SWMC Auxillary Presents Awards, Installs Officers

Southwest Medical Center Auxiliary members were honored for their hours of service in 2011 during a reception on January 19. The total hours recognized were more than 136,200, which was 10,650 more hours than last year.

This year’s honorees and their awards were: 50 hour pins- Dena Allen, Cheryl Carson, Mickey Durbin, Eula Little, Ronda Maxwell, and Roberta Williams; 100 hours- Kathy Engel, Barbara Hanson, Stan Lehnert and Karen Lehnert; 200 hours- Tracey Nix; 300 hours- Myrtle Trogdon, Cathy Corn and Jill Pittman; 400 hours – Barbara Wellman; 500 hours – Nancy Kletecka; 600 hours – Marilyn Thompson; 700 hours – Velma Coulter; 800 hours – Leah Hood; 900 hours- Jonice Oblander and Marcy Birney; 1000 hours – John Malin; 1300 hours- Ray Tweed and Alice Hill; 1400 hours – Mary Downs and Avanell Mitchell; 1500 hours- Myrtle Eisenhower and Donna Brinkley; 1700 hours – Mary Ellen Tweed; 2000 hours- Susan Zielke, Zola Kessler, Saundra Koochel and Aneta Compton; 2300 hours- Sharon Garcia; 2400 hours- Jane Nix and Marilyn Marchel; 3000 hours – Virginia Helsel and Betty Toot; 3100 hours- Gayl Marcellus; 3200 hours- Georgia Taylor; 3900 hours- Benny Bing; 5800 hours- Jana Widener; 6100 hours- Helen Wilburs; 7400 hours – Rosalee Phillips; 14,900 hours – Naomi Tedford; 21,000 hours- Marylin Headrick; and 32,000-plus hours – Kay Hay.

The Auxiliary puts in countless hours each year in order to raise funds to purchase much needed medical equipment and other items for the hospital. From the infant security system to recliners in the patient rooms—they are there for staff, visitors and patients.

Members of the volunteer organization moved in to their new gift shop in November of 2011 at Southwest Medical Center . The new area has afforded them more room to display gift items as well as given them more room in which to work more comfortably.

The gift shop is not the only task they fulfill at the local hospital, members also take care of OR waiting room, host an employee tea each year for Christmas and raise money for scholarships which are presented to students pursuing a career in the medical field.

“ Southwest Medical Center is very fortunate to have the Auxiliary as a part of our healthcare team,” said SWMC Public Relations Director Nancy Kletecka. “Their assistance to the hospital has indeed been invaluable.”

Officers for 2012 were also installed at the January meeting. Those selected include: President Linda Staiger; First Vice President Aneta Compton; Second Vice President Saundra Koochel; Secretary Mary Ellen Tweed; and Treasurer Jana Widener. Kansas Auxiliary District 6 Coordinator Donna Schaffer of Ulysses installed the members to their offices.