April 2016 Volunteer Voice

April 2016
Longmont United Hospital Volunteer Newsletter
President’s Message
Laura’s Note
Jose Rodriguez-Lopez, Volunteer Board President
Laura F. Kinder, CVA
Director of Volunteer and
Spiritual Care Services
I am currently sitting down in the LUH lobby visiting
our Hospital as a family member of a patient. I am
extremely grateful and reminded of the wonderful
benefit that volunteers provide to the community and
everyone who steps foot in our hospital. From
spending a few minutes enjoying the music being
played on the piano in the main lobby by one of our
volunteers, to the kind hearted volunteer who greeted
me at the Welcome Desk, I feel extremely delighted
in being a part of this wonderful family of volunteers.
Thank you.
Thank You
What I like the most about April is that it holds a week
that celebrates the best of the human spirit – that we
are able to see beyond our own needs, our own
desires and we give freely to others so that their lives
may be better. National Volunteer Week lets us
shout out to our 500 active volunteers who help our
patients and staff in amazing ways and keeps the day
running smoothly and stress-free for visitors.
As a modest token of our appreciation, you will
receive from us a one-time use ArtWalk/Pulse gift
certificate valued up to $5. Have breakfast, a special
coffee, or lunch on us. We’ll let you know how to
claim your certificate in additional communications.
I also want to share with you that
we in the process of evaluating
Junior Volunteer applications for
graduating High School Seniors.
We have been able to provide
scholarships for graduating High
School Seniors since 2009. I was granted a
scholarship in 2009. This is such a great opportunity
for our High School Seniors.
You sent us truly inspirational experiences that you
have had while volunteering at the hospital. I hope
you enjoy reading about these experiences as much
as we did. If they trigger fond memories that you
have, please continue to share your experiences with
us and each other. Above all else, thank you for your
service!
The Heartland of the Community Casino Night and
Silent Auction Fundraiser is officially over. It was held
at The Moose Lodge in Longmont. Each year the
annual fundraiser proceeds benefit a different service
in the hospital. This year our proceeds will benefit the
building of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab in the
space previously occupied by the Emergency Room.
The extension of the Cath Lab will continue this vital
service for our community.
Due to space limitations we cannot print all
experiences in this month’s newsletter. We will
continue sharing your experiences next month.
Volunteers Meaningful Experiences
As the weather changes and we move into spring,
take a minute to enjoy the sun, the wind, the smell of
fresh flowers growing. You make LUH great. Never
forget that your time invested here is always valued
and appreciated by everyone in our community that
we touch.
My name is Michael Guerra and I have
made so many friends in the 6 years I've
been a volunteer for LUH. Every time I
work the Welcome Desk I get so much
pleasure from helping people smile and
laugh. It is especially good for me to let
my light shine bright!!! We have a great
town we live in and I am proud to serve
all that need our help.
Also, as we continue into this year, I am very proud
and excited for the way that many volunteers are
handling change.
See Experiences / page 2
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April 2016
Experiences / continued
My most meaningful experiences while
volunteering have been observing the
wonderful work that the nurses in Day
Surgery do every day. Not being a
nurse myself, I had very little
experience with the hands-on aspect of
nursing and I have developed a profound respect for
the caring and giving nature of the nurses I work
with. They are without exception extremely hard
working, going above and beyond in their dedication
to their profession and their patients, and to their
patients' families. I am very grateful for the
opportunity to work with these special women and
hope to be able to do so for many more years.
Joyce Johnson, Day Surgery and Hand Arts
I always get people coming over to
the piano to thank me for playing.
Once a man told me that my music
was meaningful as he was going
through a rough time and he really
appreciated my playing and
selections of music that day. Once a boy about age 8
tried to give me a five dollar bill for playing. His
mother was standing about 20 feet behind
him. People come and go feeling the hospital is a
friendly and helpful place when they see and hear
live music. I personally enjoy the opportunity to play
for others and to help brighten their day!
Darlene Chilson, Music Volunteer
We look forward to our shift
at the Welcome Desk. We
truly enjoy working together
and being able to assist
visitors and staff. Besides
being busy each shift, we
have learned something new
each time. Our appreciation goes out to Jeanne Bohn
in the Gift Shop for assisting people when both of us
are away from the desk, Lorraine Ward, Shift
Manager’s office, who takes care of challenging
situations, and the friendly hospital staff who come
through the lobby. Thank you for the opportunity to
be of service to the hospital and community.
Jane Murphy and Hazel Achor, Welcome Desk
I was subbing for the messenger cart
service and was in the hallway in the
back of the hospital near the pharmacy.
I saw a gentleman who was wearing
a LUH badge walking towards me. Not
saying a word, he placed a piece of
Dove chocolate on the cart and continued walking
down the hall. How did he know I needed/wanted a
piece of chocolate at that time? This small, random
act of kindness made my day. I don't know his name,
but to me he is the "Chocolate Angel!"
Mary Baisley, Messenger, BirthPlace
An ambulance arrived with a patient in
cardiac arrest. Soon the family arrived
and met with the chaplain outside the
trauma room. The doctor's prognosis
was not good and the family wanted to
be in the room with their mother. One
of the family members has a small
child, a 4 year old girl, with them. I told
them I could watch the child and play
with her while they were in the trauma room. They
were very appreciative and it made me feel good
being able to help them in their time of need and
distress. Unfortunately the patient did not survive her
heart failure. The chaplain led the family to the
family room in the ED. I offered an assortment of
drinks to them and provided the little girl a coloring
book and a small stuffed animal. Although it was
little in what I was able to provide, I felt a sense of
satisfaction and fulfillment. This is why I volunteer;
to be able to comfort in the time of need
and show empathy and understanding.
Dave Keagle, Emergency Department Patient
Ambassador, Volunteer Board of Directors
About 5 years ago when I was junior
volunteer, I had the opportunity to
meet Bridget from Grampy Bob’s
Coffee Cart in the lobby. She
introduced me to good coffee, and
from there our friendship bloomed. I would come in
on my days off to sit and chat with her (and enjoy an
amazing coffee). To this day, we are still friends
even though she has moved back east to be home
with family.
Caitlyn Lemmon, Welcome Desk
The most meaningful experience I had
was when I met Jack. He was a huge
basketball fan and walking with him
through the Art Walk and Garden of
Peace to get him to Medical Records
was an honor. Working here as a volunteer is truly a
great experience. Senior volunteers are really nice
and Stacey and Laura are fantastic.
Sabin Shrestha, Junior Volunteer, Welcome Desk
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April 2016
Experiences / continued
Fundraising
Sometime in the early spring of
2000, Channel 7 News came to LUH
to do a story on the hospital as an
award winning Planetree Hospital.
Channel 7 wanted to follow the
clowns around. I was very nervous
because I had just graduated my
first Caring Clown College and really
hadn't been able to take them individually on clown
rounds to visit patients. Someone at the hospital had
picked out the rooms we were to visit. One of the
patients was an elderly man who had several family
members in the room with him. There were 5 clowns
(we don't ever have that many normally) who went
into his room for about 6 or 7 minutes and had a very
good visit. About 10 days later we got a note from
the family to let us know that their loved one had
passed away. The family wanted to know if they
could show the news clip of our visit at the funeral.
They said it was the last time they saw him laugh. I
have always been proud of this program and the
clowns who clown with me.
Kathy Shook (Marmalade), Caring Clowns
Pat Dudley, Chair
We have set some dates for vendor sales thru June.
Past Sales
Friday, March 18th - Electronics Fund Raising
They are a very good company to work with and we
had a very good day. As I write I do not know exactly
how much we made but I am sure we did very well. I
will let you know in the next newsletter exactly how
much we made.
Future Sales
Friday, April 15th - Majestic Design Scrubs
This is always a very successful sale
because the staff who wear scrubs
stock up for the whole year. Shoes are
a big seller. People who do not wear
scrubs love the shoes because they are
so comfy. Good for Volunteers who
walk a lot too! Come see what we have.
Friday, May 20th - Annual Potted Plant Sale
We will have 10 inch and 12 inch
hanging pots containing a variety of
plants, including petunias, lobelia,
million bell and wave petunias. We'll
have 10 inch hanging cherry tomato
pots and 10 inch Terracotta Patio
Pots with a variety of plants in them.
You have to see the room; all the beautiful spring
flowers fill it up and the scent is amazing. Be sure
and come early – we always sell out quickly!
I think every experience with a patient is great.
I enjoy just being able to help out no matter how big
or small the task is. I could say my favorite part of
volunteering is just talking to the patients. Just being
able to have a patient say something about the day
or life makes me feel great. I am for the patients, and
every chance I get to help them feel better about their
situation is my priority.
Anonymous
Friday, June 17th - Bag City Leather
This will be our final vendor sale for
2016. We will have an amazing
selection of hand bags, wallets,
luggage and lots more.
The most memorable moment for me
was when I got to talk to a patient after
he came out of surgery.
Tommy Simmons, Junior Volunteer,
Day Surgery
Monday, October 24th - Used Book Sale
There will be lots more information
in future newsletters. We will let
you know asap when you can start
bringing books. But - if you'd like
to help with the Used Book Sale
please let me know. We can
always use help sorting books before the sale and of
course the day of the sale. We cannot have too
much help.
Anytime I can give a hug, a tissue, a
comforting word to a patient or
family member is special. The area I
serve presents lots of opportunities,
and as a Senior with “advancing
maturity”, I do get many times to do
these things.
Bev Boltz, Emergency Department
Look for more meaningful experiences in the
May issue of the Volunteer Voice.
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April 2016
Heartland of the Community
Casino Night and
Silent
Auction Fundraiser
$5,000.00! Other hospital departments and private
individuals donated a total of $900.00. Fifty-five
local businesses also donated items to the silent
auction. Building Services did a wonderful job of
loading, unloading, and setting up for us. Nutritional
Services provided a yummy meal and many LUH
Volunteers served on the planning, set up, and
cleanup for the event. Special thanks go to these
volunteers for their time, patience, and efforts in
making our largest fundraiser of the year a real
success! They are as follows:
Trudy O’Cleary, Co-Chair
The Longmont United Hospital Volunteers hosted
their annual casino night and silent auction
fundraiser on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the
Moose Lodge from 6:00-10:00 pm. All volunteers,
hospital staff, and interested community members
were encouraged to attend to raise money for the
construction of the new Cardiac Catheterization
Lab, featuring state-of-the-art equipment to offer an
enhanced patient-centered experience and
continuum of care.
Committee Chairpersons:
Co-Chairs: Ethel Mitchiner and Trudy O’Cleary
Treasurer: Jane Griffin-Dacey Sponsorship:
Janet Markey and Laura Kinder Reservations:
Linda Kunches Silent Auction: Trudy O’Cleary
and Ethel Mitchiner Decorations: Mary
Macomber Publications: David Keagle and
Stacey Jackson Food: Nutritional Services
Loading,Unloading, and Set-up: Building
Services
This year’s theme, “Heartland of the Community”,
supported the Cath Lab and the new Centura logo
of “Pioneer Man” with western décor and western
attire. The evening included a silent auction, a
photo op booth with a barn and western trimmings,
a $100.00 early bird prize, “chance ticket drawings”
for cash, a BB8 robot, a scratch ticket tree, free
casino games, line dancing, a D.J., end of evening
prizes, and a wonderful western buffet provided by
Nutritional Services. It appeared that a fun evening
was had by all!
Silent Auction Volunteers:
Janet Markey, Linda Vahrenkamp, Dick Gormley,
Dorothy Ludlam, Jo Vosacek, Jan Hiner, David
Keagle, Judy Schineller, Stacey Jackson, Laura
Kinder
Decoration Committee Members:
Judy Schineller, Connie Pieper
Event Day, A.M. and P.M., Adult and Junior
Volunteers:
Tana Ewers, Spencer Ericson, SaraJane Ericson,
David Daignault, Richard Macomber, Cathy
Patience, Alex Tran, Josue Berdiales, Deb
Kubichek, Kathie Dolce, Carol Cook, David Keagle,
Claudia Courtney, Jo Vosacek, Carol Souply,
Jennifer Kennison, Giselle Palomares, Parvenn
Shahi, Sudakshina Bhatta, Elijah Donovan
Cathy Patience
Elijah Donovan
Howdy
r!
Partne
Fran Etzkorn
Thank you, thank you, thank you all!!!! We
earned approximately $20,000.00 for the Cath
Lab!!!
We, the LUH event committee volunteers, have
many, many people to thank. First of all, 37
hospital departments donated to make some
absolutely beautiful and appealing baskets for the
silent auction. Twelve local businesses sponsored
our event with monetary donations from $500.00 to
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April 2016
Volunteers Needed:
The Renewal of Spring
Jen Friedman, Chaplain
Hand Arts:
We are in need of pillow cases and walker bags for
our patients. Remember, if you purchase fabric and
thread for any of our projects we will reimburse you.
This does not include needles, scissors, etc. If you
have any questions please call me, 303-776-7198 or
email me at patdudley40@gmail.com.
The poet T. S. Eliot once said that “April is the
cruelest month” and after living in Colorado for
almost 15 years, I’ve come to sympathize with him.
April is indeed quite the trickster for us. We all know
that trusting too quickly in the arrival of spring
following March’s Equinox can be folly. We’ve
experienced blizzards and snowstorms as late as
May here on the Front Range. Legend has it
(according to my neighbor Gale) that there has even
been a late June snowstorm or two if you were living
here in the 70’s and 80’s.
Frank Shorter Race 4Kids and Health Expo.
Volunteers are needed for
the April 10th Frank Shorter
Race 4 Kids and Health
Expo at the First Bank
Center in Broomfield. We
expect 3,000 people to
attend the race and expo.
Volunteers are needed to
help with set up, organizing
and escorting groups
through the Mega Brain, and with tear down. Two
hour shifts available up to the end of the race at
noon. If you can help out, call or email Laura at
303-651-5206, laura.kinder@luhcares.org.
And so here we are: waiting ever-so-patiently for the
first signs of green to actually stick around. The
crocuses poke their needle-like leaves up from the
soil, hinting at the delicate purple petals to come.
Nature is almost ready to put on its showy
reincarnation. After the winter season gave us
pause for rest, we too feel the stirrings of our own
reawakening.
I always feel a renewed sense of hope this time of
year. There is a joy that I can’t quite explain. It
corresponds with my impulse to spend time digging
in the soil and planting seeds. I feel a sense of
wonder and anticipation about what new things I will
learn about my garden…. and myself…. this year. I
trust that just like nature recycles anything that it no
longer needs in order to blossom into something
more beautiful, my own rebirth will come too. I will
challenge myself in new ways and surprise myself,
doing things that even last year at this time I was
unable or unwilling to do.
Annual Pharmaceutical Take-Back
Event
Our next scheduled take-back event will be held in
the main lobby of Longmont United Hospital on
Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
This is open to any Colorado resident.
April may indeed feel like a cruel month, but I am not
sorry to experience it. Winter gave me the time and
space to inquire deeply about myself and the world
around me. I am excited and ready to embrace
whatever emerges with the time of the growing light.
One of my favorite poets, David Whyte, writes
What IS accepted:
 Pharmaceuticals from household (human or pets)
including pills, capsules, patches, liquids &
inhalers.
 Over-the-counter medications
Now, looking through the slanting light of the morning
window
toward the mountain presence of everything that can be
what urgency calls you to your one love?
What shape waits in the seed of you
to grow and spread its branches
against a future sky?
What is NOT accepted:
 Needles
 Medical equipment
 Thermometers
Please keep the wastes in the original containers so
that on-site pharmacists can identify the medications.
Make sure to scratch off any personal information.
It is a season of possibility. I wish for all of our lives
the shape of health and happiness and joy beyond
measure. May we all be so blessed.
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April 2016
April
Sara Mundo
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Marguerite Paradis
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Diann Diatta
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Deanna Grose
2
Ronald Nordgren
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Karen Odegard
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Deborah Shaffer-Meyer 3
Susan Borutzki
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Linda Kunches
4
Patricia Simon
4
Paul Dorn
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Karim Krarti
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Margaretha Magnusson 8
Elaine Shubert
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Larry Odegard
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Michael Bradley
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Kathleen Manting
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Patrick Xiao
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Barbara Kawczynski 12
Elaine Eliza
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Neall Bunker
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Mary Jane Crouthamel 14
Joan Halter
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Amanda Bammann
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Arlyn Dillon
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Birthdays!
Leticia Pena-Figueroa
Wayne Garrett
Joan Nordgren
Kathy Shook
Jonathan Wehrend
Shirley Cupp
Carol Hahn
John Harlow, Jr.
Ramon Perez Jr.
Bobbi Rolph
Susana Gutierrez
Susan Mosier
Judy Fye
Kathleen Judd
Dolores Aiello Gormley
Sherri Bennett
Leroy Heidt
Robert Piscopio
Michael Kovac
Carol Kovner
Eileen Penner
Kathy Keffeler
Dianne Klug
Sue Merriam
Special Thoughts ~
Trudy O’Cleary, Corresponding Secretary
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Sympathy Cards to:
~ Mary Reichert, for the loss of her mother
~ Ken Malone, for the loss of his TAILS partner,
Brittany
~ Betty Connor, for the loss of her husband, Bob,
who had a TAILS partner, Spikey
~ Robin Strelow, for the loss of her TAILS partner,
Bryce
~ Doug and Melissa Obrecht, for the loss of Doug's
mother and Melissa's mother-in-law
1– Get Well card sent
To have a Sympathy, Thinking of You, Get Well or
50th/60th Anniversary card sent from the
Volunteers, please send requests to Trudy O’Cleary
at tocleary@yahoo.com or call (303) 772-3615.
Reminder: Due to HIPAA Privacy Rule we cannot
publish Get Well or Thinking of You card NAMES!
FREE Class for Volunteers,
Staff, Security & Valet
Volunteer for LUH’s Teddy Bear Clinic
LUH is offering their next round of Heartsaver
classes. These classes are FREE for employees,
volunteers, Security or Valet. Upon completion of
each class, attendees will receive their Heartsaver
certification. Each certification is valid for two years.
See dates and times for each class held in April.
The Teddy Bear Clinic will take place on
Saturday, May 21st from 1-4 pm at
Longmont United Hospital. This event
will feature a variety of activities, health
care information and prizes. We will need
a variety of adult and junior volunteers to help at the
event, including some of our caring clowns, TAILS
teams, sewers (to patch up injured Teddy Bears)
and wayfinders. To volunteer, contact the Volunteer
Office at 303-651-5205;
volunteeroffice@luhcares.org.
Heartsaver CPR/AED
April 13th
6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Heartsaver First Aid
April 27th
6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Manuals for each class can be checked out up to
one month before, but NOT on the day of class.
Contact the Resource Center 303-485-4184 for
information and to register.
Calendar of Events 2016
Apr 10-16 .. National Healthcare Volunteer Week
Apr 15 ....... Majestic Design Scrubs Sale
Apr 30 ....... Pharmaceutical Take-Back Event
May 20 ....... Annual Duran’s Potted Plant Sale
May 21 ....... Teddy Bear Clinic
Jun 17 ....... Bag City Leather Sale
July 15 ....... Lovingly Used Seeking New Homes
Oct 24 ....... Used Book Sale
Volunteer Voice Newsletter
Editor……... Ann Weber
Publisher…..Gloria Armstrong
To place an article in the Volunteer Voice,
contact the Volunteer Office at 303-651-5205, or
email to volunteeroffice@luhcares.org or Ann
Weber at annweber4@comcast.net
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