Hospital auxiliary members no longer have to sew and wash sheets

Treasurer Ursula Cattelan and president Peggy Payne show the ’80 Years Making a Difference’ button honouring volunteers with the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Peggy Payne, president of the PEC Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, said original members didn’t solely focus on fundraising for their hospital, but also supported it with linen services – sewing, washing and making sheets.

“I’m glad that that’s a facility we have dropped,” said Payne to laughter in agreement from luncheon guests at February’s general meeting.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the hospital board formed in 1919 when the hospital first opened, but today’s members are honouring the 80th anniversary of the newly formed Prince Edward County Hospital Women’s Hospital Auxiliary on October 27, 1934.

Fundraising has become serious business for the Auxiliary which reports an unaudited balance of $320,000 in gross revenue and investments for 2013.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation received a $30,000 donation from the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary members at their general meeting Feb. 20. The funds represented proceeds from the 2013 Festival of Trees event. The donation will be directed toward the current campaign to bring updated cardiac monitoring equipment to Picton’s hospital.  Accepting the cheque from Art Hewer, director of fundraising projects for the Hospital Auxiliary is Hazel Lloyst, interim director of development for the PECMH Foundation. – Briar Boyce photo

Treasurer Ursula Cattelan reported volunteers running the group’s main source of income – The Second Time Around Shop in downtown Picton – raised $280,490.00 in gross revenue in 2013 and paid almost $90,000 in expenses.

She noted the Auxiliary will continue with its plans to set aside at least $30,000 each year toward the anticipated announcement of plans to build a new hospital in Picton – a project that once approved, would take a decade to come to fruition.

Also looming large in the background is work with a lawyer to revise the group’s Letters Patent to comply with strict government regulations. The plan from 1998 was wisely composed, she said, but trends in healthcare have been heading away from primarily hospitals and more toward the community and the auxiliary must rewrite its intentions.

Payne had explained their right to exist as a registered charity and incorporated organization depended on sticking closely to its mission statement and articles of incorporation. She noted some auxiliaries in the province had been in correspondence with Canada Revenue about whether they were doing exactly what they were set up to do.

In the meantime, the auxiliary’s 80th anniversary committee is working on plans to honour volunteers and look for recruits. Anniversary pins (see photo), bookmarks and an advertising series promoting people sharing their connections with the auxiliary are under way. A short and longer video will honour long-standing members with great stories to tell. It is expected to be unveiled at the annual volunteer tea in April. The shorter version will play at Picton hospital. Plans for a dinner with inspirational speaker are also in the works.

Click to find out how you can help the Auxiliary in the hospital, with fundraising and in the community. http://www.qhc.on.ca/become-a-volunteer-p350.php

Hours contributed by Auxiliary volunteers over the years. Graph by Janet Chandler, member and volunteer records.