Auxiliary donates $70,000 to hospital
Volunteers honored for 21,000 hours of service

At its annual awards luncheon on June 14, Calvert Memorial Hospital Auxiliary President Ken Mowbray presented a check for $70,000 to Dean Schleicher, who chairs the hospital’s board of directors. The funds will be used to purchase digital radiography for the new Emergency Department when it is completed later this summer.

The digital radiography, which will replace conventional X-rays, represents a major timesaver. The new equipment will eliminate film and allow physicians to see images instantly and start treatment.

The CMH Auxiliary was the single largest donor to the recent capital campaign that raised over $3 million to purchase the latest medical technology for the expansion project. In 2004, the all-volunteer organization committed to raise $400,000 in five years. To date, it has contributed $320,000 to the campaign.

In 2007, the auxiliary celebrated its 85 th year of supporting Calvert Memorial Hospital. At the ceremony, Schleicher praised the volunteers “for being part of the hospital team, and for giving your energy and time to make a difference in the lives of the people who pass through our doors.”

“The special touches that you bring to our hospital are often the very things our patients remember the most,“ he said, “the nice gentleman who picked them up from the parking lot and was waiting for them when they finished with their appointment; the kind person at the information desk who went out of their way to make sure they found what they were looking for; the gift shop clerk who helped pick a special baby item for a new grandchild … or the friendly face that brought a newspaper with their breakfast.”

Schleicher recognized four individuals who went above and beyond in 2006. Together they contributed nearly 4,000 hours of service to the hospital – the equivalent of almost two-full time employees. The honorees were Karen Kellum, Alice Bateman, Norma Madella and Romaine Mayberry.

Kellum, a volunteer since 2000, started in the OB department and became a gift shop associate in 2002. She frequently helps with the shifts that are hard to fill. This past winter, when the gift shop moved to its temporary location, so the lobby could be renovated, she came in extra hours to lend an extra hand wherever needed.

Bateman just celebrated her 10 th anniversary as a volunteer. She is very creative and enjoys making crafts. At present, she coordinates the auxiliary bazaars and craft sales. She also volunteers at least one day a week in the gift shop. As a buyer, she selects all the baby items the gift shop sells.

Madella, a volunteer since 1998, was auxiliary secretary in 2001. For several years, she has served as auxiliary recruiter, helping to find, interview and place new volunteers in jobs around the hospital. In addition, she works at least one shift in the gift shop and as the jewelry buyer. She also helps train new volunteers in the gift shop and elsewhere.

Mayberry, a volunteer since 2000, is “the backbone” of the Diabetes Self-Management Program, where she helps answer the phones, schedules patients, assists with support groups and represents the diabetes education program at health fairs in the community. Her exceptional organizational skills provide unparalleled support and assistance to the diabetes educators and their clients.

During the past year,164 volunteersprovided 21,004 hours of service valued at $418,610. At the ceremony, 83 auxilians received service awards. Those volunteers with the highest lifetime hours were Ruth Showalter (8,694), Alice Bateman (8,419), Myrtle Rausch (8,253) and Nancy Mellem (7,156).