Nitschke
to help him further his research there.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The organization applauds the efforts of other organizations
that so ably seek legislation reform at the state and
federal levels. Legislative advocacy, however, is not
one of the program goals of Final Exit Network. The primary
focus of the Network is to be there for its Members when
they seek a "good death."
MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL
COALITION:
Final Exit Network was officially welcomed into membership
of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies at their
September meeting in Tokyo. Our application was formally
presented by Derek Humphry
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:
The Membership fee to join the Final Exit Network is $50
a year, or $500 for a lifetime Membership. For couples,
the annual rate is $75, and $750 lifetime. We welcome
your financial gifts of any denomination. The procedures
to give a significant estate gift can be explained by
a Final Exit Network counselor, and your personal attorney.
You may contact the Network
at 1-800-524-3948 or on the web at www.finalexit network.org.
Final Exit Network Board
of Directors
Earl Wettstein, President
Ted Goodwin, VP & Treasurer
Bob Brush, VP & Secretary
Ila DeLuca, Founding Board Member
Rosalie Guttman, Founding Board Member
Judy Coats, Board Member
Final Exit Network Advisory
Board
Derek Humphry, Chairman Emeritus
Faye Girsh, Senior Advisor
Arthur Metcalfe, former Hemlock National President
Andi van der Voort, Hawaii Hemlock/EOLC chapter leader
Ruth von Fuchs, Canadian RTD Leader
