ceremony on June 5, 2012. Hospital staff, physicians and volunteers

September General
Meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012
5 PM Dinner
Boardroom, 2nd Floor East
,
All About Apples
Bake Sale
Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012
10 AM to 2 PM
Front Lobby
HAAO Fall Convention
November 5,6,7, 2012
November General
Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012
10 AM Brunch
Boardroom, 2nd Floor East
Big Book Sales**
Last Tuesday of the month
10 AM to 2 PM
Front Lobby
**PLEASE BRING US
YOUR USED BOOKS—a
disaster has destroyed
almost our entire stock!!
Foreground: Gwen Acker, Darleen Bogart, Caroline Grose.
Background: Sue Carruthers, President &CEO WCH Foundation
Photo: courtesy of Michael Wong.
Women’s College Hospital held a “topping off” ceremony
on June 5, 2012. Hospital staff, physicians and
volunteers were invited to sign the final steel beam and
witness its placement at the highest point of the Phase
One building. Among the volunteers to sign and first in
line were Darleen Bogart, Caroline Grose and Gwen
Acker.
Special guests attending the ceremony included Ontario
Premier, Dalton McGuinty and Ontario Minister of Health
and Long Term Care, Hon. Deb Matthews. The event
featured inspirational speeches, live music and pink
treats.
As this newsletter goes to print, we are at Week 42 of
the countdown to the completion of Phase One.
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
CO-PRESIDENTS’ REPORT
Our very successful 97th Annual Meeting is behind us now. But like everything at Women’s
College Hospital (now 101) everything is new. Signs around the hospital which change every
week, herald the number of weeks until the first phase of the new building will be open – 42 weeks
at this writing.
Phase One will be packed with many services, like the operating theatres being at their final
capacity for space, while others will be occupying temporary space until Phase Two is complete in
2015. There is no lobby and no gift shop in phase 1. We are trying to be creative to provide the
merchandise patients and staff need until we have the new kiosk in Phase Two. This could be like
going “back to the future” when the gift shop started with a cupboard under the stairs, which
opened and closed like today’s carts found in malls. The Volunteer Resources and Association
space will be small and not permanent. It is all part of the final building, which will be worth the
temporary space shortages. Our lobby sales may have to be “roving sales” to where the customers
are. Creativity is needed! Any ideas?
It is so wonderful to be able to congratulate all of you for gifts large and small which have
translated into $900,000 towards our $1 million pledge. We are very fortunate to have Margot
Algie, a new volunteer with a background in fundraising, heading the Future Venture Committee,
as well as an enthusiastic group of new and longer-term volunteers full of ideas and eager to get
started. Watch for some new events and some old ones with a new twist as we start on the last
$100,000 - and get involved. Every penny counts, as the Penny Pitch shows with well over $300
raised (that’s over 30,000 pennies!)
Both of us along with four other members attended the HAAO Spring Conference in April.
The guest speaker, Magda Rigo, from the Markham Stouffville Hospital, spoke on “Managing
Change Effectively” - a good subject for our association. After lunch there were round table
discussions on recruiting volunteers and in particular volunteers for executive or specific positions
and the new Freedom of Information Act. There was some discussion as to how the HAAO could
better serve volunteer associations.
This promises to be a glorious summer - enjoy every minute of it!
Darleen and Caroline
Bits and Bytes
• Thank you to Michelle Matmari, a participant in our 2011 Summer Youth Volunteer
Program who initiated a club at her high school called “Touching Hearts” and raised $335
for the Association of Volunteers through bake sales and other events this year.
• Big thanks to Carolyn Bosley for hosting a tea for a small but dedicated group of
Association Alumnae in June.
• Pat McGee celebrated her birthday with a party and asked the invitees to give a donation to
WCH. $700 was donated to Association.
• A person who wishes to remain anonymous donated $2,500 to the capital account to
celebrate her 25 years as a volunteer.
• The ANKH Gift Shop will be selling “Association” gorgeous floral note cards with
photographs donated by Ralph Grose. The cards will be sold individually or in packages.
Also watch for Holiday greeting cards available in the fall. Thanks to Aurea Abesamis for
handling the project.
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERS
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:
Margot Algie- Special Events Coordinator
Kirran Bakhshi- Ontario Health Study
Kalyani Bellangamage- Specimen Collection Lab
Saima Bibi- Breast Imaging
Gabriela Carvalho- Ankh Gift Shop
Vivian Chan- Specimen Collection Lab
Sharanita Chandron- Ontario Health Study
Hea Jin Cheon- UCC
Kristin Curreri- Women’s Cardiac Rehab Initiative
Ylendaile De Los Santos- Women’s Cardiac
Rehab Initiative
Azadeh Fadaie Tehrani- Breast Imaging
Anna Fesyk- Ankh Gift Shop
Alireza Ghezavati- Ontario Health Study
Fenny Goyal- Surgical Clinics
Yakira Hume- Information Desk
Suzanne Isaacs- Fundraising
Januja Jeyarajah- Dermatology
Katie Joh- UCC & Specimen Collection Lab
Mary Lemaitre- Dermatology
Tasha Mascarenhas- Breast Centre
Jessica Mendonca- Mohs Dermatology
Nora Milne- Surgical Waiting Room
Bibi Mohamed- Centre for Headache &
Health Information
Noelle Pagura- Ontario Health Study
Nadine Paranaritana- Ontario Health Study
SpecimenCollection Lab
Kelly Parker- Specimen Collection Lab
Binthu Puvanendram- Ontario Health Survey
Manaal Rana- CACE Complex Care
Cyndy Robleto-- Specimen Collection Lab
Kiran Saleem- Environmental Health Clinic
Chirag Shah- Ontario Health Study
Solmaz (Renee) Soleimandloo- Surgical Waiting
& Crossroads
Heng Sun- UCC
Anuj Taxali- Ontario Health Study
Michelle van der Vecht- Research Ethics Office
A Letter from Sheila Macdonald, Clinical Manager, SADVCC
“On behalf of the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre, I want to thank the Volunteer
Association for your continued support for the victims/survivors of sexual and/or domestic violence
who used our service over the last year. In this past year, our emergency service client volumes
rose by 12% compared to the previous year.
With your donation, we were able to provide our clients with clothing, toiletries, tokens for
transportation and teddy bears. All of these comfort items are essential to our clients in the
aftermath of an assault. Our team works very hard to provide support and comfort to clients who
are at their most vulnerable and have integrated feelings of shame, guilt, and loss of worthiness as
a result of the assault. They have also expressed feelings of being “dirty” and wanting to wash
away any physical reminder of what has happened.
Your contribution assists clients in reclaiming themselves and aids in the start of the recovery
journey. Thank you again for your support.”
EMERGENCY PLEA FOR BOOKS!! We have had a DISASTER! A flood from over the
storeroom has destroyed our entire stock of thousands of books. PLEASE bring in your used
books and tell your friends too. Keep our book sales going.
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS 2012
Membership Service Awards
April, 2012
25 Year Pin
Ruth de Winter, Charlotte Graham, Vicky Vine
20 Year Pin
Angus MacDonald, Doreen Smith
15 Year Pin
Bernice Beacock, Carolyn Bosley, Minnie Pillipow
Ontario Volunteer Service
Awards
June, 2012
40 years: Pat Fraser
15 years: Joan Hill
10 years: Ruby Brett
5 years: Carol Ann Monet
Youth Service Award: Roxana Florica
10 Year Pin
Joan Flynn, Betty Jean Klassen
5 Year Pin
Bea Chan
2 Year Certificate
Roxana Florica, Davilon Wallace
HAAO Special Award
Agnes Berge, Marie Strebel
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARD WINNERS!
Joan Hill, Pat Fraser
Vicky Vine, Ruth de Winter, Carolyn Bosley, Joan Flynn,
Davilon Wallace, Bernice Beacock, Angus MacDonald,
Charlotte Graham.
arlotte
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
UPCOMING EVENTS
Future Ventures Committee Annual Fall
Bake Sale and Raffle
Back by popular demand, our annual Bake
Sale and Raffle returns in October!
Each of three monthly sales will have a theme
ingredient: October will feature Apples, raw,
cooked, packed or preserved; with preserves
of all kinds. November will appeal to all the
Chocoholics in the crowd; and December will
display a smorgasbord of Holiday Treats
Galore From Around the World.
INTRODUCING MARGOT ALGIE
Margot Algie joined us in the spring as
Special Events Coordinator. She brings
with her a wealth of experience in fund
raising,
marketing
and
project
management. Most recently, Margot
worked with Integrated Communications
and Entertainment as events manager
where she earned several ICE Core Value
Awards. Her freelance portfolio includes
fundraising for York Region and the
Thornbury Annual Jazz Festival as well as
managing projects for Magna International,
Kid’s Help Phone and the Ontario
Government. We look forward to working
with Margot and benefitting from her
innovative and creative ideas and
exceptional management skills.
Welcome aboard, Margot!
A featured ‘guest taster’ will declare winners at
each sale in various categories; best tasting
item, unique presentation, best creative use of
the themed ingredient and most unique item
produced, among others. The Association of
Volunteers invites all volunteers and Staff to
take part in the preparation and enjoyment of
each others’ creations.
The Raffle this year promises more prizes of
higher value, ranging from hockey tickets, to
spa treatments and a number of cultural and
entertainment activities in and around Toronto.
Tickets are $5 each or 3 tickets for $10, and
will be on sale in early October through to the
draw date in December.
Watch for more details on the Bake Sale and
Raffle Draw in September when we begin our
promotions. If you would like to donate an
item to the Bake Sale(s) or Raffle Draw,
please contact Margot Algie at
[email protected] or sign up on the
Volunteer Lounge Bulletin Board, noting your
donation.
Margot Algie
Special Events Coordinator
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
UPCOMING EVENTS
PENNY PITCH
Bea Chan, Betty Cullen, Shirley Platt, Suzanne Isaacs
You may have noticed penny jars on
counters around the hospital: at the
Emily Stowe Café, Ankh Gift Shop
and Information Desk, to name a
few. As the penny is being phased
out of circulation, we are asking
everyone to pitch them our way. In
June, the first wave of penny
donations fetched $306.60—that’s
30,660 pennies for the Capital
Campaign Fund.
Keep them
coming!!
SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEETING
The first general meeting of the 2012-2013 term will be held on Wednesday September 26, 2012 at
5:00 PM in the Boardroom, 2nd floor East. Dinner will be served and, in lieu of a set fee, donations
of any amount will be gladly accepted. Guest Speaker will be Jennifer Price, Advanced Practice
Nurse, from the Department of Cardiology.
BABY STARS
"In 1996 the Association of Volunteers, Women's College Hospital initiated a fundraising
program called 'A Star is Born'. Donors could donate a minimum of $100 to have the name of a
baby born at Women's College Hospital inscribed on a star, which was then mounted on a panel
and displayed on the 'Baby Recognition Wall' outside the Labour and Delivery Unit at the
hospital. When the Perinatal Department of Women's was transferred to Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre on April 1, 2006, Association felt it could no longer justify receiving donations for
babies born after that date, as they were 'Sunnybrook babies'. There are over 1000 babies
honoured and stars displayed on our Baby Recognition Wall. When the new state of the art
Ambulatory Care Centre is built the 'Stars' will be displayed in an electronic presentation for
viewing. The large panels, which currently display the stars, will then be housed in the Margaret
Robins Archives in the new building.
The Association is providing a 'LAST CHANCE' to commemorate and honour babies born
at Women's College Hospital before April 1, 2006 with a star. If you have not yet purchased a 'Star'
and wish to do so you may donate $100 or more to the Association of Volunteers, Women's
College Hospital and receive a tax receipt and commemorative card and have your own (if you
were born at Women's) or a loved one's name honoured on our NEW Baby Recognition Display in
the NEW Ambulatory Care Centre.
Don't miss this chance to take part in the history of and be a part of the legacy of Women's
College Hospital."
Pat McGee, Coordinator
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
1
SUMMER UPDATE FROM VOLUNTEER RESOURCES
New Starts, New Roles, and Farewells: We have had 37 new volunteers join since January
2012, and 14 resigns during this time. The volunteer program has continued to grow in size, now
averaging 145 volunteers contributing each month. We have the following four new roles for
volunteers: Health Information, Crossroads Clinic (Refugee Health), Specimen Collection Lab, and
Research Ethics Office.
Come Early Stay Late Guest Speaker: In March Stacey MacKenzie (ASL Interpreter for WCH,
Mount Sinai, Sick Kids, CAMH) spoke at Come Early Stay Late gatherings on how to communicate
effectively with ASL patients and their interpreters. It was a great success with 35 volunteers in
attendance over five days.
Summer Youth Volunteer Program: We are happy to welcome Elise Hannan back for another
year as Summer Youth Volunteer Coordinator. We held two very successful youth Information
Sessions in late May with over 150 youth in attendance. We’re now gearing up for another great
summer with our group of students.
Ontario Health Study: The Ontario Health Study has broadened their clinic based recruitment at
WCH. We now have volunteers recruiting for the survey during 14 weekly shifts in Family Practice,
Osteoporosis, Dermatology, Endocrinology, and General Internal Medicine.
PAVR-O SURVEY RESULTS
Women’s College volunteers took part in an evaluation survey conducted by Professional
Administrators of Volunteer Resources - Ontario (PAVR-O) between November and December
2011. A total of 39 hospitals or health centres participated, including Women’s. WCH had an
average response rate of 54% (76 volunteers). Here are some highlights of what our volunteers
told us:
We had very positive scores for the area of “Volunteer Experience” which focused on how well
the hospital makes volunteers feel welcome, the availability of and support from staff, how
meaningful volunteer work is and how volunteering contributes to the hospital. In this area we
had a 91.1% satisfaction score. One quote beautifully captured how volunteers experience the
hospital “You feel the love, care and warmth from everyone around you. In other words it is like
a ‘home away from home’.”
In the area of “Volunteer Orientation” which surveyed volunteers’ awareness of the hospital
mission, their role and how information they received prepares them for their placement, our
overall score was 94.5%. When asked about “Recognition” which focused on respect from staff
and volunteer resources, thanks that volunteers received and good use of volunteer’s time.
WCH volunteers gave an overall score of 96.2%.
How do we practice “Teamwork”? That refers to the volunteers as a team member,
approachability, support and direction from staff, and staff feedback and openness to receiving
suggestions from volunteers. WCH scored 88.8%. Do we provide a “Learning Environment?”
Volunteers gave WCH a 58.7% score. This dimension received consistently low scores from all
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
2
hospitals surveyed and will be the focus for improvements in our work this year. Our program
has been proactive with this effort and has been using the ‘lunch-and-learn’ to provide
education, awareness and development opportunities for volunteers.
“Do we keep volunteers safe and support volunteers to maintain ‘Patient Safety’?” We
received scores of 96.4% and 94.7% respectively. In both areas volunteers noted that they feel
safe in their roles, that they understand the policies to protect and report risks related to patient
safety and that they are not asked to do things in their areas that are unsafe.
With evaluation comes identification of opportunities for growth and volunteers identified the
several areas of growth. These include: some volunteers feel their contributions are not always
meaningful; more friendliness from staff in areas of volunteer placement; placement areas
could make better use of the volunteers’ time; more information about what is going on with
the hospital as it is going through many changes; better communication between volunteers
working in an area; more on the job training from staff supervisors.
When asked, “Would you recommend your hospital as a place to volunteer?”, 98.6% of WCH
Volunteers indicated they would recommend the hospital as an excellent place to volunteer,
compared to the 98% of general respondents. We thank you for taking the time to participate and
we look forward to working with you to continue building on our successes. If you would like a full
summary of the survey report, please pick up a copy in the Lounge or email me at
[email protected] requesting a copy.
Sarah Lord, Coordinator, Volunteer Resources
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND DINNER
On Monday, April 23, 2012, members and guests gathered at the Latvian Canadian Centre for the
Annual General Meeting and Dinner. After a delicious dinner, guest speaker, Dr. Steven Narod
gave an interesting and informative talk about his research. Dr. Narod has been with WCH for
seventeen years where he leads the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit. He is renowned for
his key role on the team that identified the BRCA2 gene that, when mutated, substantially
increases a woman’s lifetime risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Continuing with further business:
the Angel Award was given to Dr. Paula Rochon from Women’s College Research Institute.
Then Sue Carruthers, WCH Foundation President and CEO; Marilyn Emery, WCH President
and CEO; Jane Pepino, WCH Board Chair; and Mirella Quatttrin, HAAO Chair of Toronto
Region, brought greetings from their respective organizations. Darleen Bogart and Caroline
Grose gave a cheque to Sue Carruthers of the WCH Foundation for $120,000. Caroline Grose
presented an In Memoriam picture to Marilyn Emery and Jane Pepino in loving tribute to passed
members. Next on the agenda was the awarding of service pins/certificates to members by
Marilyn Emery and Jane Pepino. Darleen Bogart called on Mirella Quattrin to install the 20122013 Association Executive Board. Angela Robertson and Sarah Lord were given gifts of
appreciation for their ongoing support of the Association. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
Dr. Steven Narod
Dr. Paula Rochon, Darleen
Bogart
Jane Pepino,WCH Board Chair; Caroline
Grose; Marilyn Emery; WCH President &
CEO; Patricia Kirby
Caroline Grose; Sue Carruthers ,
President&CEO WCH Foundation,
Angela Robertson; Janet Murdoch- Joan Hill; Gwen Doust,
Zive,WCH Legal Counsel
President WCH Nursing
Alumnae
Dorothy Liu, Don Kong
In Memoriam Picture
Leonie Wizzard-Foster,
Sarah Lord
Clarissa Wagner; Mirella Quattrin, Chair
HAAO Toronto;Davilon Wallace;Shirley
Edes-Smith
Kathleen Beadle, Sylvia Schudel,
Bahar Hashemi
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
GIGANTIC JEWELLERY SALE REPORT
Our Gigantic Jewellery Sale on May 24, 2012 raised over $4,000. Thank you to all the
volunteers who gave their time: Gwen Acker, Dianne Atay, Carolyn Bosley, Helen Bowler,
Kathleen Beadle, Betty Cullen, Pauline Duncan, Connie Harris, Lois Hindmarsh, Angus
McDonald, Angela Muto, Marie Strebel, Jill Sword, Vicky Vine, Beth Zucchiatti. A very special
note of appreciation goes to my pricing committee who along with me put in 72 hours sorting
and pricing all the jewellery at my home: Agnes Berge, Bea Chan, Elizabeth Scorey, and
Clarissa Wagner.
We also thank the staff, volunteers and friends of Women’s college for their support with
generous donations and purchases. We have lots of costume jewellery left so don’t be surprised
if a few more sales pop up in the near future!
Joan Hill, Coordinator
WALK FOR WOMEN’S
On Sunday, May 27th, 2012, David Balfour Park was the place to be for the WCH Association
of Volunteers’ third annual “Walk for Women”. This year’s walk was a success as we received
over 200 pledges totalling more than $7,000.
It was exciting to see family and friends enjoy this beautiful park with its lush green grass and
adventurous nature trail. Some participants walked or jogged around the park while others
explored the nature trail. We were delighted that Marilyn Emery WCH President and CEO, as
well as many hospital staff members participated in the event.
I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank Flora Agnew (Past President) for her
tremendous support and guidance
Thank you all for supporting this annual event—this moves us closer to our $1 million pledge to
the WCH Capital Campaign. To those who did not get the opportunity to pledge or walk, you
missed out on a fun filled event. Don’t miss it next year!
Leonie Wizzard-Foster, Coordinator
Thanks to enthusiastic photographers, we have many more photos from our events than we can
fit into the newsletter. However, you can view them on the WCH website.
Go to: www.womenscollegehospital.ca/associationofvolunteers and click on “Photo Gallery”
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
Gwen Acker, Lois Hindmarsh,
Dianne Atay
Marilyn Emery, President & CEO;
Pat Fraser
Angela Robertson,
Peter Bogart
Edie Stein, Vicky McVean,. Elise
Hannan at Pride
Eager customers at the
Jewellery Sale
Ruby Brett, Karen Lord, Sarah Lord,
Angus MacDonald
Ralph Grose, Pat Fraser, Betty Mobbs,
Aurelia Abesamis, Lilian Strutt, Karen Lord
Erin Maloughney, Leroy Ennis,
Sumeet Makhija, Emily Emondson
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012
IN MEMORIAM
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nan Anderson on Friday, Oct 28, 2011.
Nan was a very involved member of our association and held various positions on Association’s
executive board.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Anne Steem, on December 12, 2011.
Anne was a lovely, gentle person and an active volunteer and Honorary Life Member. The
Association is grateful for her bequest, which will be put towards the Capital Campaign.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marjorie Strutt on February 18, 2012.
“I always remember Marjorie out on the floor in the Gift Shop– I never picture her behind the
check-out counter. She chaired the shop some years ago. The other vivid memories I have of her
are the craft and bake sale (she convened it too) and at the book counter at the Women’s Forum –
Joan Hill can talk about those early morning times. Marjorie was also very supportive of the
Association on a regular basis”…Darleen Bogart
“Marjorie was an amazing volunteer. The late Ivy Kreh, Marg Thomson, Marjorie, and I ran the
bookstore at the forum. Marjorie never said no to anything I asked of her. She loved the
children’s books so that was her special area. I can’t recall Marjorie ever complaining, She was a
great support to me when I convened the gift shop. It was so sad to see such a happy caring
person slip away”…Joan Hill.
Newsletter editor: Bea Chan
Email address for newsletter: [email protected]
Link for online edition: http:// www.womenscollegehospital.ca/associationofvolunteers
Contributors: Margot Algie, Darleen Bogart, Caroline Grose, Joan Hill, Aban Karkaria Sarah
Lord, Pat McGee,Davilon Wallace, Leonie Wizzard-Foster.
Photos courtesy of: Ruby Brett, Sarah Lord, Davilon Wallace, Michael Wong
Association of Volunteers, Women’s College Hospital,
76 Grenville Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2
Phone: 416-323-6180 • Fax: 416-323-7741 • Email: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER: SUMMER 2012