Just prior to Christmas at their monthly meeting, the auxiliary to the G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital had a farewell tea for two of their members. Emy Unger received her 45-year pin before moving to Langley. Bea Warden was recognized for 24 years. At their Christmas dinner in the Billy Barker banquet room recently, auxiliary president Florence White presented Helen Phillips, Cora Koyama and Cherie Swaan with five-year pins and Dawn McDonald and Mildred Williams both received their 20-year pins. Peggy Bryant was eligible to receive her 35-year pin but due to health reasons was not present.
In the summer of 2012, auxiliary member June Wall (life member) received her 50-year pin; Susan Maile her 40-year pin (life member); Doreen Wark received her 30-year pin and Florence White (life member) received her 30-year pin.
Volunteers are required to commit to working four hours per week and attend at least three monthly meetings a year. Three new members are coming on board and are receiving orientation. They have the option to push a cart of snacks to patients, work in the hospital gift shop, provide television sets to patients or place recycled and resorted books to different areas in the hospital. At present the Auxiliary has close to 30 members but are always short of workers who can work shifts from 9 – 12:30 or from 12:30 – 4 p.m.
Just prior to Christmas members of the Auxiliary have been busy raising funds through gift wrapping in West Park Mall and Walmart and bake sales at Willis Harper for hospital equipment.
Their present big undertaking is to raise money for a portable ultrasound for the operating room which costs $53,000. They have raised $8,000 for a new scope monitor and before that four sets of orthopaedic equipment that can be used for minor knee surgeries at a cost of $138,000. Having multiple sets enables one set to go into the sterilizer at a time. They have just been presented with a donation from the Scandinavian Society and several other donations have been coming in which will go toward their latest endeavour.
As a way of saying thank you to everyone for their help, the Auxiliary has Community Appreciation Day, usually in May, where cupcakes and drinks are provided in the hospital lobby. Florence White will turn her presidential duties over to Ivy Lofstrom in January.
QUESNEL LIONS CLUB
At their dinner meeting Dec. 20, two members of the Quesnel Lions Club received special recognition. Peter Nielsen and Morris Turner were awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from Lions Club International for going above and beyond what is required of their membership. This is the highest Lions Club award that a club can bestow on members.
For years, both have made considerable contributions for people in our community, especially seniors.
TOUR OF LIGHTS
On Dec. 12, some very appreciative seniors gathered at the Quesnel and District Seniors Centre for the annual Tour of Lights sponsored by Gold Pan Home Emergency (Life Line).
Each year Gary Inwood of Gold Pan Stage Lines and drivers donate buses and their time. This year, two buses gave more than 80 seniors an opportunity to see some of the best displays of Christmas lights. This tradition began 19 years ago in the common room of Fraser Village and in subsequent years moved to the Seniors Centre. Gold Pan provided trays of sweets for seniors returning from the tour, the Seniors Centre volunteers made sandwiches as well as donating the hall, Northern Flowers donated poinsettias for tables while businesses in Quesnel contributed door prizes, candy canes and oranges. Laura Entzminger, president of Gold Pan Home Emergency, said they try to alternate targeting different business each year. They have been most supportive.
The Tour of Lights is a way of saying thank you to seniors in Quesnel for using Life Line. President Laura Entzminger advises there are more than 104 people using the service at this time.
Ruth Scoullar is a seniors’ advocate and regular Observer contributor.