2009 Picnic!!

Sue, Barbara, and BJ

The wonderful hosts, Barbara and Dale
Surprise! Lou, Maggie, Bonnie, and Patsy (right)








Irene and Sue






Bonnie and Patsy


This group just looks like they are up to no good!....

2009 Scholarship Recipients

Great job with the book, jewelry, and gift-shop sales, as well as the personal donations! We were able to give away 15 $500 scholarships this year. All recipients are Saint Marys employees and are planning on entering in to the medical field.

Recipients by major:

• Nursing: Wendy Small, Abby Alford, Zach Mabry, Jessica Lawhon, Donna Owens, Casey Hankins, Rebecca Posik, Kelsey Estep, Denitha Hernandez, Rachel McNett, Christy Butler



• Pharmacy: Adam Gaines, Kayla Rudolph



• Pre-Medical: Amanda Garner



• Medical Technology: April Fitzpatrick

Volunteen End of Summer Celebration

The volunteens just wrapped up a record-breaking summer for the total number of hours contributed and were recognized with a day full of pizza and bowling to "chill" before they head back to school for the fall. In between all of the laughter and I-pod music the teen's were asked what they enjoyed most about volunteering this summer...

"Going home knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life;” Mary

“Getting to help people in need;” Matthew.

“Taking people where they needed to go and hearing their stories;” Sarah.

“Seeing people light up when I delivered flowers to their room;” Sam.

“Building relationships with other volunteens and people at the hospital;” Mary Jo.

“Getting to help people in need, which really helps me with my future career in nursing. I am just sad that the summer has come to an end so quickly;” Brannah.

“I really enjoyed volunteering. My favorite part was helping Shelly in Outpatient Services. Helping patients is also a big part of why I like it;” Maria.

“The best thing about volunteering at Saint Mary’s is helping others;” Felicia.

“Hospital employees were always willing to answer questions. They were always very kind;” Ellie.

Need to Know!!

Required TB Tests and Code of Conduct manuals were handed out during April's meeting. There are still a few volunteers who have not had their TB Test completed for 2009. Also, we are still lacking quite a few volunteers who have signed and returned their Code of Conduct Manuals signature sheets. Please make arrangements to complete both soon!

Attention Volunteers .
Your annual TB Skin Test will be administered before April's Monthly meeting. Monica Baxter, RN, Saint Mary's Infection Control and Employee Health nurse will be set up at 12:30 p.m. prior to April's meeting. We encourage every active volunteer to attend. If you are not able, arrangements will need to be made to have your test administered.

Upcoming Volunteer Webinars
We would like to invite you to join us for some great learning opportunities for the Volunteer program. Two webinars are being offered to all interested volunteers. If you would like to participate, please call Stephanie Beerman at 968-2841, ext. 0 to sign up for either or both if you like! Please leave your name and a good contact number so we can call if anything changes. Both webinars will be held in Cafes 2 & 3 from 10-11:30 a.m. We hope to see you all there!

Session Four: Marketing Your Volunteer Program
Tuesday, March 24 – Cafes 2 & 3 - COMPLETED
Basic Marketing concepts are critical in developing a viable, dynamic plan to promote your volunteer program and recruit volunteers. This session explains how business principles apply to volunteer marketing and the benefits of market research. Lean what elements comprise the 4 P’s of marketing and how to incorporate them into your strategic plan.

Session Five: Focusing on the Health Benefits of Volunteering as a Recruitment Strategy
Tuesday, April 7 – Cafes 2 & 3 - COMPLETED
Helping others has real health benefits. This session will discuss the findings of international studies linking health benefits with volunteering. Lean to identify and understand the potential volunteer market and develop motivational strategies to attract those volunteers in this session

As part of the "Let Me Take You There" initiative, volunteers display their promise to personally escort patients and guests to their hospital destination.

The newly designed button is available for all volunteers. If you haven't already, please pick up your new button!

April's Monthly Volunteer Meeting

AUXILIARY MEETING AGENDA
April 6, 2009

12:30 p.m.
Pre-Meeting TB Test with Monica Baxter, RN

1 p.m.
Open Meeting & Welcome
Program: Brenda Harrison and Stephanie Beerman: Discussing a Volunteer Growth plan
Welcome New Members
Thank Hostesses
Vice President: Prayer
Secretary’s Minutes
Treasurer’s Report
Sunshine Report
Gift Shop Report
Scholarship Jar Report

Old Business:
District Meeting
Educational Seminars
Pictorial Directory
Nominee for District Office
Nominee for State Office

New Business:
Installation Banquet

2008-09 Auxiliary Scholarship Awards

Auxiliary Scholarships participants are recognized

The Saint Mary’s auxiliary awards a number of $500 scholarships each year. The scholarship is available to current hospital employees who are actively continuing their education in the medical field. Each semester, the Scholarship Committee receives a multitude of applications and recipients are chosen based on certain criteria.

For the upcoming spring 2009 semester, 11 employees from four different hospital departments were selected. Recipients from Russellville include Zach Mabry, nursing; Lizabeth Fitzner, nursing; Samantha Chadha, nursing; Christy Butler, nursing, Brandon Faulkner, nursing and Lindsey Harris, respiratory therapy. Chelsea Spears, nursing and Shonda Matayo, nursing, of Pottsville; Lydia Zimmerman, respiratory therapy, of Dover; Gena Hanney, nursing, of Scranton and Toni Daniels, nursing, of Rogers were also selected.

Committee Chair Bill Shirley was on hand to formally award each scholarship. “The auxiliary is always happy to assist ambitious and talented individuals in reaching their educational goals and potential,” he said, “and we were very pleased that we were able to award more scholarships this season than for any previous semester.” The 11 scholarships awarded this month are a record for the auxiliary. Members are especially proud to have had this fundraising success during a time when many students are finding it difficult to obtain financial aid.

Scholarship funding is raised throughout the year in part through monies received as profit from Compliments Gift Shop, which is managed by the auxiliary. Proceeds from two annual jewelry sales, sponsored and hosted by the auxiliary, are also donated to scholarships. Used books sold in the gift shop, ranging in cost from 50 cents to $1.50, are collected entirely through donations, and the community is encouraged to bring gently used books to be re-sold. The auxiliary extends a special thanks to middle-school librarian Suzy Daniel for her donation of the book rack used in the gift shop.

Some scholarship funding comes directly from the volunteers themselves, via a “Money Jar” that is passed at each monthly meeting. “Everyone is good about donating,” said volunteer Dale Boeh. “We give loose change or even a five-dollar bill here and there – whatever we’ve got.” Though the used book program began just this year, monies collected through book sales and the passing of the jar were in themselves enough to entirely fund one of the spring scholarships.
Scholarship applications are available at the beginning of each semester in each department of the hospital. For more information about Saint Mary’s Auxiliary Scholarship Program, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Lindsey Harris at 968-2841, ext. 0.