Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering Auxiliary

Presented at RVHS 2011 Annual General Meetings of Members
by Bev Carmichael, President and Student Volunteer Coordinator, Auxiliary, Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering

Even though we’ve had to go through heavy construction, we managed to increase our volume of adult volunteers up to 172 active as well as up to a total of 75 student volunteers belonging to the summer and fall/winter programs, giving us a total of 35,000 Adult hours and approximately 5,000 student hours.

We were pleased to finally return to our new and very successful gift shop, as well as the reopening of our east entrance information area.

Our fundraising during the year has been successful and fun — one event being “Getting into bed with the Auxiliary”, selling nightwear in the west lobby. The proceeds went to the blanket warmer. All other fundraising since September 2010 has gone towards the $500,000 commitment for the new MRI machine.

Our nearly new Shop in Pickering Village presented us with a check towards medically-related bursaries that go to 18 high school students belonging to six local high schools in the Durham Region.

Four members of the Auxiliary (Ildi Lubertino, vice-president and chair of the nearly new shop; Anita Neeson, director of volunteers; Doris Dunford, chair of newsletter/program; and myself) attended the Hospital Auxiliary Association of Ontario Convention. And at the Banquet 5, our Auxiliary volunteers were presented with their Provincial Life Membership— these ladies have contributed a total of 178 years of continuous service. By attending the convention it gives us the opportunity to network with Auxiliaries across Ontario and learning new and interesting ideas of volunteering, as well as fundraising.

I would like to thank the Foundation office for the recognition of the contribution of $1M towards the Women’s Imaging Area, in our Auxiliary name. And now our fundraising will be focused on our new MRI machine. Also, I would like to thank Bonnie Hughson, coordinator of the Centenary Volunteers for her cooperation and help at all times. And a special thank you to Kathy Gooding, vice-president, human resources, RVHS; and Tracy Paterson, vice-president of development, RVHS Foundation — our go to people — for their cooperation and support whenever we needed it.

I believe the success of the Auxiliary and great amount of hours that are contributed are due to the tremendous support we receive from the hospital organization and Foundation board.

If in life we offer our best, we need never be ashamed of what we give.

Rouge Valley Centenary Volunteer Services

Presented at RVHS 2011 Annual General Meetings of Members
by Bonnie Hughson, Coordinator, RVC Volunteer Services

The membership of the RVC Volunteers as of April 1, 2011 at the RVC site is 346 — with 256 adults, 90 youth and one greyhound visiting dog. This is a decrease in membership from April 1, 2010.

There are fewer suitable adult applicants available during daytime hours, when there is the greatest need. The pace at which the volunteer support has to occur and adjust along with the changes to the delivery and streamlining of services is also a challenge. But our volunteers are nonetheless achieving great results for the hospital.

This past fiscal year RVC volunteers gave 62,739 hours of service and donated $69,300 to the Foundation. With this money, the Foundation bought 10 medical beds, four Geri Broda chairs, and a $5,000 surgical tray.

The hours and dollars donations were presented at the annual recognition dinner on May 30, along with a number of long-service awards. Forty-five adults and 41 youth were presented with awards, ranging in age from five to 45 years of service for the adults.

This year, we changed the youth medallions to service pins so that people could see the hours that the young people put in. Also at the dinner, we presented Abdul Hour with a $1,000 Youth Bursary Award.

Congratulations to Bev Carmichael, Anita Neeson, their executive team and all the Auxiliary members for another great year at RVAP.

It has been a pleasure working with you this past year. RVHS is extremely proud of the outstanding volunteer team at Centenary.