DCH AUXILIARY ATTENDS SPRING CONFERENCE IN BLOOMINGTON

Enjoying the beautiful springtime scenery, six members of the Dearborn County Hospital Auxiliary recently made the trip to Bloomington, Indiana, to attend the annual Indiana Hospital Auxiliaries Association (IHAA) Southeast Area Conference.  The annual spring event was hosted this year by Bloomington Hospital and held at Terry’s Banquets and Catering.

DCH Auxilians who took part in the day trip were President Betty Fulton; Second Vice President Marita Cizek, who is also Secretary of the IHAA Southeast Area; and members Jean Benning, Phyllis Johnson, Mary McElfresh and Lucille Rodenberg.  They were accompanied by Anita Benning, DCH Community Relations Director.

At the conference, the Auxilians heard reports from the 11 additional hospitals that make up the Southeast Area region.  In addition, Auxiliary members had the opportunity to network with volunteers from throughout Southeastern Indiana and meet IHAA President Carol Taylor and President-Elect Anita Canaday.

During the meeting, Mrs. Fulton reported before the crowd on the DCH Auxiliary’s accomplishments of the past year.  In 2009, the organization contributed $100,000 to assist with the hospital’s Screening Breast MRI Clinical Trial, the first and only clinical study of its kind in the United States.  In addition, the Auxiliary made a one time $25,000 donation, along with its annual $5,000 donation, to the DCH Foundation’s scholarship and grant/loan programs.

Mrs. Fulton also reviewed the ongoing activities of the Auxiliary and noted their 25,686 hours of service during the past year.  She listed their assignments in the DCH Gift Shop, Snack Bar, Information Desk and Sewing Room as well as in the hospital departments of Health Information Management, Home Health & Hospice, Outpatient Services, Rehabilitation Services and Community Relations, and as Messengers.  In addition, several members make dolls, animals and balls to be given to younger children who are brought into the Emergency Department. 

The Auxiliary also regularly assists at the hospital’s Health-A-Fairs, Employee Health Fair and Children’s Christmas Party.

Additional Auxiliary projects include the collection of used eyeglasses, cell phones, household batteries and empty medicine vials for donation to various charitable and recycling organizations.

For more information regarding the Dearborn County Hospital Auxiliary or the volunteer opportunities available at DCH, please contact Mrs. Fulton at (812) 537-8217 or (800) 676-5572, ext. 8217.