acha newsletter april 2011 · alabama council of hospital auxiliaries volume 23, issue 2 the...

Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliaries Volume 23, Issue 2

The Communicator April, 2011

The first quarter of the year has been busy for me, especially the month of February. All the districts held quarterly meetings and it was my pleasure to attend three of the four. I was able to visit with Districts One, Two and Three. I regret I did not get to attend the District Four meeting; however, Alice Hinger our Chair Elect was there. I want to congratulate all the districts for having very successful meetings. Attendance was up and the programs were informative and well presented. In several cases some new techniques were tried for getting everyone involved. It was so good to see the creative ideas of the district chairs being brought out and put into place in these meetings. These were not the run of the mill, everyone give the same report and repeat the same infor-mation, put you to sleep district meetings. These meetings were well planned, fun, energized, motivated gatherings. I can’t think of anything better to say than, “Great job everyone!!!” In keeping with the theme of growth, at each meeting I attended, I chal-lenged those present to look for ways to promote personal growth. I suggested they try something new, learn a new skill, develop a new habit or attitude, step outside their comfort level and “grow”. I advised taking eight weeks to really concentrate on that one thing which would help them become a better, bigger, more well round-ed person. The whole idea was presented as an experiment in personal growth. If any of you accepted my challenge and gave this a try I would love to hear from you. If you have mastered a new skill, read a great book, took a class, started a new project….whatever it might be, please write and tell me all about it. How did you choose your personal growth challenge, what did you do to motivate yourself, what distractions did you have to overcome and how do you feel about yourself now and the experience? Was it a worthwhile effort, do you feel you have become more confident in yourself and your capabilities? Please share your stories with me. Your experience in personal growth can motivate others who want to grow but just don’t know how to get started. Perhaps you haven’t thought about personal growth before, well it is never too late start. You can even get a buddy and the two of you can team up to learn something new. All it takes is that first spark of interest and enthusiasm. Eight weeks of your time is a small investment for the confidence you will gain. Why not give it a try and then let me know how it all turned out. Good luck and get growing!!!

Billie Simpson, ACHA State Chairman

Welcome

Greene County Hospital Auxiliary

OUR NEWEST AUXILIARY!!!

In September of 2010, Greene Coun-ty Hospital began its first ever Greene County Hospital/Nursing Home Auxiliary. This group of ap-proximately 25 men and women as-sist the hospital and nursing home employees, on a daily basis, complet-ing in-take forms, answering tele-phones, assisting with distributing snacks and helping with activities.

President Johnnie Knott, Vice-President Nancy Garnand, Secretary Janetta Hall, Treasurer Annie Gaines and member Earnestine Hicks re-cently attended the Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliaries in Montgom-ery. Catherine Means, Chaplin, was not able to attend the meeting. Mrs. Hall said “the meeting was a very informative and enjoyable meeting and listening to all the other auxilia-ries giving information about their groups”. She added, “We picked up some good ideas.”

Other activities the auxiliary have participated in are: The Annual Christmas Parade, visited other hos-pital auxiliaries, and planning a jew-elry sale in April. Mrs. Knott also said, “We have made great strides in our organizational plans and expect to continue in our growth.”

2011 - Experience Growth In ACHA - In Your Auxiliary - & Personal Growth

The Communicator Volume 23 Issue 2

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Top Ten Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

As you are aware, the health topic our Auxiliaries are focusing on is Alzheimer’s disease /Dementia. The following article is adopted from the Alzheimer’s Associa-tion and National Institute on Aging.

According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) “is an irre-versible progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living.” The differ-ence between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia is that Dementia refers to the de-cline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life and activities. Memory loss is a typical experience of aging, however, memory loss that disrupts daily life is not typical and can be a sign of the early stages of AD or Dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association has created a list of the top ten warning signs of AD, here is brief de-scription of those warning signs.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life (especially short term memory loss).

Example- forgetting important dates and events or what you recently learned.

2. Challenges in planning and solving problems.

Example- trouble following simple recipes or keeping track of monthly bills.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.

Example- trouble following simple directions or traveling to

familiar locations (such as your doctor's office).

4. Confusion with time or place.

Example- forget or lose track of dates, seasons, and you no longer have a concept of time.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

Example- passing a mirror and thinking it is someone else.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.

Example- trouble with vocabulary; struggling to find the right words to express yourself.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

Example- loses items around the home and accuses others of stealing them

8. Decreased or poor judgment.

Example- Lose the concept of money and begin to give large sums of money away to entities such as telemarketer

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.

Example- withdraws from hobbies and/or sports and experience difficulties completing favorite activities.

10. Changes in mood or personality.

Example- being fearful, suspicious, depressed or confused; easily upset at home or with friends when out of comfort zone.

If you or someone you love has experienced any of these signs, the

Alzheimer’s Association suggests that you visit a doctor for an evaluation.

Attention Auxiliaries!!! Attention Auxiliaries!!! Please submit your organization’s Alzhei-mer’s disease project activities to me so we may share ideas. Kudos to the Auxiliary at Helen Keller Hospital for their efforts and support of the Friendship Club at Westminster Interfaith Caring Place. Check out a spe-cial letter to Mrs. Jane Barcomb, Project Chair, in their news-letter- “Volunteer Voice” Feb 2011 to learn more!

With Warmest Regards, Betty Caffey, Project Chairman

Spring! What a joy to behold after a rather long and unusually cold winter. Spring blossoms cover the trees, and the daffodils, narcissi, and tulips make us for-get the cold. What a beautiful time of the year! After visiting in District II in November, my trav-els stopped for the holidays. In January, the ACHA Board met. It was exciting to welcome newcomers to the board, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention missing those who no longer attend because their term of office has expired. My travels began close to home with District IV holding their meeting January 12th at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile. Ten of the fourteen auxilia-ries in the district were present. It was a good meeting. One question asked: how do we report hours worked within our auxiliaries at the district meeting? This district decided to report hours based on the calendar quarters (Jan/Mar; Apr/June, etc.) Other districts may already be reporting on this type of schedule, but if you are not, you might consider it. Then all districts in the state would report on the same schedule. Speaking of reports, have you seen the new form developed by Tom Guyton, District I Chairman? What a great form and it is so easy to use. You simply change the title placing your District Number at the top. The form has blanks for your auxiliary name, member, hour, and finan-cial information. Then you can itemize your auxiliary’s projects and other information you would like to share. Believe me, it will save lots of typing and if you have need for additional space, you just attach an addendum. If you haven’t seen it, ask your district chairman to get you a copy. My next trip was to Centre, AL where the District I meeting was hosted by Cherokee Medical Center. Eight of this district’s thirteen auxiliaries were present. Cherokee hadn’t hosted a meeting for a long time and you could tell they worked hard to make it a success. Everyone had a good time. I was excited for Chairman Billie—remember “Growth” is the focus of the state board this year. Stringfellow Memorial, Anniston, had representatives pre-sent for the very first time. A great start for our year. Now if each district can encourage one of their non-attending auxiliaries back to participating in their district meetings, what a successful year we can have! Travel to the various auxiliaries and districts is new for me, but I already realize how talented and creative auxilians are and what great things you do. Therefore, I feel the need to follow Billie’s habit of sharing what I learn. I love Birmingham Chil-dren’s Hospital’s Parent Night Out where they sit with a sick child so the parents can leave for a short time and their child is not alone. Cherokee, Centre, and Thomas, Fairhope, donate articles to their Child Advocacy Center for children having to be taken out of abusive situations during the night with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Helen Keller, Sheffield, collects paper products and craft materials for their Alzheimer’s day care center. Decatur provided volunteers to help their county’s Mental Health Center during a conference on Dementia/Alzheimer's. This is our state project and most all auxiliaries could have a drive for supplies or volunteer to go once a month to help entertain clients. Nursing homes always need help with crafts, entertainment, and pet thera-py is welcomed in many of the homes. There are so many good things happening throughout the state and I wish I could list every auxiliary and tell what you are doing; but Don and Sarajane would not have enough room to print it all. Count your blessings and as you serve your hospi-tal be thankful you are able to do it. Alice Hinger, Chair - Elect


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Don & Sarajane Pugh, Newsletter Co-Chairs

Hello!

By now if you are like us, you are happy to see the temperatures warming up and the beautiful flowers blooming in the garden. The above photos were tak-en on a trip to Charleston and Savannah. The lush green foliage was a real ex-perience. Send us your photos and news about your auxiliary. Has your group taken any trips together? Have you had local get-togethers? What projects have you done? Have you made any donations to your hospitals or other groups? Share what your auxiliary is doing along with photos. We will print as much as possible and let others know what you have accom-plished. Thanks to those already sending in regular reports and photos.

Please con-tinue to send information to us using our email address [email protected] or if needed by mail to 762 Cambridge Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL. 35406.

We can be reached at (205)462-3374.

Don & Sarajane

Go to www.alaha.org then click to AFFILATES on that page go down to >>Auxiliaries, Alabama Council of Hospitals (ACHA), which will allow you to open “The Communicator” .

The Communicator is

ONLINE

GIFT SHOP CHAIR

I attended my first State meeting in Montgomery in January. Chairman Billie Simpson pre-sided. The presentation of duties of the District Chairs and Committee chairs given by Alice Hinger, State Co-chair, was most informative and beneficial.

Each District Chair will receive a survey form from me referencing your hospital’s Gift Shop. The information received will be shared with your peers; so let’s hear what your “good ideas, good buys, are. My goal is to visit Gift Shops in the area via in person, by phone, or email. I am looking for a volunteer in each District to help spread “what’s happening” in Gift Shops throughout the State. Get on board!

Constance Taylor, Gift Shop Chairman

Save these dates: In order to allow for BETTER NEWS Reporting of your Auxil-iaries each quarter, we are CHANGING most of the dates to provide for District meeting, etc. 2011 dates are as follows: These will be the DEADLINES for articles and photos.

June 9th

September 8th December 8th

My Apologies for mistakenly placing this information in the wrong report in the January issue of the Communicator. “Sorry, ‘bout that.” Don

Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, recently opened a new Gift Shop at their hospital. The photo below shows auxiliary members at the grand opening ceremony held just outside the doors of the new gift shop with many of the members present.

Gift Shop Opening Left to Right:

Jack Singleton, Tom Jones, Libba Jones, (back) Marion Stoltenberg, (front) Dotty Rogers, Ricky McHenry, Craig McKinnon, Ila Hollis-ter, Betty McKinnon, Lor-raine Snyder, Carolyn Ben-nett, Harold Winn, Leslie Ladd, Pat Rogers, Betty Min-to, and Barbara Wittner.

ACHA Historian - It is my pleasure to serve as Historian for 2011-12. During the State Conference, I met some of you, but it will take awhile to get to know you and your auxiliaries by name. Many of you have been involved for several years, so I will be expecting to learn new ideas and information from you.

Each month I ask that you send me copies of your reports, newsletters, projects, and photos you have completed. Photos will make the State Yearbook look great. Please include your hospital and district information, along with names of individuals in the pictures. I know there is a lot of activity because you are doing a great job for your auxiliaries.

Several Auxiliaries have mailed me their newsletters and others have called about information on your yearbooks. I have email, facebook and telephone that you can contact me anytime. Email [email protected] Telephone: (334)289-2957 Address: 407 South Strawberry Avenue, De-mopolis, AL 36732. I am looking forward to the next two years as we will be working together on OUR State Auxiliary yearbook. Thanks for all your help……… Betty Baxley, Historian


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SDVSHO - Southeastern Directors of Volunteer Services in Hospital Organizations March 20-23, 2011 - Louisville, KY

Pet Therapy

Mary Beth Orton DVS Award

“Volunteer of the Year”

Linda Tillman, from Ephriam McDowell Regional Medical Center

in Danville, KY

John Walker taught us how to Build a Website!

Don & Sarajane Pugh

& Constance Taylor

Alabama Alabama had 45 had 45

representatives representatives at at

SDVSHO SDVSHO E-Mail Marketing

Steve Robinson

Carlos with Masquerade was there too!!!

Terry Foster, RN

Keynote/Comedian

Billie & Alice were Shopping!

Patsy from Northport!!

Just a few of the Door Prize Winners!!

Shop!

Shop!

Shop!

Billie Simpson, ACHA Chair and Alice Hinger, ChairBillie Simpson, ACHA Chair and Alice Hinger, Chair--Elect pose here with one of the many “Painted Horses” Elect pose here with one of the many “Painted Horses” in and around downtown Louisville, KY. The horses in and around downtown Louisville, KY. The horses are painted by local artist and money raised through are painted by local artist and money raised through this activity goes to local charities. This one stands in this activity goes to local charities. This one stands in front of the Marriott Downtown Louisville. front of the Marriott Downtown Louisville.

Donna Tyson, the Featured Speaker with Tamar Lisenby and Ann Willard, having Ms. Tyson autograph her book “the Red Bow”. The children’s book is about a little girl and how she learns about “self-esteem”. Ask someone about it - it’s Great.

Above & Below you can see the diverse Architecture of Louisville.

See more photos on Pages 7, 11, & 12

Great Vendor Exhibits Area


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Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary

What a coooold winter we have had! We’re all so happy that Spring is here! This winter, our ACHA board members kept the fires burning and continued to work hard at making this organization the great one that it is. Charles Purple, our Auxiliary President, is excited about the opportunity of serving on the board and has had such wonderful things to say about his first meeting. He encourages everyone to look for an opportunity to serve!

A great time was had by all District One hospitals in February at the quarterly meeting held at Cherokee Hospital. The speaker was fabulous, food delicious and hospitality amazing! Fun was had by all that were able to attend!

Love was definitely in the air at Huntsville Hospital on Valentine’s Day! The Gift Shop, located on the main campus, had a 20% in-crease in revenue for the month of February. We highly recommend the additional kiosk that was provided by Ameri-Choice. This compa-ny offered additional Valentine’s plush (stuffed animals) and candy looms in an area just outside of our Gift Shop. All merchandise was provided by the company and taken back to their warehouse if it didn’t sell. So, there was nothing to lose! The sale did so well that they had very little to pack up and take home. Please feel free to call our Gift Shop store manager, Mary Weatherford, if you’d like more infor-mation on using this vendor to generate more revenue for your Gift Shop. The more we earn… the more medical equipment we can buy for our hospitals!

The final month of the quarter concluded with ”Let’s Pretend Hospital””Let’s Pretend Hospital”. . Aux-ilians assisted the Volunteer Services staff with putting together “goodie bags” given to more than 2500 first grade students that attended. A few of the items in the bag included a mask and cap, just like “real surgeons” wear, as well as a coloring book featuring things you would see in a hospital. Members of the Klown Klub also spread cheer to the children that visited the pretend hospital. This event is not only fun but it helps to eliminate the fears that children may have when coming to the hospital as a patient. No one can argue that having fun and calming fear is 100% good! Adult Auxilians served 3830 hours of service during the months of January and February and our youth served 187 hours. All VERY, VERY GOOD too.

Cherokee Medical Center Auxiliary, Centre, AL hosted the first District I quarterly conference of 2011 on Feb-ruary 24th. The meeting was held on the recently completed Gadsden State Community College - Chero-kee campus in Centre. In addition to the 45 auxilians representing 8 of the 13 auxiliaries in District I, both State Board Chairman Billie Simpson and Chair-Elect Alice Hinger were present.

The event was well planned with official “Welcome” given by Georgia Ann Grimes, Cherokee Medical Center Auxiliary President; Tony Wilkie, Mayor of Centre; Patrick Trammell, CEO of Cherokee Medical Center and Joy Perry representing the Centre Chamber of Commerce.

A vocal performance by Linda Rakestraw and a comical satire by Faye Vann provided both laughs and reflective thoughts. Guest Speaker was Martha Lavender, Assistant to the President, Gadsden State Com-munity College - Cherokee.

The District I quarterly business meeting was presided over by District I Chairman Tom Guyton. At the conclusion of the meeting, the hosts provided lunch. Following a drawing for door prizes the meeting was adjourned. The entire event can best be described as one that was full of fun, laughter, renewal of past acquaintances, making of new friends and an opportunity to learn from others.

As always, Thank You for what you do for all of us. Tom Guyton, District I Chairman

District I

AROUND THE STATE

Alice & Carl Hinger Billie Simpson

Georgia Ann Grimes

Cherokee Medical Center Auxiliary

The Marshall Medical Center North Craft Committee has been busy making crafts for our patients’ trays for Valentine’s Day, Veterans Day and Easter. We are very proud of their accomplishments.

We are busy getting ready for JCAHO. We had a review of our Safety Program at the meeting in February. We will have our Reorientation and our TB skin test at our March meeting.

Our Gift shop has a new display case and items have been moved around in the gift shop. It looks much better and we have more room.

Our Volunteer luncheon will be held April 14, 2011 at the Senior Center in Guntersville in observance of National Healthcare Volunteer Week.

Some of the Auxiliary members have started making bears for our Pediatric patients. They have a pattern that they cut out, sew and stuff. Then they sew it up and it becomes a cute little bear.

We have a Book sale Thursday, March 10th and Friday, March 11th. We wish each of you a happy spring season.


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District I AROUND THE STATE Helen Keller Hospital Auxiliary

By the time you read this, Spring will be here. After a long snowy, cold winter we are finally going to have some warm weather. I love spring with all the beautiful flowers and budding trees. Everyone seems to be happy about the changes in weather we are now hav-ing.

First, we had our very first linen sale. And it was a BIG SUCCESS. We heard a lot of nice comments from the employees and they seemed glad to have a different sale and such good prices. The two gentlemen who had the sale were both very nice and helpful to everyone. We made nearly $3000. We think we will have another linen sale in the near future.

On February 14th, we had our annual Valentine Tea for the employees and staff. We had such nice goodies donated this year. We want to thank everyone who brought items. We drew eight names from those who brought goodies to go to the Mardi Gras Luncheon held by the foundation. Those chosen were: Iris Leigh, Rosemary Davis, Nancy Maddox, Dean McCormack, Carolyn Maness, Lillian Seago, Stella Byrd & Lucy Stephenson.

Seven of our members attended the District I meeting in Centre, Alabama. It was a rather long trip, but everyone enjoyed the event. I am happy to say that we are doing a great job in our auxiliary. On June 9th, we will host the next quarterly District meeting. District I has 16 hospital auxiliaries and we hope to have good attendance.

Marcia Bush, President

Decatur General Hospital Auxiliary I am happy to report that we have 5 new volunteers.

At the annual meeting on Feb. 7, the members heard report from the out going officers and then elected the following people to office: President – Zenda Wesnor Vice President – Yvonne Elliott Recording Secretary – Amy Rape Corresponding Secretary – Joseph Toth Treasurer – Mary Toth

Helen Teague will continue as telephone chairman and Tom Guyton will continue as newsletter editor. Shirley Reid will act as Ways and Means Chairman. Our next board meeting will be April 18th and our General Membership Meeting will be May 2nd.

Others member attending were Don Fries (immediate past president), Gene Saywell , (immediate past vice president), Bess Newsom, Jane Nabors, Jeanne Reinhardt, Yvonne and Morris Braly, Nancy Hayes, Melanie Odom, Trudy Grisham, Howard Ellis, Anna Franks, Edgar Foster, Betty Jones and Lorene Wishart. In April & May we will have a book sale and Masquerade Jewelry sale.

In 2010 the Auxiliary raised over $6,000 from book and jewelry sales and made personnel donations of $200 to their Partners in Educa-tion. The teacher in this class was able to buy “Clifford the Big Red Dog” reading series. The funds raised from sales were donated to the Decatur General Foundation for various uses including employee scholarships, the Lifeline program, and the Cancer Camp.

In 2010 volunteers at Decatur General gave over nine thousand hours. Reported by: Zenda Wesnor, President

Highlands Medical Center Auxiliary

We have 23 active members, with one new member this quarter. In October, we had a successful jewelry sale with fun fashions. In No-vember we had our annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale. Within 30 minutes, the tables were bare. We made $497.00. December was a very busy month. Gloria Franklin and her helpers decorated the main lobby and put up a Christmas Tree. December 2nd we partnered with the hospital foundation in a Lights of Love Ceremony. Some of our volunteers were in charge of the refreshment table where they served cocoa and cookies. We purchased 13 lights in honor of our deceased members and two lights in honor of our two members in nursing homes.

On December 5th, we hosted a Christmas party in our nursing home. We have a fifty bed nursing home and rehab center attached to the hospital. We donated $300.00 toward their angel tree. We enjoyed the party almost as much as the residents did.

We held our auxiliary Christmas pot luck luncheon on December 8th with more food than we could eat. We also exchanged gifts and had a good time with all our auxiliary members present. We continue to sponsor and provide prizes for the weekly BINGO games in our nursing home.

Our next project for the new year is a partnership with the foundation to purchase a new handicap bus for the use of our two nursing homes. As of now they have to share an older bus. We are looking forward to a busy new year.

Sue Obenchain, President

Pictured to the right at the Lights of Love Ceremony are:

Jessie Cornelison, Sue Obenchain, Velma Shepard,

Paula Crawford, Hilda Smith & Gloria Franklin


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District II

DCH Regional Medical Center Auxiliary

During October, November & December, six new adult volunteers were added to the auxiliary membership. Volunteer hours for the quarter were 11,835.

Fundraisers included Masquerade Jewelry and Books are Fun.

Sandra Simpson, President

Bibb County Medical Center

October - a luncheon was served by the BMC staff for volunteer recognition week.

November - We purchased 2 recliner chairs for the hospital at a cost of $2399.06.

December - Our annual Tree of Lights ceremony was held. Income from the event exceeded $900.00.

At Thanksgiving and Christmas, we funded 25 meals each to be pro-vided for Home Health Patients.

Hattie Terry, President - Bibb County Auxiliary

Northport Medical Center Auxiliary

Our auxiliary voted to donate $1000 to a local program called Caring Days. It is an Adult Day Care Program for people with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other dementias. Vickie Kerr will attend our quar-terly meeting in February where we will present the check.

NMC gave our 120 Tray Favors for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were a big hit with the patients.

Northport Medical Center and DCH Regional Medical Center cele-brated together at the Capstone Inn for a Holiday Feast. Both Auxil-iaries were well represented.

Patsy Nowell, President

AROUND THE STATE

A rare photo of DCH with Snow around on the ground. It was pretty!!!

Gay Davis, Sec. SDVSHO

Northport Hospital

New Friends from Florida!

Kristie & Keith from DCH RMC

Friends from West Virginia & South Carolina!

Jane, Barbara, Ann, Don, Jean & Tina from Alabama !

Brookwood Medical Center Auxiliary Becki Anderson, Volunteer Coordinator reported that due to construction, the volunteer office had to relocate to the Ambulatory Care Center. Moving from the Women’s Center after 20 years was a daunting tasks to pack all the “Stuff”. Thanks to many volunteers, the move is now complete and we are back in business. Also, due to the construction, we have a new Volunteer Information Desk in the Women’s Medical Plaza where volunteers are helping visitors find their way.

The Brookwood Medical Auxiliary was honored by Wells Fargo with a $1000 grant at the company’s Days of Giving Ceremony at the McWane Center in October.

Joanna Holmes will be assuming duties as our new President this year. Carmen Ruesga was elected President, but will be moving to south Alabama soon and chose to resign, so our auxiliary could move ahead. We will miss Carmen and wish her well.

Pat Puchta, President - Brookwood Medical Auxiliary Pickens County Medical Center

Our hospital’s annual community Christmas celebration involved the auxiliary’s Love Lights project. Auxiliary members were encouraged to ask people in the community to make a $5 donation to our organization. The donor and the name of a person being honored or remembered were listed in the community Tree Lighting program and on a Christmas tree in our lobby. During the community event Jane Oliver, Auxiliary President, presented a list of this year’s participants and stated funds raised by the auxil-iary are used for our medical scholarships.

In November the Gift Shop staff held a Holiday Open House Sale and an Alabama/Auburn Collegiate Items Sale in the hospital’s lobby. Our patients were remembered at Christmas and Thanksgiving with gifts of love from the volunteer department.

This quarter’s auxiliary meeting was held January 26. Judy Halbert, volunteer and advocate for recycling gave a motiva-tional presentation she titled “Clean up our environment, save our land fields.” During the meeting we voted to provide five medical education financial scholarships, purchase an Arc Trainer aerobic conditioner for our physical therapy department in memory of two volunteers, and a new time clock for volunteer use.

The Auxiliary’s President attended the Medical Center’s annual Pickens County Hospital Association Board of Director’s meeting on January 31, 2011, and presented our annual report to the community.

Jane Oliver, Auxiliary President

More SDVSHO Photos


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Trinity Medical Center The auxiliary purchased 36 Microwaves for the Trinity Medical Inn and we continue to furnish coffee and supplies each quarter.

Patients were surprised with a Thanksgiving gift from the Auxiliary. We purchased a lined pad with pen attached for each one and ten of our volun-teers delivered them.

21 Christmas Stockings were delivered to newborns; and a new car seat and other gifts were given to the New Year’s Ba-by.

The Trinity Cancer Center holds a memorial service each Christmas for the families of patients who lost their battle with cancer. The Auxiliary provided the angel ornaments inscribed with the loved ones name. The ornaments were placed on the Remembrance Tree and given to the family at the end of the service.

A report from Joel Windham, Human Resources Administrator, indicated great success with the Nursing Assistant Program that began last spring.

14 candidates com-pleted the program

13 graduates were offered Patient Care Assistant (PCA) positions at Trinity

9 of the graduates will be in New Employee Orientation in January

The Auxiliary helped to fund this project and will continue to fund the new class that begins in February.

Fund Raiser The Masquerade Jewelry Sale December 2nd and 3rd was a success. We re-ceived 6,555, which was 20 percent of the net sales, $32,775. Fourteen volun-teers worked this sale.

Volunteer Fun All enjoyed the traditional turkey/dressing and the trim-mings lunch and Delores Haddock, an actress and storyteller in Birmingham presented a monologue, The Christmas Club, that brought hearty laughter and a few tears as the volun-teers remembered Christmases past.

Volunteer Hours Seventy-two volunteers worked 3,371 hours this quarter

Judy Long, President

AROUND THE STATE District II

Walker Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary

October-December we welcomed 2 new volunteers bringing our totals to 63 active and 49 inactive members. Walker Baptist volunteers worked 4,272 hours during the 4th quar-ter. We hosted a Uniform sale in October and Masquerade $5 Jewelry sale in December.

In November we participated in the Belk Charity Day sale and raised $279.00 for our auxiliary.

Five auxilians plus our Coordinator and DVS attended the State Conference in Mobile. We won two awards - 1st Place in Tray Favors and 3rd Place in Special Programs.

With a sad heart, we would like to inform everyone of the passing of a long-time Walker Baptist Volunteer, Ms. Libby Perry. She had obtained over 14,300 hours during her 24 years of service. She will be missed greatly.

Having been President of Walker for almost two years, I now pass the torch to our new President, Marty Staggs and wish her good luck during her upcoming term.

Pat Farrell, Past President

Princeton Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary

In November we added 5 adult & 4 college volunteers to our roster. We held a Monarch Fine Jewelry Sale, passed our Tray Favors for Thanksgiving and attended the Patient Learning Experience Class.

December brought the Angel Tree Project, Art’s and Craft/Bake Sale, Masquerade Sale, Volunteer Christmas Party, Decorate your Door Contest and Tray Favors for Christ-mas.

January, 2011 all volunteers attended Education Update sessions, we held installation of Auxiliary Officers along with a lovely luncheon and had a Uniforms 2U sale which was very good with employees changing colors of uniforms effective February 7th.

Jane Pearson, Princeton Auxiliary President

Shelby Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary

In October, we held our fall uniform sale with a profit of $7,142 coming back to the auxiliary. Four volunteers and our DVS attended the State Conference.

In November we had the privilege of awarding five $2000 scholarships to hospital personnel to continue their medical education. Profit from our annual jewelry sale held in November was $4,978.

December we had a guest speaker from the Lovelady Cen-ter which houses 300 women and 100 children. We made a $500 donation and set up a donation box for clothes and personal items in our volunteer office. We had a float in the Alabaster Christmas Parade and won 1st Place for “best use of theme” We attended the Calera RSVP Luncheon and received a great trophy for 10,000 hours of service dur-ing the year.

During the quarter, volunteers worked 4,497 hours.

Ann Dawson, President

St Vincent’s Birmingham Auxiliary

During the quarter our volunteers worked 4,070 hours in the hospital and on auxiliary projects. Our fall uniform sale and $5 jewelry sale earned more than $13,600 in profits for the auxiliary.

Camp Blue Bird celebrated its 25th Anniversary with 50 campers and 5 volunteers attending. Louis Josef, one of the camp’s founders, was the guest of the Auxiliary at the General Meeting. He shared stories of Camp Blue Bird’s first session when the Auxiliary volunteers were and integral part of the camp staff.

The Auxiliary Christmas Stocking has been a 45 year tradition. Volunteers completed 198 stockings for babies born at St. Vincent’s Birmingham in December 2010. We were surprised this year by a young mother-to-be who brought the Christmas Stocking her parents received when she was born in 1979. She shared with us how much the stocking had meant to her. She was thrilled to know that the Auxiliary still made stockings and that her baby would have a 2010 stocking to take home for memory sake.

Valentine Balloon Delivery is another annual tradition. Volunteers inflate and deliver balloons to every patient’s room on February 14th.

Brenda Slonneger, President,


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Wow! District III has bragging rights! Our February 19, 2011 meeting in Montgomery was attended by 41 auxilians repre-senting 11 out of 13 hospitals. The auxiliary of East Alabama Medical Center was our host hospital. Tamar Lisenby, President of EAMC, arranged with Alabama Hospital Association for us to have our meeting at their conference center. Tamar suggested that a more central location might ease travel distance and time for our district members. Thanks for the great suggestion, Tamar! Our thanks also go to Teresa Stubblefield, our AlaHa liaison, for permitting us to use their lovely conference center.

Beverly Commander, Wedowee Hospital Auxiliary and District III Vice Chair, started our meeting with a Thought for the Day. We were very excited to have with us Billie Simpson, State Chairman, Sharon Farst, State Past Chairman, and Betty Baxley, State Histori-an. During our business meeting, Billie, Sharon and Betty each spoke about their position on the State Board and shared with us their plans for ACHA. Debi Jacobson, Program Chair for the 2011 ACHA Conference, gave us an overview of the planning for the Fall Confer-ence. Mark your calendars. FALL CONFERENCE - OCTOBER 23-26, WYNFREY HOTEL, BIRMINGHAM, AL.

The president’s reports were excellent - lots of exciting ideas and happenings going on in all the auxiliaries. I wish I had more room here to mention each hospital in District III and the good work you are doing in your hospitals and communities. You can bet the Board will hear all about you (I told you we have bragging rights)!

Christine McIntosh, Certified Senior Coordinator, East Alabama Medical Center, spoke with us about the symp-toms and care of individuals with Dementia/Alzheimer. Christine is a delightful young woman with great empathy and affinity for elders. We very much appreciate having her with us and hope she will come again to speak with us.

The meeting then broke into two groups to discuss topics that we would like to cover in greater depth in future meetings. Lots of great input - do we need job descriptions? how are we communicating? what are we communicating? should volunteers reach beyond hospital walls into the community? Come, hear and participate - our next meeting should be lively, fun and informative! We will meet again on May 19, 2011, at Russell Medical Center, Alexander City, AL. Hope to see you there.

We want to thank EAMC, Tamar and Mary for a great lunch, fun door prizes and helping us have a great meet-ing.

Julie Hill, Chair - District III - Beverly Commander, Vice Chair

District II

University Hospital Auxiliary/UAB Medicine/UAB Hospital

In October, UAB Hospital integrated Highlands Hospital into the UAB organization, thus, the Auxiliary acquired its third Gift Shop to operate. November activities included the annual Pecan Sale and Gift Shop Open House. Motivated to try new holiday sales ide-as, a “Pecan Bake Sale” was held on the day of the Gift Shop Open House with volunteers providing “Pecan” based items for sale. Within 4 hours the table was empty and $120 had been raised. It was decided to donate the proceeds to the new Nursing Scholarship fund. In December over 300 red felt stockings made by auxiliary members were given to the Women’s and Infant’s Center so that each newborn received a holiday stocking. (See Photo)

After attending the District II meeting during the state conference, it was apparent that hospital volunteers across the state wear many different colors! What matters is not that color but the fact that vol-unteers are easily recognized and that we function as a team. Five UAB auxiliary members served on a Uni-form Committee to conduct a survey and recommend a color choice of uniforms. Upon completion of the survey and review of the results, the committee recommended continued use of the salmon uniforms for those who wish to keep their current uniforms and the addition of burgundy vests, long-sleeved jackets, and polo shirts for all adult volunteers.

Carol Hunter, President, UAB Hospital Auxiliary

St. Vincent’s St Clair Auxiliary

Excitement continues regarding progress with construction of our new hospital. Driving from Birmingham on I-20, going East, it is visible on the North side of I-20, just before the Jefferson State College campus. Some of our members attended the “BEAM SIGNING CEREMONY” held on November 18th. The contractor had the last beam of the building displayed, and everyone was invited to sign this beam and afterwards, the beam was lifted into place atop the structure.

We continue to have one Volunteer stationed in our Hospital Lobby five days a week - “to direct traffic” between hospital admissions, scheduled appointments for doctor visits, lab work, testing, and Emer-gency Room patients. This has been the largest change for our Auxil-iary and it is so appreciated by the Hospital Administration and Staff. Because all of these patients are gathered in one small room, helping them to know what to do and where to go has greatly increased the Patient Satisfaction Scores for our facility.

We held several very successful sales in October, November and De-cember and helped with a Bake Sale for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Research Fund. Barbara Alvis, President SVSC Auxiliary

St. Vincent East Auxiliary

The Auxiliary joined with St. Vincent’s Health System to assist with needy families at Christmas. We “adopted” nine children and purchased each an outfit including a coat and a toy. Families were screened by the Center of Catholic Concern, the came to the Bruno Center at St. Vincent’s Birmingham where a “store” was set up and the parents could Christmas shop for their children. The children were off in another room, playing games, listening to stories and having refreshments.

Our patients enjoyed tray favors made by our craft group for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The administration sponsored a Christmas Luncheon for the Board at Grayson Valley Country Club and presented each mem-ber with a gift. Our Craft group made over 100 Christmas Stock-ings for newborn delivered during December. A special White feather wreath was made for the hospital’s first newborn of the New Year. Margaret Choat, President SVE Auxiliary

District III

Share this “Communicator” with other volunteers in your Auxiliary. Not every-one gets to see their pictures & articles.

AROUND THE STATE

Christine McIntosh


10

AROUND THE STATE District III Chilton Medical Center Auxiliary

The Auxiliary (a.k.a. Pink Ladies) had a busy year in 2010. All of the projects that were started have been completed.

The Chilton Auxiliary purchased railings for the Prayer Garden and other items that contributed to its success. We want to thank all of the hospital personnel and community for their donations toward this great cause. We donated and participated in the Arthritis Walk-Relay for Life and Scholarship Fund.

We purchased fire alarms for the local Home Health Department to distribute to their patients. We donated to the Department of Hu-man Resources to help families in need for Christmas. As a fundrais-er we sold barbeque plates. The barbeque was donated by Ribs to Go.

We ended the year with a Christmas Luncheon at the Whistle Stop Café in Irondale, AL.

The Auxiliary (Pink Ladies) donated a total of 4008 hours to the hospital, saving the hospital approximately $40,000.

The Auxiliary has a total of 17 members. Ruth Tinsley with 507 hours and Juanita Herns with 406 hours were recognized as volunteers with the most hours.

Our motto is “Working Together in Harmony keeps us Moving Forward” “Working Together in Harmony keeps us Moving Forward”

National Volunteer Week National Volunteer Week will be will be

April 10April 10——16, 201116, 2011 Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary

Bryan Whitfield Auxilia-ry participated in the Christmas Parade with a float shown here. Who would have ever thought there would be a penguin and an igloo in Demopolis, Alabama?

Photo to the right: shows Ruth Levitz, volunteer, helping a customer with selection at the $5.00 Jewelry sale held at the hospital. Our jewelry sale raised $5,062. Money was donated to the Wellness Center for scholar-ships to the “Fit Kamp”, a new chil-dren ’s fitness workshop.

The Auxiliary decorated for the holidays and made tray favors for the patients, as well as sponsored a wreath decorating contest in which Labor and Delivery Dept. received 1ST Place. The auxiliary also donated $4,000 to the Health Start program.

Chrissy Brooker, Dir. of Public Relations

Coosa Valley Medical Center Auxiliary

We began our new year in October with our Annual Awards Ban-quet. Everyone enjoyed a great meal and wonderful entertainment by one of our own hospital employees, Andy Gill. Following this, awards were given to volunteers who had reached various levels in the number of hours volunteered. The total hours worked by volunteers from October 2009 to September 2010 was 14,750.

In November we held our Fall $5 Jewelry Sale, and it was our most successful yet, grossing $35,815.00, which meant $7,163.00 for the auxiliary.

During December we held our “Tree of Love” fundraiser. For a donation of $2.50 each, a person can honor a friend or relative on our Christmas Tree in the lobby. On Dec. 6, our auxilians enjoyed a Christmas dinner in the Hickory Street Café at the hospital fol-lowed by the lighting of the “Tree of Love”.

We have enlisted nine new Auxilians during the last year and we recently purchased six wheelchairs for the hospital.

In the attached photo: Maria Griffitt & Shirley Treace are shown by an excer-cycle that the auxiliary purchased for the Rehab Unit.

Submitted by:

Michaux Horne


11

AROUND THE STATE District III East Alabama Medical Center

2010 was a good year with volunteers giving 35,761 hours of service to East Alabama Medical Center.

The Christmas Coffee was a great success, thanks to Nancy Weath-erman, Program Chairman and all the dedicated volunteers that brought delicious goodies!

As we embark upon a new year, there are some exciting things hap-pening in our auxiliary. You all know we have several areas which are in desperate need of volunteers, so we are going to form a Re-cruitment and Retention Committee. The committee will be a spe-cial projects committee and will be in place until October of this year. The purpose of this committee is two-fold; the first is to identi-fy a group of individuals who will be willing to represent the Auxil-iary at various meetings around the area to show our mission and what we are doing in our hospital community. The second purpose will be to organize and host recruiting events and brainstorm things we can do to recognize and retain the volunteers we already have on the roster.

Our Jewelry Sale was a success. We made approximately $8,600.00 of which 20% will go to the Scholarship Fund.

Spring has Sprung and it is time once again for the Auxiliary Spring Luncheon! The guest speaker will be Frazer Rolen, Senior Vice President of the Alabama Hospital Association. His presentation will be on Healthcare Reform. That should be very interesting. The luncheon will be held at the Grand National Marriott on Wednesday, April 6th. Awards will be presented for Volunteer of the Year and Teenage Volunteer of the Year along with presentation of pins for years of service to the hospital auxiliary.

EAMC hosted the District III meeting in February. The event was held at the Alabama Hospital Association office in Montgomery. There were 41 Auxilians in attendance representing 11 o the 13 hos-pitals within District III. Greene County Hospital is new to ACHA and attended for the first time. ACHA Chair, Billie Simpson shared the ACHA Board focus for the current year: Growth - Per-sonal, Auxiliary, & Board. She encouraged each group to support and report the State Project: Dementia/Alzheimer’s. She also asked each hospital to submit articles to the Communicator. She remind-ed everyone that the state newsletter is online at www.alaha.org Sharon Farst, ACHA Past Chair, reiterated the value of the website and also encouraged each group to make use of it. Betty Baxley, State Historian asked us all to please send copies of newsletters, newspaper clippings, and photos to her for publication in the State Yearbook. EAMC, as host hospital, provided the program. Chris-tine McIntosh gave the program on Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease. It was well received.

Have a good spring, get outdoors and enjoy the beauty that Nature has to offer. A delicate bud will bloom into a beautiful flower with-in a matter of only a few weeks…………..DON’T MISS IT!

Tamar Lisenby, President

Vaughan Regional Medical Center Auxiliary

The ladies and gentlemen of Vaughan’s Auxiliary have been busy during the first quarter. Their hard work has truly paid off as they have made donations within the community as well as to the hospi-tal.

• We partnered with our Pilot Club to donate Alzheimer’s Loca-tor Bracelets for local patients in recognition the ACHA state project this year.

• We donated 10 beautiful rocking chairs to Vaughan’s Pediatric Unit just for those mommies and daddies who need to provide a little extra comfort to our smallest patients.

• We have enhanced the beauty of our hospital lobby with ex-quisite gold lettering of our logo, proudly being displayed on the wall. We’ve also added a beautiful decorative clock.

• Last, but not least, we will award $25,000 to local students in scholarship monies this year at a ceremony in April.

Watch for pictures in the next edition as we make these donations and presentations. What an honor to serve both Vaughan Regional and our West Central Alabama Community!

Merrill Bolton South, Dir. of Community Relations

Marilyn Beverly (left) talked about “Winning the Triple Crown of Volunteerism”

(Right) Judith Atkins and Sarajane Pugh have a laugh. Ms. Atkins talked about “Expectations for Volunteers by the Joint Commission in 2011”.

Tamar & Mary are coming out of the gate at the SDVSHO Ken-tucky Derby!

More SDVSHO Photos


12

AROUND THE STATE

District IV Report

Here on the Gulf Coast, our see-saw winter is on the wane and new “GROWTH” is just around the corner.

District IV met on January 12th, hosted by USA Children’s and Women’s Medical Center Auxiliary. In attendance were repre-sentatives from ten District Auxiliaries, DVS and guest State Chairman Elect Alice Hinger.

Information packets concerning our State Project: Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease were given to each President by Betty Caffey, Project Chairman. These were also presented to State Board Members at the January 19th meeting in Montgomery.

We had a positive discussion regarding the Quarterly President’s Reports. A new “User-Friendly” form for reporting was discussed at this same State Board meeting. I have mailed each District IV President a copy of the form as well as a copy of the form for re-porting Election results of newly elected officers for each auxiliary.

It is very helpful to communicate with each other, even in off times. Yet when mail, telephone numbers and email addresses are not correct or current, time is lost. Please be sure to maintain current contact information so we can get in touch with each other.

Good News!!! Meeting Schedule: District IV 2011

April 6, 2011 Southwest Alabama Medical Center

in Thomasville

July at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope

October 23-26 - Fall Conference, Birmingham

January 2012 To Be Announced later

Springtime Wishes….a Prayerful Lent….a Glorious Easter…..a Happy May Day………….. Kay Weiss

District IV Providence Hospital Auxiliary

Providence volunteers were busy helping the Providence Hospital Foundation hosts the “18th Annual Festival of Flow-ers” held March 24-27, 2011. The event raises money to benefit the Hospital’s Cardiology Department with the pur-chase of advanced echo/vascular technol-ogy. The title of the show was “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and was billed as the Southeast’s largest outdoor flower show. Over 300,000 square feet of landscaped garden displays, floral exhibits, gardening seminars, shopping and al fresco dining were available to attendees.

Diane Wattam, Patient Relations Director; Angie Wilkie, volunteer and Beverly Mizell,

Jamey Greer, DVS trans-porting a discharged patient.

Long-time workers on San-ta’s Sleigh: Kay Weiss, Charles Christie, Theresa Christie, Richard March with the 2010 Santa - Dea-con Arthur from Corpus Christi Church.

Closing Ceremony!

Don Pugh won big at the “Mock Ken-Don Pugh won big at the “Mock Ken-tucky Derbytucky Derby--Horse Races” Too bad Horse Races” Too bad it was only with play money. it was only with play money.

More SDVSHO Photos

DCH Northport Auxiliary members with the “Official Kentucky Derby Bugler”

Priscilla Veron from DCH/Alabama was a finalist in the “Derby Hat Competition”. If this was “Real” money, we would all be happy!


13

AROUND THE STATE District IV Southwest Alabama Medical Center Auxiliary

Southwest Alabama Medical Center Auxiliary has had a busy quarter. We recently added Miriam Harrison to our roster. We also added Elaine Hathcock in January, Diane Nettles in Feb-ruary and Evelyn Smith in March.

We had a successful jewelry sale, gold x-change and “Tree of Lights”. We assisted with the annual Health Fair that was spon-sored by SWAMC.

Another member, Laurelle Stoudenmire and her husband Allen were recently named Ala-bama Baptist Volunteers of the Year.

Elinor Ott and Norma Dalgety enjoyed the State Meeting and are looking forward to the next one in Birmingham.

Our only male auxiliary member, Dr. James Best, celebrated 60 years in ministry and retired officially as Associate Pastor of Thomasville Baptist Church. Dr. Best continues to serve the Thomasville Com-munity visiting in homes, hospital and nursing homes. He is a definite asset to our Auxiliary.

Elinor Ott, President

USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital Auxiliary USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital was a buzz this past holiday season and things have not slowed down… we are in the “throws” of Mardi Gras. Our volunteers will be participating as help-ers in the hospital’s annual children’s Mardi Gras parade presented by the patients- “The Mystic Order of Masked Miracles.” Teachers with our in-

hospital school program, Child Life staff, and volunteers will escort riders on floats (wagons) through the hospital spread-ing good times, beads, and moon pies.

Our Gift Shop is “getting fresh” with new Spring merchan-dise. The shop manager, Becky Downing, is planning March Moonlight Madness sales events, featuring extended hours and special treats for our evening/night shift staff.

As a special project, the Auxiliary supplied the Cardiopulmo-nary Department with bubbles and now party blowers for pediatric respiratory therapy activities.

Volunteer Hours for February 2011: 1,307.5! Thank you to all of our Volunteers!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Books are Fun- April 1 & June 3

Masquerade Jewelry- May 12 & 13

Betty Caffey, USACWH Auxiliary President

Has your Auxiliary completed a

“Change of Officer” form

and given it to your District Chair??

This will assure your officers receive the Communicator!!

Infirmary West Auxiliary

We have been busy getting fund raisers lined up for the coming months. So far we have Books are Fun, Masquerade Jewelry and Scrubs in Motion Uniforms.

One of our projects is to remove all the live plants from the hospital (care for them has become a problem) and to replace them with lovely silk flowers. We have completed the radiology waiting room, placing wall pockets with spring flowers and a matching arrangement. We have received OOH’s and AH’s from everyone and they make quite a difference.

In the chapel we placed tall metal planters on either side of the altar with spring flowers, which will be changed with the seasons. The flowers offer a serene atmosphere for prayer and reflection.

Vikki Withers and Jean Ellington went to the January Market and brought some lovely things, which are doing well in our gift shop.

We made a donation of items (that had not sold) to the “Collectible Shop”. The shop sells them and the money goes to charity.

As spring approaches, we look forward to some warm weather after the January chill.

Nellie Hill, President

Miriam Harrison Elanie Hathcock Diane Nettles Evelyn Smith

Donna Tyson ended the SDVSHO Conference with a chal-lenge! She told us that everyone’s “Life is a Balanced Wheel with Six Spokes - Career, Social, Physical, Financial, Spir-itual, & Emotional”. We must seek to balance each within our lives so our wheels won’t wobble. You should not allow any one spoke to over-power the others, but when you do,

you must choose to bring your life back into balance.


14

AROUND THE STATE District IV USA Medical Center Auxiliary The USA Medical Center Auxiliary news for the period Decem-ber through February:

The University of South Ala-bama Medical Center Auxiliary held their Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in December with Ariel Holloway Elementary School Choir and Lady Steppers entertaining the guests under the direction of Ms. Deborah Pelt and Ms Renee Peasant respec-tively. The ceremony was well attended by staff, employees, family and friends of the pa-tients, Principal, Mrs. Iesha Williams and the students and parents of Hol-loway School. Mr. Elmer Sellers, Hospital Administrator, welcomed the audience and complimented the Auxiliary for their work and was pleased with the Holiday Décor of the Hospital.

The Auxiliary assisted the 5th Floor Staff of the Medical Center with their Christmas project by providing requested items of toys, bicycles and games for a family that needed assistance with gift giving for their children. The board members An-nual Holiday Lunch and business meeting was held at Felix’s Fish Camp and Restaurant and was en-joyed by all in attendance.

In January, the regular board meeting was held. The yearly calendar of board meetings, fundraisers, conferences, holidays, etc was presented. Board members are brainstorming ideas to involve the employees and community in the State Project for this year, “Dementia/ Alzheimer Disease.” The president, Constance Taylor, State Gift Shop Chair, attended her first State Board meeting in Montgomery, January 19.

The first fundraiser of the year was the Book Fair which was held in Feb-ruary. Profits were good.

Students from Mattie T. Blount High School Health Care program are presently assigned to various departments in the hospital. This program not only encourages students to enter the Health Profession but gives the students hands on experience and adds to the volunteer hours for the Aux-iliary.

Two board members will be in attendance at the SVDHSO Conference in Louisville.

We are still recruiting volunteers and board members. Mrs. Ann Finkley, a new volunteer, completed the orientation for volunteers and has been as-signed to work in the Day of Surgery Waiting Room.

Thomas Hospital Auxiliary Thomas Hospital Auxiliary’s

“Volunteer of the Quarter” for January through March 2011

Thomas Hospital Auxilian Sharon Faust was honored as Volunteer of the Quarter for January through March 2011. Sharon joined the auxiliary in 2007, and volunteers weekly in both the transportation department and gift shop, where she also serves as treasurer. Born and raised in Fairhope, Sharon has been married to her husband Joe Faust, District 94’s State Representative, for 24 years. Together they have four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Before Sharon retired and began volunteering, she worked as an assistant branch manager at Colonial Bank (now BB&T) in Fairhope.

Auxiliary donation helps purchase HD equipment for surgery

Thanks to a donation by the Thomas Hospital Auxiliary, the technological advancement of high-definition (HD) imagery is now being used by surgeons at Thomas Hospital in Fair-hope and Thomas Medical Center in Daphne for minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgeries. The Thomas Hospital Foun-dation raised a total of $450,000, including $168,000 in dona-tions from the Thomas Hospital Auxiliary, to assist in pur-chasing the equipment.

Thomas Hospital Foundation honors Thomas Hos-pital Auxiliary with Valentine’s Day themed reception

On February 9, the Thomas Hospital Foundation honored Thomas Hospital Auxiliary with an appreciation reception which included refreshments, the gift of a red portfolio with notepad and pen, and several games of H-E-A-R-T (instead of B-I-N-G-O), which was led by Owen Bailey, Executive Vice President of Community & Government Affairs for Infirmary Health System. Kathy Baugh, Vice President for the Foundation expressed gratitude to the Auxiliary, re-marking that the organization has donated more than one million dollars to the hospital through the foundation since its inception in 1993. “You bring us to a level of excellence through what you do,” Kathy said. “You play a key role in making us awesome.”

Charlie Kean, a student at the Fairhope Kin-dergarten Center and volunteer Barbara Nutini search for “pretend germs” during a recent hand washing demonstration.

In 2010, Thomas Hospital Auxilian and Missionary Peg-gy Bennitt (right) embarked on a new career when she wrote and self-published her

first book, “Listening to a Special Voice” which chronicles 33 years of missionary work. Copies are available in the Thomas Hospital Gift Shop.

Mobile Infirmary Medical Center (Note: See Page 3 )

The following officers were elected at our January Board meeting and will assume their duties May 1, 2011:

Rickey McHenry - President Mary Gilbert - President

Pat Rogers - V-President/Ways & Means

Beverly Winn - Corresponding Secretary

Jo Bailey - Treasurer Marion Stoltenberg - Gift Treasurer

We are eagerly looking forward to our annual meeting, Tuesday, April 26th at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center. The final phase of our renova-tion will begin in mid-April.

Seaby Howard, Coordinator - Office Adm/Volunteers

Ariel Holloway Elementary Lady Steppers

Want a Challenge? Try this test!!!!!

Do you know your Geography? Go to this site and test your skill.

http://jimspages.com:80/States.htm

Auxilians (sitting left to right) June Wright, Elizabeth Bishop and Rose Dunn (standing, left to right), Owen Bailey and Ben (Thomas Hospital Foundation board member) and Lor-en McKibben.

Thomas Hospital Auxiliary celebrates the holiday season

Approximately 140 Thomas Hospital Auxiliary members celebrated the holi-day season at a Christmas party on De-cember 7, 2010. Thomas Hospital Food and Nutrition Services provided refresh-ments, and holiday music was performed by local musicians. Volunteers in attend-ance brought canned goods and money that were then donated to Ecumenical Ministries Inc.

Volunteers (left to right Barbara Sanders, Elinor Whiddon and Diane MacMillan are pictured at the Thomas Hospital Auxiliary’s Christmas party.


15

2010-2011 ACHA Board

Seated: Left to Right

Betty Baxley, Constance Taylor, Ann Willard, Alice Hinger, Billie Simpson, Sharon Farst, Beverly

Commander, Betty Caffey

Standing: Left to Right

Don Pugh, Sarajane Pugh, Charles Purple, Tom Guyton, Kay Weiss, Julie Hill, Eunice Stagner, Debi

Jacobson, French Downey

Name Title Facility Address City Zip Phone Email

Billie Simpson Chairman Marshall Med. 375 Beech Creek Rd Guntersville 35976 256-486-3389 [email protected]

Alice Hinger V. Chair Thomas Hosp. P.O. Box 7175 Spanish Fort 36577 251-626-9697 [email protected]

Sharon Farst Past Chair Whitfield Me-morial Hosp..

1607 Indian Hill Rd Demopolis 36732 334-289-8518 [email protected]

Tom Guyton Dist. I Ch. Decatur Gen. 908 Logwood Rd SW Hartselle 35640 256-773-5300 [email protected]

Charles Purple Dist I V-Ch Huntsville Hosp 144 Ada Drive SE Owens Cross-roads

35763 256-539-7296 [email protected]

Ann Willard Dist II Ch DCH Regional 1737 Ridgemont Dr Tuscaloosa 35404 205-553-3974 [email protected]

Eunice Stagner Dist II VCh Shelby Baptist 1422 Secretariat Dr Helena 35080 205-664-2490 [email protected]

Julie Hill Dist III Ch Med. Ctr. Bar-bour

215 Newmont Dr Eufaula 36027 334-616-0452 [email protected]

Beverly Com-mander

Dt III V-Ch Wedowee Hosp 104 Commander Cove Lineville 36266 256-396-2446 [email protected]

Kay Weiss Dt IV Ch Providence Hos 4913 Janice Dr Mobile 36618 251-460-2898 [email protected]

French Downey

Dt IV V-Ch Grove Hill Hosp 5140 Allen Rd Grove Hill 36451 251-275-3903 [email protected]

Don & Sara-jane Pugh

Co-Editors Newsletter

DCH Regional 762 Cambridge Lane Tuscaloosa 35406 205-462-3374 [email protected]

Constance Tay-lor

Gift Shop Chair

USA Medical Center

2155 N Downing St Mobile 36617 251-456-5951 [email protected]

Debi Jacobson Program Chair

Coosa Valley Medical Ctr

302 Highland Circle Sylacauga 35150 256-245-8585 [email protected]

Betty Caffey Project Ch USA Children’s 1904 Eoline St Mobile 36617 251-456-7967 [email protected]

Jamie Weeks DVS Lias SE AL Med Ctr P. O. Drawer 6987 Dothan 36302 334-793-8122 [email protected]

Teresa Stub-blefield

ACHA Liason

AlaHa 500 North East Blvd. Montgomery 36117 334-272-8781 800-489-2542

[email protected]


16

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

TUSCALOOSA, AL

PERMIT NO. 244

Don & Sarajane Pugh, Editors

The Communicator, ACHA

762 Cambridge Lane

Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

April 10April 10--1616 National Volunteer WeekNational Volunteer Week

Deadline for next CommunicatorDeadline for next Communicator June 9th, 2011June 9th, 2011

ACHA Fall ConferenceACHA Fall Conference October 23October 23--26 26 Birmingham, ALBirmingham, AL

Watch for more details regarding the Conference and Registration Watch for more details regarding the Conference and Registration

acha newsletter april 2011 · alabama council of hospital auxiliaries volume 23, issue 2 the...

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