Purpose
With input from members over
the last few years, we have defined the purposes for the UVMA. We want to keep it simple, yet connect with
each other and function efficiently. The purposes of the Upper Valley Medical
Auxiliary are:
1- Provide a social support
group for medical families. It is nice to know who each other is and
recognize each other in the community.
2- Welcome new medical families
to our area and provide them with resources and friends to help them settle
into our area.
3- The hospital has a
functioning foundation. If we are an active wing of that foundation our
hospital has greater access to more grant $$$$.
4- Our main focus
as a group will be community outreach for healthy living. Individually members
influence the community in many ways as part of their daily lives. Collectively
we work to organize the Teddy Bear Clinic annually for children in the area.
*The Hospital Foundation already
sponsors several activities to promote healthy lifestyles and generate funds
for the hospital. We don’t want to re-invent the wheel. We can
volunteer to be extra hands and resources for the activities they already have
in place. As we become better aware of the medical services available at our
hospital, we can educate the community and invite them to stay right here to
receive quality health care helping our area to grow.
Meeting Together
We try to meet to visit and
have lunch together once during each quarter of the year. Our meetings are at
12:00 noon, in the Steiner Conference Room at the hospital or in a member’s
home. Lunch is usually provided by the hospital regardless of where we
meet. You will receive an invitation
prior to each meeting as a reminder, please RSVP so lunches can be prepared. Children have always been welcome!!! As of February 2014 we planned to make it
easier for children to come along. The
cafeteria will fix something fun for a “kid’s meal” and we will bring a movie
for children’s entertainment.
History
The Upper Valley Medical Auxiliary was active many years ago
and then slowly drifted to inactivity.
It was most recently reorganized in 2008 after the renovation of the
Madison Hospital. Since then we have
usually met once a quarter to visit and have lunch either at the hospital or at
a member’s home. The purpose has always
been first for us to get to know each other and second sponsor the Teddy Bear
Clinic. In 2013 members took turns
sharing about themselves, the talents,
or reporting a trip they had been on. It
is fun to learn about each other.