Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliaries Volume 23, Issue 4

The Communicator October, 2011

During the last nine months it has been my goal to bring to you some information and encouragement regarding ways to grow not only individually but also within your auxiliary. We have talked about mov-ing outside our comfort zones and challenging ourselves to learn new things. Suggestions on ways to re-cruit and retain members have been exchanged and discussed and during this past quarter we talked about how we might bring new auxiliaries into ACHA.

During this same time frame it has been my pleasure to attend at least one meeting in each of our four districts. I have had the opportunity to learn firsthand how many of our members have taken this infor-mation and applied it to the ways they serve their auxiliaries, their hospitals and their communities. I

have been so impressed with the incredible degree of compassion, dedication and creativity that the auxiliary members bring to whatever task they are called on to do. To say that I am proud of all of you is an understatement.

As we start the final quarter of this year there is one more area of growth that I want to ask you to consider and that is serving on the ACHA board. Being an ACHA board member offers many opportunities for personal growth. It can chal-lenge you to use your leadership talents, push you to learn new organizational skills and help you to develop confidence and self esteem. Being an ACHA board member can give you the opportunity to share your knowledge and insights with auxiliaries all over the state to help them become more productive and successful. Being an ACHA board member allows you to work with some very talented and dedicated individuals who share a common goal which is to promote and support our member auxiliaries.

There are a variety of positions on the ACHA board. You might be interested in serving as a District Chairman or Vice Chairman .If you have been a gift shop manager or buyer, the newsletter editor or the historian for your auxiliary there is a place for you on the board. If you have a passion for organization and enjoy event planning you would make a great Pro-gram Chairman and if you enjoy researching and investigating topics you would make a super State Project Chairman.

I encourage you to give some serious thought to serving on the ACHA board. I invite you to contact any board member with your questions. If you have a specific position in mind talk with the person who is filling that position right now and let them tell you about what they do and what they get out of serving in that capacity. A good time to meet with board members is at the fall conference. You might stop by the ACHA Board roundtable networking session on Tuesday after-noon. There will be information available about the board, the positions and requirements and you can even set up a time to meet with a board member one on one to talk. You can also stop by the Board reception Tuesday evening, enjoy a drink and a snack and talk with board members who will be happy to answer your questions.

It is the first step of the journey that is always the hardest, however, if you are willing to take that first step I believe you will find the rewards and benefits are well worth the trip.

Billie Simpson, ACHA Chairman

ACHA Fall ConferenceACHA Fall ConferenceACHA Fall Conference October 23 October 23 October 23 --- 26, 2011 26, 2011 26, 2011

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As the Project Chair for Alabama Council of Hospital Auxilia-ries, I continue to network with auxiliaries about their efforts to address the topic of Alzheimer’s/Dementia. I attended the ACHA Board Meeting on August 17 and a District IV President’s meeting at Thomas Hospital Medical Center in Daphne on July 12 where I learned more about pro-ject activities.

I found this article in one of the University of South Alabama’s publications (Beyond Medical Headlines, July 22, 2011). I’m sharing some highlights from the article “Reducing Your Risk for Alzheimer’s“ but, it is worth reading in its entirety at http://www.usahealthsystem.com Beyond Medical Headlines newsletter.

• Currently, an estimated 5.3 million Americans of all ages have Alz-heimer's disease

• Every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer's dis-ease

• The number of people with AD is increasing; by mid-century, some-one will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds

In Alabama, the number of people with AD is expected to in-crease by 50 percent in the next 25 years

As the author points out- “if you are concerned about acquiring Alzheimer's Dementia, do not take up smoking and quit if you are already a smoker. Get as much formal education as you can and pursue learning throughout your life. Continue to exercise and maintain a nor-mal ideal body weight.”

Other Project Activities…

I sent a letter to all state Auxiliary presi-dents requesting AD project updates. Thank you to those who responded (Vaughn Medical Center, Cull-man Regional Medical Center, Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital) and I look forward to hearing from others about their projects. Betty Caffey, Project Chairman

Summer Temps – they do slow you down, or have you noticed? BUT this week the mornings have had a touch of fall with lower temps, so maybe we soon will find relief from the heat and humidity . I attended the District I meeting June 9th in Sheffield. Helen Keller’s auxiliary hosted the meeting. As usual, Tom Guyton, District Chairman, had an entertaining “Call to Order” with the help of some of Helen Keller’s auxilians. You would have loved this theatrical production of “Frog Went A’Courtin.” There were great reports at the Sheffield meeting. Cherokee continues its child advocacy and extended family prison ministries; Cullman is financially assisting the On-cology Patient Assistance Fund; Helen Keller helped the Alzheimer’s Day Care center celebrate St Patrick’s Day; Huntsville hosted a “Let’s Pretend Hospital” program for one week inviting 1st graders from 38 schools to tour the hospital hoping to eliminate unknown hospital fears; High-lands has provided ambulance drivers with toys for the children they transport; Marshall North bought chairs for the therapy department; Crestwood provides TV/DVD units for rooms; and Decatur North made a large donation to the Hospital Foundation. This district is doing a great job. District IV’s quarterly meeting was hosted by Thomas Hospital Auxiliary at Thomas Medical Center, Daphne, on July 12th. It was pleasing to welcome State Chair Billie and Past Chair Sharon and her granddaughter, Taylor, to District IV. Project Chairman Betty Caffey and Gift Shop Chairman Connie Taylor were also present so we had almost half the state board present. We again heard great auxiliary reports as the eleven auxiliaries shared the work they were doing in their hospitals. District IV representatives were sorry to learn about the closure of Southwest Alabama Medical Center in Thomasville; but the district is very happy to learn the aux-iliary will continue to operate. Southwest Medical’s Auxil-iary has always served not only their hospital, but they had many of auxilians working in the attached nursing home. Therefore, they will continue to help the staff of the nursing home. Two ACHA board meetings have been held this summer - June 15th and August 17th. District III scheduled a district meeting the day following our August state meet-ing; so Billie, Sharon, and I had a girls’ night out in Mont-gomery before attending this meeting in Wetumpka on Au-gust 18. Elmore Community Hospital hosted this meeting. Repeating what I have said for the other districts – the re-ports and what the auxiliaries are doing in their respective districts is extraordinary. I would like to congratulate El-more’s Auxiliary on their selection of speakers. Mark Brooks/Lynn Ulrick and Ronnie Dennis gave excellent pres-entations on home health and hospice care, and what is available especially for Alzheimer/Dementia patients. This trio seemed in touch with their professions, what is avail-able, and how to get it. They complimented each other with their information and their answers to questions. As the state year comes to a close, you should have re-ceived your information for our Annual Conference in Birming-ham on October 23rd – 26th. I have enjoyed meeting you at the district meetings I was able to attend this year; and I hope I will see you again at the Wynfrey next month. REMEMBER count your blessings and as you serve your hospital be thankful you are able to do it. Alice Hinger, Chair - Elect

The following are some thoughts sent in by Billie Simpson, ACHA State Chairman:

“If you want your dreams to come true, you mustn’t oversleep”

“The Best vitamin for making friends ………...B-1”

“Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

“Ideas won’t work - unless you do”

“The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice”

“The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!”

“Your mind is like a parachute…. It functions only when open”

“Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important”

“It is never to late to become what you might have been”

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Don & Sarajane Pugh, Newsletter Co-Chairs

We are so excited about the upcoming ACHA Fall Confer-ence in Birmingham. We al-ways enjoy meeting each of the auxiliary members from across the state and look forward to hearing about what you are doing at your hospitals. We are always willing to take time to talk with you about your newsletters, activities you have planned and/or events you are having which involve your vol-unteers. I am still looking for unusual stories and would love to feature your auxiliary if you have a really interesting story about something you are doing. We wish we could visit every hospital and take photos and get your stories first hand, but there is just not enough day-light hours. SO, you need to put on your thinking hats and come up with some interesting stories to be put into the Com-municator. As always, PHO-TOS make the Communicator more colorful and interesting, so please email pictures with your articles. I hope you have enjoyed reading about your auxiliaries, but if you have not sent me anything, I can’t print it………..Sorry? Please continue to send information to us using o u r e m a i l a d d r e s s ezzzlife@peoplepc.com 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

Where are the Gift Shop Visitors? Let me know what your area Gift Shops are selling. What catches your eye? Their display? Their group-ings? What’s unique?

I was really impressed with Mobile Infirmary’s newly renovated, ex-panded shop. The entrance was so welcoming with seasonal wreaths on the mahogany French doors. The wreaths sell almost as soon as they are

placed on the doors. Ms Dottie Rogers stated that the wreaths are created by the Florist that delivers their flowers. Their showcase of Alabama and Auburn collegiate items are displayed side by side and are big sellers. Also eye catching were their round tiered glass topped displays that wee uniquely arranged with elephants and angels, items for babies, etc. Their jewelry display was interesting, not only did they have the usual little black bust but a larger display that reminds you of a headless Venus de Milo.

If you are looking for that different outfit and you want to be that “fashionista” of the day, Mobile Infir-mary’s gift shop has that item to help you make that fashion statement.

At USA Medical Center’s shop, Angels were prominently displayed along with Bible Covers. If you col-lect angels the ones at USAMC are a collection called Elements Sister and Sara’s Angels all purchased

from the Atlanta Market. Check them out on your next trip to Mobile or Market.

I will revisit Providence Hospital, as they have recently renovated their Gift Shop. We will find out what’s new, what’s improved and what is being purchased by their customers.

Constance Taylor, Gift Shop Chairman

Save this date: In order to allow for BETTER NEWS Reporting of your Auxiliaries 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.

December 8th

It is time for all of us to make ready for the ACHA Fall Conference in Birmingham. It has been interesting to receive pictures and articles from auxilians over the state. If you have not been among those sending materials to me, PLEASE get it in the mail so you will be included in this year’s ACHA yearbook. Many of you are participating in the state project on Alzheimer’s/Dementia disease. Since we will have this project for 2012, I would like to have project pictures and/or published articles to document your progress. Each hospital auxiliary has their own ideas to further the awareness of this project. Also, if your auxiliary had special projects to help your community after the April tornadoes, please send me photos and articles to place in the year-book. We don’t want to miss a thing, because all you do is Important!!! You may send your information to email at baxleyb@bellsouth.net or mail to me at 407 S. Strawberry Avenue, Demopolis, AL 36732. It is not to late to respond!!! I am looking forward to dis-play your yearbooks and seeing your auxiliary members at the conference in October. Thanks for all your help……… Betty Baxley, Historian

Welcome to Helping Hands Association: At the September 22nd meeting, the AlaHA Board of Trustees ap-proved the membership of the Helping Hands Association. This auxiliary is affiliated with North Alabama Medical Centers, which is comprised of North Alabama Medical Center, Coffee Campus and North Alabama Medical Cen-ter, Shoals Campus. The auxiliary supports both facilities. Welcome to President Melissa Quillen of Florence, Alabama.

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Volunteers “To the World, You May Just be One Person; But….To One Person - You May Just be the Whole World!”

Sunday, October 23 Tuesday, October 25 3:00– 6:00 Registration 8:30-9:30 Mixer Breakfast

4:00 ACHA Board Meeting Speaker: Nancy Dixon or Carmen Knox

5:15-6:00 “First Timers” Meeting Coosa Valley Medical Center Behavioral Health

6:30 p.m. Welcome - Billie Simpson, ACHA State Chair 9:45-10:45 Concurrent Sessions - Choose One

7:00-8:00 p.m. District Dinner - Sit with your District & * Health Care Reform Update

Wear District color: Dist. I - Blue, Dist. II - Red, J. Frazier Rolen, Jr., Senior VP AlaHA

Dist. III - Purple, Dist. IV - Green * How to Have More Efficient & Effective Meetings

8:15-10:00 p.m. BINGO Walter “Jake” Jacobsen, Creative Solutions

Each Auxiliary is asked to donate one item ($25) as prizes. * Safety & Awareness Tidbits

Chief Louis Zook, Sylacauga Police Dept. &

Monday, October 24 Debi Jacobson, Coosa Valley Med. Ctr. Auxiliary

7:00-8:30 a.m. Drop Off Yearbooks, Newsletters, Tray Favors * Recruitment, Retention & Recognition

And Special Projects entries in Avon Room Susann Montgomery-Clark, CFRE, CAP, VP

7:00-11:00 Registration Thompson & Associates

7:00-8:30 Attend Health Fair Provided by Coosa Valley 10:45-11:00 Break

8:30-9:15 Breakfast 11:00-12:00 Same Sessions Above Repeated

9:30-12:00 General Session 12:00-1:30 p.m. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

“The Value of Volunteers” 1:30-3:30 p.m. Roundtables & Networking

Debbie Childers, writer and author Attend up to 4 interactive sessions - 25 min. each

10:30-10:45 Break * ACHA Board * Tray Favors

12:15-1:30 Lunch * Newsletters * Yearbooks

“Leading Volunteers” * Gift Shops * Special Programs

Walter “Jake” Jacobson, Creative Solutions 6:00 p.m. Dinner (Sunday Dress Requested)

1:30-2:30 p.m. District Meetings ACHA Business Meeting & Installation of Officers

2:30-3:00 p.m. Preview of Exhibits (Gift Shop Buyers ONLY!) 9:00 p.m. ACHA Board Reception

3:00-5:30 p.m. Vendors Fair for EVERYONE! All Attendees invited to visit with Board Members

5:30-6:30 p.m. Vendors Reception Wednesday, October 26

Vendor Door Prize Drawings (Must be Present to Win) 8:30-11:00 a.m. Breakfast - Presentation of Awards

DINNER ON YOUR OWN!!!!!!!!! Awards - Newsletter, Tray Favors, Yearbooks,

& Tray Favors - Conference Wrap-Up

Door Prizes !!!! (Must Be Present to WIN!)

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Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary Remember when we started school after Labor Day…the first week of September? Our summer youth volunteers returned to school the first week of August! As you can imagine…we really miss them! We are fortunate to have a few that have promised to stay and serve during the school year. Other needs will soon be filled by college students looking for opportunities to serve in the hospital and gain experience in a hospital setting. Many of them are bound for nursing and medical school. They are a huge asset to us as well and we look forward to their arrival for training and placement on September 21.

On August 20, Auxilians traveled to Guntersville State Park to help with the preparations for a fun filled day for children, and their family members, that struggle with the challenges that come with having Type 1 diabetes. Auxilians prepared lunches for all that attended. Not only did the children enjoy lunch, but they also enjoyed a day filled with activities such as archery, horseback riding, swimming, boating, relay games and crafts. The camp, which is nestled in the woods on Guntersville Lake, also provided children who are living with diabetes the opportunity to bond with others and allowed parents to network with other families that face similar struggles.

In support the state Auxiliary project, our Auxiliary donated $1000 to the Behavioral Health Unit at Huntsville Hospital for the purchase of therapy supplies (shown in photo) used in treating geriatric and dementia patients. Supplies included items such as games, DVD’s and activities designed to stimulate the brain and trigger the memory of patients. The department was very appreciative and reported their patients have responded posi-tively to the additional therapy they have received.

We are all thrilled about cooler weather approaching and look forward to digging out those chunky sweaters and warm scarves! Fashion experts say one of the best ways to make a well worn outfit feel new again is to buy a new accessory! So, we are hosting a “Fall into Bling” sale in the Gift Shop. All fall jewelry will be 25% off. Two of our volunteers have offered to keep the gift shop open until midnight so third shift staff can take advantage of the sale too! I’m confident the crowns of volunteers are going to be filled with genuine bling one day!

District I held its 3rd quarter conference on September 6th. Hosted by Crestwood Medical Center Auxiliary (Huntsville), Nina Mitchell President, 45 auxilians representing Crestwood Medical Center Auxiliary, Decatur General Auxiliary, Helen Keller Hospital Auxiliary, Highlands Medical Center Auxiliary, Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary, Marshall Medical Center North Auxiliary, Marshall Medical Center South Auxiliary and Helping Hand Auxiliary attended.

A special welcome was given to representatives of Helping Hand Auxiliary which is now the newest member of ACHA. Of interest is the fact that this particular auxiliary is the result of a recent merger of North Alabama Medical Center and Eliza Coffee Memorial (EMC) Hospital both of the Florence / Shoals area. Volunteers of the hospitals will now serve from 2 locations as a single group.

After the official welcome from Crestwood’s CEO, Dr. Pam Hudson, the hospital’s Director of Guest Relations/Volunteer Services, Veron-ica Carter spoke on “Making First Impressions Last”. Following the business meeting and luncheon, the meeting adjourned.

Special mention is made of Crestwood Auxiliary’s “official greeter” - “Minnie Mouse” Jones, who served double duty as not only a greeter on the inside but also director of traffic for auxilians who were-n’t sure where to park and/or enter the hospital.

Photo shows “Minnie” providing parking directions to visiting auxilians AND “Minnie” as she gives a surprise greeting to Zenda Wesnor, President of Decatur General Auxiliary. Tom Guyton, District I Chair

District I

AROUND THE STATE

Hello everyone!! Our Auxiliary has been busy as usual. We have had some members taking vacations and a few have been sick. Everyone has been wonderful to fill in for each other. We have some new members and they have been working extra days. We thank you all for working all the hours you work.

The Craft Committee has been busy making crafts for our patients. They are making little bears and giving to our patients admitted to the hospital, those that are in the emergency department, day surgery department and diagnostic imaging. This committee never ceases to amaze us. They constantly come up with new ideas.

We had a new company named “Dazzles” do a fund raiser for us. Although it was not payroll deduction, it did really well.

We are very proud that Billie Simpson is from Marshall Medical Center North. Billie is the ACHA Chairman for 2010-2011.

Our new officers for 2011-2012 are:

President - Nada Hornbuckle Vice President - Ernestine King Treasurer - Sandy Cameron Secretary - Betty Hendrix Director of the ED - Bertha Phillips Director of Gift Shop—Pat Henry Director of Information Desk - Doris Glover Director of Lab - Johnnie Ruth Light Calling Committee - Judy Roads Craft Committee Chairman - Pauline Payton Gift Shop Purchaser—Linda Davidson Newsletter Editor - Betty Hendrix Year Book Editor - Rita Reinbold

We look forward to seeing all of you at the ACHA meeting in Birmingham in October. Diane Butler, Director of Volunteer Services

Marshall Medical Center Auxiliary

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District I AROUND THE STATE

Helen Keller Hospital Auxiliary As shown in the photo left, one of the latest projects for our auxiliary was the pur-chase of a vein finder system. We purchased 5 Accu Vein units along with “hands free” stands for each. For those patients who are difficult to stick, use of the device will mean fewer attempts at locating the vein and will greatly cut down on the stress the patients may have.

Another project we completed was the purchase of four sets of scales, two digital and two dial-type for use with conges-tive heart failure patients. One of each type will be placed on the two Med/Surg Units. (Shown in photo right)

Decatur General Hospital Auxiliary Current officers of the Auxiliary are shown in the photo left to right are: Shirley Reid - CDVS, Don Fries - Immediate Past President, Amy Rape - Recording Secre-tary, Zenda Wesnor - President, Helen Teague - Commit-tee Chairman, Mary Toth - Treasurer, and (not pictured) Yvonne Elliott - Vice President

We want to honor two of our volunteers: Howard Ellis, a retired engineer with NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. Howard was our Volunteer of the Month for August. Ann Melson, a charter member of the Decatur Auxiliary was our Volunteer of the Month for July. We are proud of both of you. Thanks for all you do. Zenda Wesnor, President

Highlands Medical Center Auxiliary We have 22 active members and 2 inac-tive members. Our members have worked 1102 hours this quarter. We had our 1st ever Masquer-ade Jewelry Sale and it was a big success . We also had our annual Mother’s Day Bake Sale with em-ployees standing in line to buy our baked goods. We made $450 on this sale. The Auxiliary also purchased a cart for the Sleep Center to be used for breakfast snacks for the patients who spend the night. We are continuing our weekly Bingo games and prizes in the nursing home.

Crestwood Medical Center We’ve had a hot, but exciting summer at Crestwood Medical Center. During June and July, we had 121 local high school students volunteer as part of our summer teenage volunteer program. We had two sessions of students with us for 4 hours each day, weekdays for 3 weeks. The interest was so great that we offered an additional session for 2 weeks. The teenage volunteers donated over 4900 hours during the two months. They volunteered in 24 different areas of the hospital. Their help was so valuable. This program provides them an opportunity to explore career options in healthcare. It also gives our adult volunteers an opportunity to take a break during the summer months. We currently have 68 adult volunteers. The adult volunteers recently voted to provide a welcome gift to each patient upon admis-sion. We have ordered small notepads and pens for the bags. We are also exploring other items that would benefit patients during their stay. There are some exciting projects underway at Crestwood. We are purchasing two sleeper recliners for patients’ families. We hope to purchase several more during the next year. We are working with the Guest Relations department to create a new patient guide. Once complete, our volunteer patient advocates will educate patients during their rounds on important information within the guide. Our DVS, Veronica Carter recently celebrated her ten year anniversary at Crestwood Medical Center. She was honored for her years of service during the recent Employee Recognition banquet. She began as the Volunteer Coordinator and has been promoted several times. Crestwood was pleased to host the District 1 meeting this summer. We had 45 people representing the hospitals in the northern district. They braved the constant rain to attend the meeting. Volunteers are Angels was the theme for the day and decorations. Dr. Pam Hudson spoke to the group and emphasized the im-portance of the volunteers within hospitals. The guest speaker was our DVS, Veronica Carter. She spoke as the hospital patient advocate and HCAHPS champion. She shared information about the national, standardized patient satisfaction survey and its impact on patients’ quality and safety in hospitals. Lunch was hospital food catered by Crestwood’s Executive Chef. I think most will agree it was great. We look forward to the state conference in Birmingham. We hope to bring several volunteer board members and volunteers. Veronica Carter, DVS

Fol low-ing the April tornadoes, Cull-man has been v e r y b u s y . There were

many Cullman Regional Medical Center families touched by the devastation of the storms and we want to continue to keep them in our daily thoughts and prayers. As we continue to dig out and rebuild, our dedicated volunteers have maintained their working schedules and are helping others in need. Thank you goes out to all of our dedicated staff.

Members of the Highland Auxiliary are shown left standing behind a bus purchased for the Nursing Home. The Auxiliary contributed over $27,000 to help with the purchase, with the Highlands Foun-dation making up the difference in the purchase price. The new handicap bus will be put into ser-vice along with one purchased by the Auxiliary over ten years ago which still serves the residents.

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Bibb County Medical Center hosted the District II meeting. The Tropical Theme was fun and colorful. The guest speaker told of her personal experience with caring for a parent with Alzheimer/Dementia Disease. She was able to better explain the problems one en-

counters when working and dealing with a parent with the disease and gave some insight as to how to get through it all. There was a large turn-out at the event. Hattie Terry, Pres.

Northport Medical Center Auxiliary

Morgan Johnson, Jr. Volunteer at Northport Medical Center competed in the National Ameri-can Miss Pageant this summer. Competing in interview, fashion, most photogenic and evening wear, Morgan won numerous awards and won the overall title of Alabama National American Miss. She will compete for the national title dur-ing the week of Thanksgiving in Anaheim, CA at Disney Land. Patsy Nowell, Presi-

District II

DCH Regional Medical Center Auxiliary During the last five months, our city has faced many challenges. We were all affected in some way by the tornado of April 27. Many DCH employees and several auxiliary members suffered loss. Some lost all they had - others just minor losses. We have seen our community come together in a way most have never experi-enced during their lifetimes. Within 48 hours of the tornados touching down in Tuscaloosa the DCH RMC Volunteer Auxiliary set up a distribution center for supplying toiletries, diapers and other baby supplies, clothing, etc. Volunteers manned the center during the day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Through this effort DCH employees were given the opportunity to pick up much needed provisions to see them through this difficult time. A special thank you goes out to our pro-jects committee! Under the leadership of Priscilla Veron with the assistance of Kristie Scott and their committee members, we had great success with our sales! Furniture was purchased for the simulation lab used for clinical training ($10,000) during the second quarter. The Quest Center for will be used in a joint effort between DCH Nursing Education and Development and the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences Institute for Rural Health Research. Monetary contributions were presented to Car-ing Days ($1,000) and Nurses Day gifts ($1,000).

Sandra Simpson, President

AROUND THE STATE Brookwood Medical Center Auxiliary During this past quarter the auxiliary added one new adult volunteer. The Auxil-iary currently has 70 active volunteers who worked 2,257.25 regular hours and 424 special project hours during the quarter. For the sum-mer we had 18 teenagers volunteering both in the hospital, at Vestavia Family Care, and at Outpatient Rehab. The TULAS…TUesday LAdieS…..helped children affected by the April tornadoes. They purchased coloring books, crayons, puzzles, socks and playing cards. The Brookwood Medical Auxiliary also helped out by donating $1,000 to the Tenet Care Fund to help employees impacted by the storms. Tenet is the company that owns Brookwood. The Brookwood Medical Center volunteers and staff attended the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on April 19 at Brookdale Place at University Park in the Gazebo Room. Our theme this year was “Volunteers Plant the Seeds of Kindness” and the room was deco-rated with flowers. Miss Alabama, Ashley Davis, was our special guest. She thanked the volunteers and the Brookwood Medical Auxil-iary for their donation to the Miss Alabama scholarship fund. She autographed pictures of herself and also entertained everyone with her beautiful voice. The Auxiliary held a Uniform Sale on March 24 & 25. The gross for the two-day sale was $74,275.99, with the auxiliary’s com-mission being $13,503.44. This was one of the highest grossing uniform sales the auxiliary has sponsored so far. The Scholarship Committee of the Brookwood Medical Auxil-iary met in June and awarded a total of $20,000 in scholarships to twenty three college students in healthcare related fields. The recipients received from $500 - $1,500 each. The Auxiliary also gave $4,000 to the Miss Alabama scholarship fund. The two recipients were Amber Key, a student at Gadsden State, who received $1,000.00 and Kimberly Friend, a second year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UAB, who received $3,000. The Miss Alabama pageant has a committee of judges who award the scholarships based on outstanding academic

Pickens County Medical Center Auxiliary During our January quarterly auxiliary meeting Judy Halbert, volunteer and advocate for recycling, gave a motivational presentation she titled “Clean up our environment, save our land fields.” At our April quarterly meeting Alzheimer’s disease pamphlets were distributed and ways to par-ticipate in our state project were discussed. Laverne Bryant was named volunteer of the year and ten new volunteers joined our auxiliary bringing our total to sixty-one active volunteers. In our meetings we voted to:

1. provide five medical education financial scholarships - $2,500. 2. purchase an Arc Trainer Aerobic conditioner for our physical therapy

department in memory of two volunteers - $5,230, and 3. purchase a new time clock for volunteer use - $1,662.

The Auxiliary’s President attended the Medical Center’s annual Pickens County Hospital Association Board of Director’s meeting and presented our annual report to the community. Valentine, Easter, and Memorial Day tray favors were made and given to our patients by Lois Bruce. Several volunteers helped with the hospital’s grand opening of Carrollton Primary Care Clinic and a Foundation fundraiser. One volun-teer cooked and donated food for an American Heart Association Fund-raiser meal held on our hospital grounds. The auxiliary provided two $20 gift certificates for door prizes to be given away during our hospital’s annual Scale Back Alabama awards ceremony. Jan Grant, new volunteer, assumed the responsibility of coordi-nating and conducting our hospital’s annual University of Alabama, Col-lege of Community Health Sciences, Rural Health Scholar’s tour. She was a perfect match for this project because her husband is the county’s newest surgeon. Jane Oliver, Auxiliary President

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Walker Baptist Medical Center During the months of April, May & June we welcomed three new volunteers and as of June 30th, we had 63 active and 50 inactive members. Walker Baptist volunteers worked 5100 1/2 hours during the 2nd quarter. Our teen volunteers worked 777 1/2 hours during the month of June. We hosted a fundraiser which was our Masquerade Jewelry Sale in April and raised over $9,110 in total net sales. In celebration of Volunteer Appreciation week, a charter bus took us from the hospital to our destination of Tuscumbia, Alabama. There we toured Ivy Green, the birthplace and home of Helen Keller. We had BBQ lunch at the beautiful Spring Park which has a spectacular waterfall and Native American statuary. We shopped in Historic downtown Tuscumbia and toured the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and learned the significant musical heritage of the State of Alabama and particularly the famous Mus-cle Shoals Music. There were 44 volunteers in attendance.

April 27th, 2011 will forever hold a special meaning for everyone in Alabama who was impacted by the storms. After the storms, our Auxil-iary thought it would be nice to do something special for our hospital staff to thank them for their dedication and hard work. So on May 13th, we served pink lemonade to approximately 224 of our staff members and we had the opportunity to thank them for a “job well done” . Our Auxiliary purchased an Ophthalmoscope at the request of Walker Baptist in order to improve our patient eye care area. The piece of equipment costs over $3,125. The instrument will make a difference in the hospital’s ability to provide advanced care to our patients. On June 6th, we had 28 teens come into our summer teen program for a 7 week period. The program allows teens to work all over the hospital doing a variety of jobs. The program not only helps the hospital, but it allows the teens to experience the medical atmosphere and may well lead to some of them following a career path which will bring them into the medical field in their future. The Auxiliary supplied 82 Walker Teddy Bears and 97 Teddy Bear Kits to our Pediatric patients. We supplied 31 Baby New Testaments during the month of June. Also, our tray favors/crafts department made 360 tray favors during the 2nd quarter.

Marty Staggs, President

AROUND THE STATE District II

Princeton Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary

We have had a very busy summer. Our Masquer-ade Sale was held on May 4th and 5th. This is always a very good sale and a lot of fun. It wasn’t long after that we were able to move back to our own office . We were moved to the professional building for about 2 months because of our expansion pro-ject. At the beginning of June we had 31 youth and 3 college students to work until the end of July. On June 8th and 9th we had our Dynamic Cook-ware Sale. This is a good sale for us because they bring some very useful kitchen items. We have just voted to completely refurbished the prayer room in the emergency department. This has been a need for a long time. Since July we have added 6 new adult volunteers to our roster. We are so excited because we have 3 new male volunteers, that gives us a total of 6 male volunteers.

Enclosed is a picture of Tina with some of our new male volun-teers!

Jane Pearson, Princeton Auxiliary President

Shelby Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary April - We did custom Easter baskets and sold them. This project netted around $1000 for the auxiliary. Miller Piggot, chairman of Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama was our guest speaker at our April 5th meeting and was very well received. The auxiliary voted to make this our special project. We made decorated and sold cupcakes on Friday before Easter and raised $356.25. We voted to in-crease this amount and were able to send a check for $500 to Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. All of the renovations to our office space were completed and we were able to pur-chase two new chairs and a table. The old furniture was donated to a cancer center waiting room in the hospital. On April 14th, we were treated to a great volunteer lunch-eon. Many of the great “Hollywood Stars” attended and we all enjoyed great food and fun. In May, we held a Masquerade Jewelry Sale with profits of over $3300. During National Nurses Week, we provided trays of cookies and thank you cards to all the nurse’s stations. We collected donations of furniture, food, etc. for tornado victims. We voted to change our auxiliary year to January - December to coincide with the hospital. In June we completed our pictorial directory, printed it and passed out copies to all members of the auxil-iary. In the last three months, we had an average of 63 vol-unteers who worked 4,463 hours. Ann Dawson, President

Fayette Medical Center Susan Hood, Coordina-tor of Volunteer Services at Fayette Medical Center was awarded the Employee Excellence Award for the fourth quarter of 2010. She has been employed at Fayette Medical Center since April 2003. Congratulations SUSAN !!!!!!

St. Vincent’s East Medical Center Auxiliary May was very busy for most of our Auxilians. We had a very profitable Uniform sale and we decided to do three sales a year. We had our recognition luncheon and installation of officers. Cathy Storch did a great job of making us feel so special. This summer we had a student intern from the University of Alabama. She became a real asset helping in our office, Lobby Shop and many other areas. We miss her already. With any merger you prepare for changes. As of August 15th, 2011, the Auxiliary of St. Vincent’s East will no longer own our Gift Shop, but will continue to staff it. The Gift Shop will have a Manager and a new Director. Lee Patterson will be responsible for St. Vincent’s East Shops. Our DVS, Cathy will continue her responsibilities at St. Vincent’s East and supervise the St. Vincent’s Birmingham in her areas of responsibility. Cathy Storch is so capable and such a great leader and we have been blessed and so will the people at St. Vincent’s Bir-mingham. She will remain at her East Campus office and we are so pleased for her.

Judy Clark

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Our August 18, 2011, meeting in Wetumpka was attended by 45 auxilians representing 9 out of 13 hospitals. The auxiliary of Elmore Community Hospital was our host hospital. We were pleased to have with us, Billie Simpson, State Chair, Alice Hinger, Chair-Elect, Sharon Farst, Past Chair, and Debi Jacobson, State Program Chair.

A highlight of our meeting was the Thought for the Day given by Frances Till. As part of her presentation, she recited from memory a moving poem. Mrs. Till (seated in photo with green jacket) is 92 years young and an active ECH auxilian – truly an inspiration to us all. Ronnie Dennis, Lake Martin Hospice and Mark Brooks and Lynn Ulrich from Ivy Creek Home Health were our speakers. All of the speakers were excellent. Their talks were very informative and I think we all learned a lot. Thanks ECH auxiliary for obtaining such wonderful speakers for our meeting. Sharon Farst, Past Chair Elect, read a young boy’s prayer about his grand-mother with Alzheimer. We, as adults, are often so busy coping with this debilitating disease that we forget the impact it has on the young children in our families. Sharon’s poem reminded us that Alzheimer also brings loss of a grandparent or other loved one into their young lives.

Green County Hospital/Nursing Home Auxiliary is the newest auxiliary in District III. At our meeting, Johnnie Knott, on behalf of her auxiliary, expressed their appreciation to Sharon Farst for the support and guidance given them in the formation of their auxiliary. Many of the auxilians of Green County Hospital have faithfully attended our District III meetings. It is a pleasure to have them with us.

The District III Discussion Group focused on Recruitment and Retention opportunities in the Baby Boomer Generation. Billie Simpson shared many ideas with the group on how we might grow our volunteer service. We hope the meeting handouts will spark further R&R discussion in each auxiliary. Our aim is to grow our auxiliaries and make volunteering a meaningful experience for our auxilians.

Our thanks for a great District III meeting go to Barbara LeNoir and the Elmore Community Hospital Auxiliary. Julie Hill, Chair - District III - Beverly Commander, Vice Chair

District II

University Hospital Auxiliary/UAB Medicine/UAB Hospital April - A luncheon was held for all volunteers who serve in waiting rooms. Malcolm Marler, Director of Chap-lains, facilitated the discussion in which volunteers shared ideas and suggestions for meeting the needs of patients’ families. On Tuesday, April 26th the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held at Vestavia Country Club. After a delicious lunch, the Director of Volunteer Services presented a gift to each volunteer. The surprise gift was the new maroon uniform in the style which the volunteer had selected! May - UAB has released a Rap video detailing the warning signs of Strokes. Three of the video “stars” are Auxil-iary volunteers. To see the video, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1bpjYofZtY June - The June 20th General Membership Meeting was an exciting evening. Volunteers were greeted with a gen-erous array of appetizers prepared by Chef Doug. Officers and Chairpersons gave reports and the Volunteer of the Year was announced. This year’s recipient is Kay Kinnear who has volunteered in the Gift Shop, worked on the pecan sales, and Chaired the Used Book Sale. The 2011-2012 Officers were installed by Dot Jurgens, a former Auxiliary President. The highlight of the meeting was a concert given by Chris and Dunia Ritchey and their ten children. The three oldest children were recently selected to tour Europe with the Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus. On June 26th two applicants were selected to receive the first Auxiliary Scholarships. Both recipients are current UAB employees who are studying to become Registered Nurses.

Carol Hunter, President, UAB Hospital Auxiliary

St. Vincent’s St Clair Auxiliary

President Judy Brennan thanked Gloria Richards for her help in organizing a yard sale for the auxiliary. She said, “it helped to prepare the auxiliary for the upcoming fundraisers.” In July, it was an exciting month with a tour of the new hospital in preparation for the upcoming move. We also met with the contractor over our gift shop and office interior. In August, Judy thanked Kathy and Barbara for the great job they did with the jewelry sale and a special thanks to everyone who worked to make it such a great success. Finally in September, the auxiliary had a great uniform sale. The sales doubled what they had done previously. Thanks went out to Betty Turner, Maxine Gowins and Barbara Alvis for all the time and help they put into making it a success. Judy Brennan, President SVSC Auxiliary

Trinity Medical Center Auxiliary Trinity has five new members for this quarter, which brings our total to 68 active volunteers. A total of 3,730 hours were worked by the volunteers. We hosted a book sale which raised $1,539.27 for the auxiliary and in turn we have given over $8,200 to the hospital for philan-thropic programs. Activities for the quarter included a Coffee for the Volunteers, Luncheon for auxiliary members at The Club, General membership meeting with installation of new officers, and a Retirement Tea for Ethelyn Staughter who had over 44 years of service giving over 18,650 hours of volunteer time to the Trinity Medical Center. We had 22 teens complete the Volunteer Youth Program this summer. We gave 35 microwave ov-ens for the Hospital Inn.

Sandra Whalen, President

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

AROUND THE STATE

Sorry Carol, I couldn’t make the photos work!

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AROUND THE STATE District III Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary The Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary began working in April with the hospital’s Geriatric Behavioral Health Pro-gram to help area patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In May we gave the department $2,000 which was used to purchase materials including books and tool samples (as seen in the photo)for them to work with. Behavioral Health was very thankful for our donation and our dedica-tion to BWWMH.

The Auxiliary also received thanks from the children who participated in the Wellness Center’s fitness program. We contributed funds to purchase supplies for this program, as well as pro-vide scholarships for needy students. We had a successful jewelry sale and blood drive in June. Some of our members attended the District III meeting in May. We have lots of things planned and will stay busy in the fall.

Our fall conference is almost here. Are you as excited as I am? We are going to have a wonderful conference this year!

Remember, our conference theme this year is:

I sincerely believe this theme speaks to the very heart of volunteers. I believe volunteers live everyday to make a difference in someone’s life.

We still need items to go in our conference bags. If your hospital would like to contribute toward them, plan on 225 items. Items do not have to be identical. We just want to make sure that everyone receives some special gifts. Let me know if you will contrib-ute and what items you will be bringing.

Prize item for Bingo and Door Prizes: Each Auxiliary needs to bring two gifts of a minimum of $25 marketable value. Choose something that you would love to win yourself! Clearly mark items with the donating auxiliary’s

Don’t forget to bring your Yearbook, Newsletters, Tray Favors, and Special Program entries with you to the conference.

Some of the events and speakers are as follows:

Play Bingo with a Plus.

Debbie Childers is our Keynote Speaker, a prolific writer and author of several books. She is funny, sincere and a truly gifted motivational speaker.

“Leading Volunteers”, program presented by Walter “Jake” Jacobson of Creative Solutions.

Learn more about “Alzheimer’s Disease” with Nancy Dickson and Carmen Knox of Coosa Valley Medical Center Senior Behavioral Health Center.

Learn “How to Have More Efficient and Effective Meetings” in a session by Walter “Jake” Jacobson.

Discover new “Safety and Awareness Tips” in a session with me and Louis Zook, Sylacauga Police Chief. This session is very eye-opening and informative. You will walk away with heightened awareness, and become more alert.

We will have a free Health Fair and Screening provided by Coosa Valley Medical Center.

Vendor Fair will be held on Monday from 3:00-5:30PM., followed by a Vendor Reception at 5:30-6:15PM.

Great Door Prizes…

Remember to thank all our vendors for coming to our conference. We want them to continue to return for us. Also, remember to thank the speakers for spending their time to inform and enlighten us.

Look for pictures of our fun memories from the fall conference in “The Communicator” December issue. Call me if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance. My phone numbers are: home (256) 245-8585 or cell (256-404-6481 or by email at: debi-jag@bellsouth.net. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone in October.

Thanks sincerely, Debi Jacobson, ACHA Program Chairman

“To the World, you may just be One Person……………. BUT

To One Person, You may just be the Whole World!!!!!”

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Coosa Valley Medical Center

This summer our Aux-iliary was able to make a contribution of $40,000 to Coosa Valley Medical Center to be used as needed. We also donated another $6,000 to help with the completion of the remodeling of the CVMC Nursing home. For the first time we held a Summer Jewelry Sale in July. Prior to this we have only had them in October and March, but this summer one turned out to be very successful. Our share of the profits came to $5,012. Three of our members, Montine Webb, Debi Jacobson and Iris Land attended the District III Quarterly meeting in Wetumpka August 18. We enjoyed some great hospitality with an excellent program and a deli-cious lunch.

Iris Land, Corresponding Secretary

Lots of cus-tomers buying jewelry during the July Sale of 2011. Mon-tine Webb, Pink Lady, is shown ringing up the sales.

Helen Pfeiffer, Shirley Treace, Sue Thompson, Maria Griffit and Montine Webb all volunteered their time to make our Jewelry Sale successful.

AROUND THE STATE District III East Alabama Medical Center

The latest edition of the EAMC AUXILIAN, the vol-unteer newsletter for the East Alabama Medical Center Aux-iliary was dedicated to the Memory of Dr. Albert Kappell-man, Clois Shoffeitt, Maureen Callins and Kathryn “Kiki” Smith - four auxilians who passed away in the last few months. The East Alabama Medical Center is being recog-nized as a Top Performer in QUEST. Quest is comprised of approximately 300 hospitals and only 120 of those will re-ceive Top Performer status. Based upon performance status in three quality areas —- Clinical Care, Mortality, and Cost/Efficiency, EAMC has improved its scores in the third year as part of Quest. Because of this success, EAMC has been selected to be one of the featured stories in a book that Premier INC. publishes to salute the Top Performers. This book will be released at a press event in Washington, D. C. and then posted on the Premier website. This is a GREAT opportunity for EAMC to share with the world the work we do every day to provide HIGH QUALITY COMPAS-SIONATE HEALTH CARE. EAMC Auxiliary stressed that in most hospitals and other organizations, a volunteer is many times the first and last person that the customers you serve sees in the facility. So remember, in all that you do…..Give it your best! And “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Prac-tice the “Golden Rule” and always know that we want the service we give to be: SUPERIOR…..SUPER………...OUTSTANDING!!!! Remember to SMILE!!!!

Welcome new volunteers: Jeanette Anderson, Billy Grab-ham, Kay Ingram, Anne Laband, John “Buck” Baxter, Maegan Hamner, Lavaughn Johnson, Wanda Richards, Judy Burdette, Anne Henderson, Patsy Jones and Lois Waller. The officers for 2011-2012 will be: Presidents: Barbara & Gene Blankenship V.President in charge of Programs: Ann & Larry Gore V.President in charge of Hours: Charles Barall V. President in charge of Orientation & Membership: Jackie Cooper & Patty Burns Recording Secretary: Barbara Ervin Corresponding Secretary: Dell Wilcox Parliamentarian & Historian appointed by President

Taken from EAMC Auxilian Editor: Jenny Roe

Southern Medical Dictionary

Since auxiliaries are at hospitals in the South, you might need to know these medical terms!!!

Artery…The study of paintings Bacteria….Back door to cafeteria Barium...What doctors do when patients die Benign…..What you be, after you be eight Caesarean Section…..a neighborhood in Rome Cat Scan…Searching for kitty Cauterize….Made eye contact with her Coma…..a punctuation mark Dilate…..To live long Fib-ula……a small lie Impotent…..Distinguished, well known Labor Pain….Getting hurt at work Medical Staff…...a Doctor’s cane Morbid….a higher offer Nitrates…..Cheaper than day rates Node….I knew it Outpatient….a person who done fainted Pelvis….second cousin to Elvis Post Opera-tive….a letter carrier Recovery Room……Place to do upholstery Rectum…...darn near killed him Secre-tion…...hiding something Seizure…….a Roman emperor Tablet…….a small table T e r m i n a l Illness....getting sick at the airport Tumor…..One plus one more Urine…...Opposite of you’re out

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AROUND THE STATE

Who said that when you get a little older, you can’t still go camping and enjoy the great outdoors????????????

District IV Report Our most recent Quarterly Meeting for District IV Presidents on July 12th, was hosted by Thomas Hospital Auxiliary in their Medical Center in Daphne, with 11 Auxil-iaries represented.

Special guests from ACHA State Board were: Chairman, Billie Simpson, Chairman-Elect, Alice Hinger and Past Chairman, Sharon Farst. We were re-minded of our continuing emphasis on Growth & Change. Lets all Change and Grow! So, with that being said, I am excited and pleased to pass on Good News from District IV. Southwest Alabama Medical Center Auxiliary in Thomas-ville, will continue their Volunteer activities at the Nursing Home residents.

North Baldwin Med. Center Auxilians in Bay Mi-nette, have regrouped and were represented at the July 12th District IV meeting.

Infirmary Health System announced that Mobile Infirmary, Infirmary West, Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and North Baldwin in Bay Minette are the new system, with a new “logo” for the 4 Auxiliaries as well.

Progress, which began December 2010, at USAC&W, with construction and updating, is moving along. Articles/pictures have appeared in local news.

The Gift Shop at Providence Hospital, reopened the end of August, after remodeling – renovation was com-pleted.

The summertime response by Teenage Volunteers continues to grow as well. Through this program, scholar-ships are funded and awarded annually by our Auxiliaries.

Totals reported for 3 quarters: Active Members - 2,663

Volunteer Hours - 93,610

2011 Football Season Countdown has been reached – despite Hurricane “Irene” or Tropical Storm “Lee”. NOW onward to our Annual Fall Con-ference Countdown, beginning with The Communica-tor deadline of September 8th … 45 more days to go and counting.

DISTRICT IV AUXILIARY PRESIDENTS…Please be watching for a notice from me, setting out important in-formation and reminders I have been asked to send you.

Kay Weiss, Dist. IV Chair

District IV Providence Hospital Auxiliary It has been a busy summer around Providence Hospi-tal. The Teenage Volunteers arrived in June ready for work. As usual they were a tremendous asset to the hospital, staff and the volunteers they worked with. A total of 86 TAVS’ con-tributed 1,826 hours form June 6th -July 15th. The 2010-2011 Hospital Lobby Renovation Project that the Auxilians have been waiting for is underway. The Gift Shop renovation was completed in just one week (fantastic). No additional floor space was added but the rearrange-ment of the front wall and entrance actually created more workable space. The Auxiliary’s 2011-2012 Hospital Project to refurbish the waiting rooms on the 5th., 6th, 7th., 10th and 12th floors is in process. New planters at the front, rear and emergency entrances are part of this project and are in place. Recliners and more comfortable chairs have been temporally put in the 5th floor waiting rooms and will be replaced with permanent furniture in the near future. New furniture, floor-ing, wall coverings and flat screen TV’s are part of the pro-ject.

The last fundraiser utilizing payroll deduction was Uniforms 2 U 2 in August which was a tremen-dous success. The first fundraiser without the payroll deduction bene-fit will be Books-R-Fun in

September. This will give us an idea of the success of future fundraisers and the abil-ity of the auxiliary to give back to the hos-pital without the benefit of payroll deduction. The State Auxiliary Project is Alzheimer’s disease. We are going to conduct a contest to choose a person who is a 24/7 caregiver of an Alzheimer’s patient. The winner will re-ceive a “Caregivers Day Out” which will include special treat-ments for Him or Her. We would also pay for the Alzheimer patients care for the day.

The Hospital’s Patient Experi-ence scores are up. Our volunteers play a big role in this upswing. Their smiling faces, efficiency, hard work and willing-ness to help patients and family members are huge contributors. Thank you to all

“Volunteers” keep up the good work and remember a SMILE is a huge tool that cost nothing but can mean so much to the recipient.

S M I L E Beverly Mizell, President

Kay Weiss & Dot Outerbridge

Beverly Mizell & Kay Weiss

Dot Outerbridge, Beverly Mizell & Kay Weiss

New Officers (left to right) Jane Everest, Dot Outer-bridge, Linda Patterson, Beverly Mizell, Judith Ikner,

Wayne Peters, Sandy Cherry, Charles Waller

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AROUND THE STATE District IV

Thomas Hospital Auxiliary

The Thomas Hospital Auxiliary hosted the District IV meeting on July 12 at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Thirty-three representatives from 11 different hospital auxiliaries attended the meeting. State Chair Billie Simpson discussed the importance of recruitment and retention. Other ACHA state officers in attendance were Betty Caffey, project chair; Alice Hinger, vice-chair; Con-stance Taylor, gift shop chair; and Kay Weiss, District IV chair.

The Thomas Hospital Auxiliary is pleased to award nine health career scholarships of $1,400 each, for a total of $12,600. This year’s recipients are students pursuing degrees in the several medical areas. The scholarship is funded by sales of donated used books at the Gift Shop and Thomas Medical Cen-ter Snack Shop and the Tree of Lights fundraiser. Auxilians Lorene Graves Barbara Davis and Sharon Faust served on this committee.

Dottie Long was honored as Volunteer of the Quarter for July through September 2011. Dottie, a former school teacher, began volunteering at Thomas Hospital after her husband of 48 years passed away in 2004. Dottie faithfully volun-teers in the transportation department typically walking about four miles transporting mail and supplies throughout the hospital. She enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchild and other family members. Dottie said that what she most enjoys about volunteering at Thomas Hospital is feeling helpful and spending time with her fellow volunteers. Thomas Hospital is the only hospital in the region to be named one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the medium-size category by Thomson Reuters. This annual study identifies the 100 U.S. hospitals that are setting the nation’s benchmarks for high quality care. The award was given for overall hospital performance “on both how patients are cared for through

clinical measures and how the hospital performs as an efficient business,”. Conducted since 1993, the study found that the 100 Top Hospi-tals have significantly lower mortality rates and medical complications, impeccable patient safety records, high patient satisfaction scores and low readmission rates for heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. William McLaughlin, Thomas Hospital Administrator and Executive Vice President of Infirmary Health, said he attributes these achievements to a team of “extremely dedi-cated people who constantly raise the bar, set their standards at the highest level and have a passion for excellence.” Several Thomas Hospital Auxiliary members and World War II (WWII) Veterans were honored with a flight to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Honor Flight South Alabama honors those who served during WWII, providing a charter plane. Auxiliary members Mary Balch, Jerry Bethea, Ken Cramton, Jerry De-Vuyst, Richard Gile and Nina Secrist were passengers on the flights which recognize the service and sacrifices of America’s “Greatest Generation.”

USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital Auxiliary At USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, fall has arrived, ushering out the heat and rainy weather from recent tropical storms. Once our hospital grounds crew has cleaned up the debris they will be planting fall flowers (funded by the Auxiliary). We’ve welcomed many guests recently such as the USA Jag Football Team and Constance Taylor, ACHA Gift Shop Chair. The Hospital Teenage Volunteer program celebrated the conclusion of its summer session in a most colorful way. Twenty teen volunteers and volunteer services staff met at a local paint party studio to demonstrate their artistic talents and create nautical-themed works of art to be displayed in the hospital to brighten the patient experience. The teenage volunteer summer session was held June 1- July 22 with nearly 50 local high school students volunteering in various program areas including Patient Transport Food Services, Labor and Delivery, Central Supply and Mother/Baby. These volunteers gave more than 1,260 hours of service with an estimated value of nearly $23,000 (based on the Independent Sector 2010 rate for Alabama vol-unteer time). Alzheimer’s disease: At USACWH, one of our Auxiliary’s project, is to lend support to local organizations that provide services to AD patients and their families. Auxiliary Board corresponding secretary, Ena Rosenthal, collected nail polish and finger nail files from a local nail salon to donate to a local organization that provides services to AD patients and their families. The Auxiliary provided sno cone supplies for patients and families who attended a special Ski Clinic held by hospital Therapy

Services and other program staff in August. Life Uniform Sale, Sept. 29 & 30 Masquerade Jewelry Sale, Oct. 20 & 21

Betty Caffey, USACWH Auxiliary President

Mary Balch & Kelly Powell

Pres. Ken Graves, Pres-Elec. Frances Hodge, VP Becky Neira & DVS Melita Wilkie

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USA Medical Center Auxiliary The University of South Alabama Medical Center volunteers and auxilians are actively pursing ways to get information to our hospital community and neighboring schools regarding the State Project-Dementia and Alzheimer Disease.

June and July were quite busy with the summer teens participating in the volun-teer program that was completed in late July. This summer, teen volunteer Isaac Irby continued his family volunteerism at USAMC. His aunt, Shavonne Wells, now a nurse presently Care Manager at the Medical Center, was a teen volunteer. DVS Claudnette McGrew was very pleased. (Shown right are Isaac & his Aunt.) Following the Summer Teen Program, came the Summer Scrubs Program. This program is an intensive career exploration opportunity for rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who want to explore careers in health care. The participants spent each day at a different site interacting with physicians, clinical dieticians, nurses, physical and respiratory therapists, clinical laboratory personnel and the staff in the bio-medical li-brary.

President Taylor and auxilian Mary Q. Stevenson attended District IV July meet-ing at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. The meeting was, as usual, very fruitful and the information given was reported at USAMC regular board meeting.

Note: The name of Dr. Johnston Haynes of USAMC pictured with President Taylor was omitted in the June Communicator’s article. He was the pre-senter of the plaque received for USAMC support of Sickle Cell at their Annual Conference.

Summer Scrubs 2011 has arrived at USA Medical Center!! Summer Scrubs is an intensive career exploration opportunity for rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in Mobile and Baldwin coun-ties who want to explore careers in healthcare. Participants spend each day at a different site, exploring a variety of healthcare careers. USA Medical Center is offering students an op-portunity to interact with physicians, clinical di-eticians, nurses, physical and respiratory thera-pists, clinical laboratory personnel and the staff in the bio-medical library.

AROUND THE STATE District IV

Springhill Memorial Hospital Auxiliary

Wow! Usually the summer months are slow for the Auxiliary - but not this year! The TAVs came to help the volunteers in June; what a help they were! Enthusiastic high school Summer Scrubs came to learn about medical careers in July.

Three of us, Gerri Creighton, Eunice Evans, and Susan Maddox, went to the District 4 Meeting in Daphne, AL on July 12th. We enjoyed learning new ideas on recruiting new members.

The Auxiliary has been busy contributing to our commu-nity by making a $200 donation to Camp Wheezy, donating $600 to the Senior Residence for two bracelets for Alzheimers’ and $100 donation to the Heart Walk, in which Karen Langham, Linda Rey-nolds, and Clara Damp will participate on 9/24/11. Our annual Art Teacher’s Shopping Spree on 9/7/11 is always a success and this year was no different. Our fundraisers for the fall are as fol-lows: Jewelry Sale-9/22-23, Uniform Sale-10/11-12, and Book Sale – 11/16 –17.

Our September General Meeting will be 9/19/11 with Martha Allegri speaking on the ACHA state project,

Alzheimer’s Disease. Susan Maddox, Co-President SMH Auxiliary

Susan Maddox presents $200 to Steve Goren for “Camp Wheezy”

Children’s Asthma Camp

Peggy Hagar presents $600 to Jim Agler to purchase tracker brace-

lets for Alzheimer patients.

Eunice Evans (left) and Clara Damp present a check to Jim Agler for

$300 to purchase tracker bracelets.

The Communicator Volume 23 Issue 4

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Name Title Facility Address City Zip Phone Email

Billie

Simpson

Chairman Marshall Med. 375 Beech Creek Rd Guntersville 35976 256-486-3389 billie743@charter.net

Alice Hinger V. Chair Thomas Hosp. P.O. Box 7175 Spanish Fort 36577 251-626-9697 abhinger@att.net

Sharon Farst

Past Chair Whitfield Me-morial Hosp..

1607 Indian Hill Rd Demopolis 36732 334-289-8518 grammy-sharon@bellsouth.net

Tom

Guyton

Dist. I Ch. Decatur Gen. 908 Logwood Rd SW Hartselle 35640 256-773-5300 tguyton01@bellsouth.net

Charles Purple

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

35763 256-539-7296 purpleatal@bellsouth.net

Ann Willard Dist II Ch DCH Regional 1737 Ridgemont Dr Tuscaloosa 35404 205-553-3974 gaewillard@aol.com

Eunice

Stagner

Dist II VCh Shelby Baptist 1422 Secretariat Dr Helena 35080 205-664-2490 eunicestagner@att.net

Julie Hill Dist III Ch Med. Ctr. Barbour

215 Newmont Dr Eufaula 36027 334-616-0452 jhillineu-faula@bellsouth.net

Beverly Commander

Dt III V-Ch Wedowee Hosp 104 Commander Cove Lineville 36266 256-396-2446 bcomman-der@centurytel.net

Kay Weiss Dt IV Ch Providence Hos 4913 Janice Dr Mobile 36618 251-460-2898 kjrweiss@hotmail.com

Elinor Ott Dt IV V-Ch SW Alabama Medical Center

170 Watermelon Rd Grove Hill 36451 334-636-2091 elinoro@bellsouth.net

Don &

Sarajane Pugh

Co-Editors Newsletter

DCH Regional 762 Cambridge Lane Tuscaloosa 35406 205-462-3374 ezzzlife@peoplepc.com

Constance Taylor

Gift Shop Chair

USA Medical Center

2155 N Downing St Mobile 36617 251-456-5951 brandci@bellsouth.net

Debi

Jacobson

Program Chair

Coosa Valley Medical Ctr

302 Highland Circle Sylacauga 35150 256-245-8585 debijag@bellsouth.net

Betty Caffey Project Ch USA Children’s 1904 Eoline St Mobile 36617 251-456-7967 bbaggett@usouthal.edu

Jamie Weeks

DVS

Liaison

SE AL Med Ctr P. O. Drawer 6987 Dothan 36302 334-793-8122 jweeks@samc.org

Teresa Stubblefield

ACHA Liaison

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

tstubblefield@alaha.org

Betty Baxley Historian/Yearbook

Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hosp.

407 South Strawberry Avenue

Demopolis 36732 334-289-2957 baxleyb@bellsouth.net

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

The Communicator Volume 23 Issue 4

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

Deadline for next CommunicatorDeadline for next Communicator December 8, 2011December 8, 2011

ACHA Fall ConferenceACHA Fall Conference October 23October 23--2626 Birmingham, ALBirmingham, AL

SDVSHO Conference SDVSHO Conference -- April 22 April 22--24, 201224, 2012 Myrtle Beach, SCMyrtle Beach, SC

“Southeastern Directors of Volunteer Services in Healthcare Organizations”“Southeastern Directors of Volunteer Services in Healthcare Organizations”