Dedicated Lives

Our Annual Meeting on June 25 was a lovely early summer evening.  President Doreen Wooder and the hospital staff went to a lot of effort to transform the board room into an inviting dining room:

We started the proceedings with a delicious meal prepared for us by the Stewart Memorial Hospital food services staff.  They are undoubtably some of the best cooks on the Island!

Beautiful cold plate supper

And strawberry shortcake for dessert!

Doreen had the great pleasure as the Vice-president of the Prince Edward Island Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries to present life memberships to three of our members, Aleah MacLennan, Norma Ramsay and Verna Barlow.  Here are their citations:

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PEIAHA Life Membership Nominations

ALEAH MACLENNAN

Aleah MacLennan joined the Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary in February 1990, and she has done a great deal to help our Auxiliary and our hospital because of her dedication to both.

Aleah graduated from the PEI School of Nursing and then in 1976 joined the staff at SMH, and we are so grateful to still have her.  She is a very caring and committed nurse and auxilian.

In her role as RN, Aleah keeps the Auxiliary up-to-date on what is needed for the care and comfort of the residents and patients, and also what might assist the staff with their work.  Her input is extremely valuable at Auxiliary meetings when discussions arise on items requested by the hospital.

Aleah willingly prepares food for every event the Auxiliary has and will do anything asked of her, which often means juggling her shifts at the hospital.

Her demanding work schedule has not always allowed Aleah to attend as many Prince Edward Island Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries meetings or Canadian Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries conventions as she would have liked, although for the two CAHA conventions held on PEI in 2001 and 2009, she certainly did her share of the work.

Aleah has a B.Sc.N. degree and, along with three other classmates, put on the first hospice training session at Prince County Hospital in 1988.  She has also served as the nursing representative on several SMH accreditation committees and spent three years on the Advisory Council for the Status of Women.

She is a member of the Port Hill Women’s Institute, a member of the Lot 14 UCW and has served as elder at the Lot 14 United Church.  Aleah has also freely given her time and talents to many local community groups.  Proof of her total volunteer dedication is that she takes her vacation during the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival just so she is free to volunteer long hours in the kitchen preparing meals.

Aleah MacLennan is very dedicated to her hospital, her community and to our Auxiliary, and we are pleased to award her a Life Membership in the PEIAHA.

  

NORMA RAMSAY

Norma Ramsay first joined the Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary on January 26, 1968.  After a few years away while she was busy with work and raising a large family, we were fortunate to have Norma come back to our group, and she is a dedicated and valued auxilian.  Even when she wasn’t able to attend Auxiliary meetings, Norma always supported our Auxiliary in whatever ways we needed.

Norma was the secretary of the SMHA from 2004-06.  She has attended numerous Prince Edward Island Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries meetings, along with approximately six Canadian Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries conventions.

Norma was very involved with the 2009 CAHA convention in Charlottetown.  She sold lots of raffle and 50/50 tickets, all the while making everyone feel very welcome.

Norma is also a great ticket seller for our Auxiliary and for two years in a row undertook the huge task of pre-selling tickets to our annual Valentine’s Dance.  She also managed to sell many raffle tickets, prepare food and help set-up for the dances.

Norma plays the piano for our annual Christmas sing-along with residents and patients.  She is well known for her great musical ability and plays the piano or organ for many church and community events.  She belongs to the Tyne Valley Community Choir and her church choir as well.

Norma was made a Life Member of the Northam Women’s Institute, has been a life-long member of the United Church and UCW and has been an elder and treasurer for the church.

Norma has been very involved with the Ellerslie Legion and held many executive positions on their Ladies Auxiliary, as well many executive positions on their provincial board.  Norma’s unfailing dedication to the Legion organisation led her to join the Tignish Legion Ladies Auxiliary when the Ladies Auxiliary in Ellerslie disbanded.

Norma is a very caring and devoted community volunteer who so freely shares her time and talents. We think “ask and ye shall receive” is her motto, and we are pleased to award Norma Ramsay with a Life Membership in the PEIAHA.

VERNA BARLOW

Verna Barlow joined the Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary in 1975 and from day one has done everything possible to help, advise and guide our Auxiliary to be the best it can be.

Verna was SMHA President twice, from 1977-79 and again from 1994-96.  She oversaw many special projects and events during those tenures.

Verna served as Vice-president of the Prince Edward Island Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries from 2001-03 and was President from 2003-05.  The PEIAHA celebrated its 40^th Anniversary in 2004 and Verna planned a great celebration meeting, which included giving special recognition to life and charter members.

When the Canadian Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries convention was in Charlottetown in 2001, Verna took a very active part in the creation of the beautiful table favours for the delegates’ breakfast, awards luncheon and banquet.  She worked constantly and helped in a very big way to make it one of the best conventions ever.

Verna has attended the majority of PEIAHA meetings and has been to at least nine CAHA conventions.  Wherever she goes she makes new friends and adds so much to the proceedings.

As a staff person at SMH, Verna is known as “the person to ask” if you need to know something or need someone to help you.  We have never known her to say no! 

Verna has been a member of the Poplar Grove-MacNeill Mills Women’s Institute for over 30 years and is a life-long member and volunteer for the Freeland Presbyterian Church.

Verna was named Volunteer of the Year at the 2008 Tyne Valley Oyster Festival, and has received many special awards for all she has done for her hospital, church and community.

She is usually the first to offer to prepare food for any upcoming Auxiliary event and she is a great organizer.  Her quick wit makes her a wonderful emcee.

There is only one Verna Barlow and we are so lucky to have her, so it gives us great pleasure to award her a PEIAHA Life Memebership.

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Verna Barlow, Aleah MacLennan and Norma Ramsay

After the citations were read, Doreen presented each woman with their Life Membership pin, certificate and a beautiful miniature rose plant.  These three ladies have given so much to our Auxiliary and our community, so it was wonderful to honor them with this award.

Our annual meeting following the ceremony.  We were very pleased to have Pam MacKinnon join us as the incoming President of the Auxiliary.  She is already an incredibly busy and talented volunteer in the Tyne Valley area, so we are very fortune to have her join us.

Our meeting adjourned and we stepped out into a beautiful warm twilight.  We won't meet again until September 17, but our next fundraising event is already underway:  a raffle on a case of lobster.  Tickets are $1 each and will be available for purchase during the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival during the first weekend in August.

Check out more pictures from the evening in our Picasa feed.

Concert Results

Our Spring Concert was a great success, raising $1,222 to be used to purchase items for Stewart Memorial Hospital.  Thanks once again to all the performers who put so much effort into creating a great evening of entertainment.  Thank you to the audience members for their support and enthusiasm.  Thank you to those who made fudge.  Thank you to Evan Locke for donating the two wooden chairs for the raffle.

A special thank you to David Palmer, who very generously donated his $53 share of the 50/50 draw back to the Auxiliary.  It's unselfish acts such as this, from wonderful people like David, that make our community so special.  And it's that exact spirit of generosity and goodwill that brought our hospital to life over 60 years ago.

Plans are in place for another concert next spring.  Watch this space for details.

Music and Laughter

Our 2nd Annual Spring Concert last night was a great evening of entertainment!  Thanks to all the entertainers for giving their time to raise money for our hospital.  It was a beautiful evening and we had a nearly full house at Britannia Hall.  Here are photos of some of the performers:

Spring Concert for Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary

Due to the great success of last year’s Spring Concert for Stewart Memorial Hospital, the second edition is now being planned for Saturday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Britannia Hall, 816 Canada Road in Tyne Valley.

Concertgoers can expect an evening of diverse entertainment. The Harmony Mill Band will blend their guitars and voices on a few numbers.  Local musical hero Roy MacCaull will also put his guitar and great voice to work, and as a special treat he is going to bring to life a couple of his own musical heroes.  Singing trio The Sisters will blend their voices on a couple of their favourite songs.

Last year’s performance by the SMH Players was such a big hit that they are back with another skit sure to tickle every funny bone in the hall.  Rounding out the evening’s entertainment will be a clogging performance by Gwyn Bellefontaine.  There will also be fudge sales, 50/50 and the draw on a raffle for two beautiful wooden lawn chairs donated by Evan Locke.

Concert tickets are $7.50 and will be available at the door.  Last year we had people in the audience from across Prince County and beyond, so we hope to see you there.

The Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has been fundraising for 62 consecutive years.  Members continue to raise thousands of dollars each year to purchase items for the care and comfort of hospital patients and residents.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Sandra Palmer from the Evangeline Credit Union presented the Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary with a $1,250 donation at the Auxiliary's March meeting.  The ECU has a long history of helping Stewart Memorial Hospital and this latest generous donation further strengthens their important role in the community.

Auxiliary President Doreen Wooder thanked Sandra and the Credit Union members and staff for their support and said that the money has already been earmarked for something at the hospital: a new chair  that folds out into a bed so a patient can have someone stay with them overnight if necessary.

Doreen noted that Sandra was once the Auxiliary's treasurer, so it was a great that she was the one to make the presentation.

Shown at the cheque presentation are (from left to right) Verna Barlow, Ruth MacLennan, Norma Ramsay, Sandra Palmer from Evangeline Credit Union, President Doreen Wooder, Secretary Wanda Barlow and Community Hospitals West Administrator Cathy DesRoches.

Dancing The Night Away

We had another great crowd for the 25th Annual Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Valentine's Dance.    It would be difficult to find a more energetic and dedicated group of dancers!  Our community once again came together to pull off a successful evening.  We had lots of great sandwiches and sweets, door prizes and raffle prizes.

The raffle prizes were won by the following people:

1st Prize - Two nights for two with breakfasts and dinners at the Rodd Mill River Resort: Aleah MacLennan
2nd Prize - Mahogany infant's rocking cradle from Community Connections: James Williams
3rd Prize - Burgundy office chair from HMS Office Supplies: Shirley Doyle
4th Prize - Afghan donated by Bea Ballum: Aleah MacLennan

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone who purchased tickets.

Here's some photos from the dance setup.  We've got the best helpers!

25th Anniversary of Our Valentine's Dance!

Silver anniversaries are occasions for great celebration and remembrance within families.  For the Stewart Memorial Hospital family, the 25th Annual Valentine’s Dance on Saturday, February 18 will be every bit as fun and special.

For the first few years, the dances were organised by the Stewart Memorial Hospital Board.  By the mid-90s, the SMH Auxiliary had taken over the coordination of this major fundraiser.  “It is through the great generosity of local businesses donating door prizes, and individuals providing support, that we are able to hold this event each year,” said Doreen Wooder, SMH Auxiliary President.  “We have always served a beautiful lunch half way through the evening, and people from all the 22 communities provide the delicious food.”

As in the past twenty-four years, the dance will be held in the Ellerslie Legion.  Live music will once again be provided by Old Habits.

Auxiliary members are also selling raffle tickets that will be drawn that night.  The four donated prizes are: two nights for two with breakfasts and dinners at the Rodd Mill River Resort, a mahogany infant’s rocking cradle from Community Connections, a leather arm chair from HMS Office Supplies, and an afghan from Bea Ballum.

President Wooder noted that local residents are big supporters of the dance, but people also come from Summerside and O’Leary as well.  “They tell us they look forward to coming to Ellerslie each year because of the great atmosphere, and we really appreciate their support of our hospital.”

And that support has been substantial: over the past twenty-four years, the dances have raised nearly $48,000 for Stewart Memorial Hospital.  Auxiliary members hope that the $50,000 mark will be surpassed this year. 

Dance tickets are $12 each.  You can reserve them by calling Doreen at 831-2975 or there will also be tickets at the door.

Carolyn Millar (left) and Ruth MacLennan take a break from wrapping door prizes

for the 2012 Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Valentine's Dance.