Marg. Anderson,
PR – DHMH Auxiliary
The members of the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary wish to extend the biggest thank you to all of you who have generously contributed to our fundraising events for 2013 and prior years.
This has been a very busy year for the auxiliary. We started preparing early in the year for our annual AGM (annual general meeting), which is held on the first Thursday in May. Year end reports have to be submitted for review and new executive officers are sworn in for the coming year. Recognition awards are presented to our volunteers for service to the community and auxiliary.
We start canvassing early in the year for our first fundraiser, which was our annual Garden Party in May. This fundraiser is a display of all types of garden items consisting of anything from bird houses, ornaments, plants, gift certificates, garden lights, etc. It is an afternoon of fun and entertainment and, of course, a delightful presentation of food. We are entertained with a most comical auctioneer and believe me, no one goes home disappointed.
Our auxiliary then hosted the OMA (Okanagan Mainline Area) conference, held this year on Oct. 4 and 5 at the Wells Gray Inn with approximately 140 registered delegates. We had representation from the town along with special guest speakers. Our theme for the conference was "Rock Around the Clock" and our format was well received.
With the conference barely over, we were busy finalizing our plans for our seventh annual Dessert Extravaganza, which is usually held the third Saturday in October. You will have noticed our volunteers out canvassing again in September.
This is our largest fundraiser and is always successful with lots of prizes given out with fabulous auction items and a tasting of wonderful delectable desserts. A big thank you here to all of those individuals who did baking for this fun event, along with our waffle makers.
Let's ask ourselves, "Would we be able to have a hospital here in this community without your help?” Probably not! Our job as volunteers is to do the groundwork (legwork, if you wish) in organizing these events (fundraisers) so that we can support and keep our hospital facility here in Clearwater.
At our AGM in May, the auxiliary was presented with a wish list from the hospital. This list is usually made up of equipment that is needed for use in the hospital. We must then vote on this presentation.
By hosting these fundraising events, by managing the Thrift Store in Vavenby and by your supporting the Gift Corner Shop located in the Hospital, we have been able to support this request. In fact, we committed to $57,000 for the hospital this year.
Not only that, the auxiliary also provides music, television, phones for the patients.
We would like to thank the entire community for all the support we received this year from the many sponsors, financial institutions, company donations, individual donations, entertainers, musicians, M.C.'s, Blue Loon Cafe, Wells Gray Inn, KOA, including those volunteers that donate many hours of their time, along with the talented knitters and sewers that we have in the community that give so much.
We will close out 2013 with our Christmas Lunch on Dec. 5 at the Gateway Grill.
At this time, we, your auxiliary members would like to wish you all a most Joyous Christmas and Prosperous New Year – and yes, you will see us once again (early) in 2014.