Seton Northwest Volunteers
History of the
Seton Northwest
Volunteers
Sister Gertrude Levy
|
In 1988 when the opening of Seton Northwest Health Plaza came into view,
the need for volunteers became inevitable.
In May of that year Sister Gertrude Levy, Daughters of Charity, began
recruiting in parish churches in the Northwest area of Austin.
These churches included: St. Thomas More, St. Theresa, and St. Louis.
Throughout June, plans were made for the organization.
Sister Gertrude was name Seton Northwest Director of Volunteer Service.
On July 5 and 7, just five days after the actual opening of the Health Plaza,
meetings were held with those persons who would be volunteering.
|
On August 29, 1988, the new Seton Northwest Volunteers were put to work with
a brief orientation. Work began immediately in day surgery and the
hospitality desk.
The first general orientation was given on September 16, 1988 with
forty-five members present.
The membership eventually grew to sixty, the number needed to serve in
day surgery, the gift shop and hospitality desk in the health plaza.
The volunteers proudly sported their bright red uniforms
and served as hosts and hostesses for the dedication of Seton Northwest
Plaza on September 23, 1988.
October 10 found volunteers stocking the new gift shop and one week later,
October 17, 1988, the organization proudly opened the attractive shop in
the plaza lobby.
Activities began to increase and the volunteers were off to a busy start
as a full fledged organization.
The charter members numbered forty-five, with Pam Bauerkemper acting as President;
Jeanne Richards, President-Elect; Phoebe Denney, Secretary; and Muriel Persky, Treasurer. Having already served eleven months in these positions,
these four ladies, the first officers of Seton Northwest Volunteers,
were officially installed on May 12, 1989.
The first chairpersons were: Lois Owen, Gift Shop; Dorothy Sullivan,
Day Surgery; and Rosemary Reschenberg, Hospitality Desk.
The Seton Northwest Volunteers first fund-raiser, a plant sale, held on March 22 and
23, 1989, brought in a profit of $451.50.
The success encouraged the organization to sponsor several other fund-raisers
in the months that followed.
At the general meeting on January 16, 1990, the volunteers made their first
pledge of $50,000 to Seton Northwest Hospital.
By May 1992, after making three payments, $18,000 of the pledge was paid.
Seton Northwest Hospital admitted its first patient at 6:28 a.m. on
September 25, 1991.
Anticipating this opening, the volunteers increased its number to 170 members.
With the opening of the hospital and the move of the Volunteer Office to
the first floor of the Health Plaza, the gift shop was renovated.
The new shop opened on December 11, 1991 and was named "Petals and Presents."
On March 25, 1992, the volunteers opened Sprouts Cafe in the Health Plaza
at the location of a private restaurant that had gone out of business.
With this added income, the organization had completed its $50,00 pledge
and presented a check to the hospital on May 27, 1993.
On this same date, the volunteers created a Scholarship Fund with
the first installment of $1,000.
The Seton Northwest Volunteers made a new pledge of $150,000 to Seton Northwest Hospital
at the September 9, 1993, General Meeting.
The Seton Northwest Volunteers, founded in July 1988, is still growing
and maturing beautifully.
The services of these dedicated volunteers are very much needed and
appreciated by all patients, visitors and employees of Seton Northwest
Hospital.