Elisabeth Heslop
Fifteen people were recognized for their volunteer efforts by the La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary during its annual meeting here yesterday.
Auxiliary president Davetta Sheppard said the volunteer certificates of appreciation were presented to people, mostly members, “who have gone out of their way to be very helpful and take on responsibility.”
“We’ve got a lot of really good volunteers but these people have really gone that extra mile for us every time we’ve asked,” she explained.
Sheppard noted the certificates hadn’t been handed out since 2004, when the practice dropped off, but this year they decided to “reinitiate it.”
They handed out 10 at Christmas and another 15 yesterday.
“That gives sort of the wrong impression in that we’ve just restarted it and we won’t be giving out that many every other year,” Sheppard said.
“We would probably be looking at doing eight or 10 a year, and it’s only for people who really, really went out of their way and helped out,” she stressed.
Three of yesterday’s recipients were singled out for special recognition. Donna Lowey, of Lowey’s Greenhouses, has never been an auxiliary member but that doesn’t seem to deter her from helping out.
“No matter what we’re up to at the auxiliary, she [Lowey] is extremely generous, both with her time and with her product,” said Sheppard.
“Every time we try to go out and do anything, she’s right there with us with huge donations for us.”
Sandi Beadle, an administrative assistant at La Verendrye General Hospital, also is not an auxiliary member.
“She does an enormous amount of work for us,” said Sheppard. “She helps up out in a lot of ways.”
The third individual singled out was Marlene Deschamps. She is a member of the auxiliary, but Sheppard said she’s been a constant presence at every event and the auxiliary felt it was important to recognize her tireless efforts.
The auxiliary also installed its new officers at yesterday’s annual meeting, which was held at noon in Hallett Hall at Rainycrest.
Besides Sheppard as president, the vice-president is Marlene McQuarrie, the secretary is Irene Laing, and the treasurer is Delores Fraser.
