Auxiliary salutes volunteers at dinner

Highlights of Southeast Missouri Hospital's annual recognition dinner included the announcement of the Ilena Aslin Service Award recipient and recognitions of auxilians who have reached service milestones.

The Ilena Aslin Auxiliary Service Award was established in 2004 to pay tribute to the dedicated service given to Southeast Missouri Hospital by Aslin and to perpetuate her spirit of service to others above self. This year's recipient of the award was Betty Heuring, an auxiliary member since she retired from nursing at the hospital in 1995.

Heuring has contributed 4,690 1/2 hours and served the auxiliary in many capacities. Her main focus is the gift shop, where she works two regular evening shifts and often three or four shifts a week.

"When the unexpected makes it impossible for another volunteer to work in the shop, Betty will drop whatever she is doing and be here in minutes," volunteer services director Marge Sullivan said. "Plus, she calls both the gift shop and the auxiliary office on days of severe weather and offers to come in to help, no matter how bad the roads."

Sullivan said Heuring keeps busy every second she's in the gift shop. "She gets down on her hands and knees and cleans out corners. She stocks. She sweeps. She even bought a hand [vacuum] for the shop with her own money and wouldn't let us reimburse her."

Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary member Betty Heuring, who has 4,500 hours of cumulative service, received the Ilena Aslin Auxiliary Service Award in recognition of her exemplary service. (submitted)

Milestones recognized

Of Southeast's more than 500 volunteers, 148 men and women who reached service milestones ranging from 100 to 12,000 hours were honored. Volunteers who have given the most hours of service include Madalen Tiffany with 5,000 hours; Ilena Aslin with 6,000 hours; Jean Devore with 6,500 hours; Maxine Goehring, Jerry Patrick and Anna Mae Rigdon with 7,500 hours; Teresa Golden with 9,500 hours; Leroy Mier with 10,000 hours; and Ruth Edwards with 12,000 hours.

Volunteers receiving pins for service milestones included Ava Allen, Dorothy Andersen, Charles Balsamo, Jerre Crites, Carolyn Downs, Jim Gloth, Barbara Johnson, John Perry, Betty Price, Doris Rodgers, Marti Strickland, Shirley Vance and Susan Winkler, all volunteering 100 hours.

Volunteers reaching 250 hour milestones were Barbara Barklage, Don Boeller, Judy Brown, Angela Beussink, Verna Cordia, Deanna Easley, Jan Gluesing, Carol Keppler, Pat Lamburth, Sandy Peek, Norm Robert, Pat Robert and Patti Unzicker.

Volunteers reaching 500 hours were Leo Amelunke, Marilyn Amelunke, Robert Blank, Jan Boeller, Earl Buerck, Norma Buerck, Phil Dodson, Glenda Farrow, Glenda Godwin, Marilyn Huttegger, Bob Lucas, Rita Lucas, Jeanette Patterson, Edna Pollard, Rose Quinn, Ellen Sattler, Lil Schreiner, Mildred Smith, Marge Sullivan, Eloise Terry and Joe Tygett.

Volunteers reaching 750 hour milestones were Pat Abernathy, Judy Bangert, Hilda Berghoff, Gaye Blank, Jim Brown, Dottie Cruce, Dorothy Crump, Wanda Darby, Barbara Douglas, Shirley Estes, Lorene Gross, Schirley Huey, Mary Ann Lewis, Mary Jane Maxwell, Jaunita Miller, Charlie Mungle, Barbara Rust, Virginia Schobey, Earlene Sokolowski, Donna Taylor and Patrick Taylor.

Volunteers reaching 1,000 hour milestones were Jane Boyd, Diane Brown, Norma Carter, Betty Cord, Betty Craft, Kathy Criddle, Wilma Ervin, Colleen Farrar, Alena Fels, Opal Gast, Paul Gerlach, Carolyn Goodin, Rosemary Logan, Jerry Poston, Sandy Shandy, Lillian Stahly, Gelena Stoffregen, June Stone, Nelson Stone, Dorothy Taylor, Teresa Vogelsang and George Wrape.

Volunteers reaching 1,250-hour milestones were John Bierk, Shirley Collins, Dick Eilers, Virginia Golden, Dorothy Haupt, Glenn Lohmann, Retha McManus, Mabel Schaefer and Melvin Schmidt.

Volunteers reaching 1,500 hour milestones were Carolyn Brant, Rosie Cooper, Dennis Depro, Edna Ruth Fischer, Evelyn Gass, Mary Gerlach, Lawanda Ice, Vicki Lane, Madeleine Launuis, Doris McMillan, Rhonda Parenteau, Peck Robert, Marilyn Turner and Jean Wetzel.

Volunteers reaching 2,000 hour milestones were Elda Barnes, Jane Grojean, Patricia O'Neill, Marjorie Sneed and Delores Streiler.

Volunteers reaching 2,500-hour milestones were Barbara Campbell, Harry LaFoe, Madline Hente, Duane McAllister, Thrya Messmer, Betty Smith, Betty Sprenger, Willa Stanford and Dorothy Wagner.

Volunteers reaching 3,000 hour milestones were Wanda Break, Margie Crites, Alene Matthews and Ruth Tinnin.

Volunteers reaching 3,500-hour milestones were Dolly Jewel and JoAnn Vogel.

Volunteers reaching 4,000-hour milestones were Inge Charek, Kathy King, Bob Matthews and Alta Turner.

Volunteers reaching 4,500 hour milestones were Sue Balsamo and Betty Heuring.

Other business

Southeast vice president Pat Bira accepted a check from the auxiliary for $70,000, the first installment of the auxiliary's three-year, $210,000 pledge toward the expansion and enhancement of Southeast's Emergency Services. Sullivan said the pledge "represents the devotion, education and hard work of our volunteers to support the expansion of hospital health care services to the people of our region. Our Emergency Services provides care to persons of all ages and from all backgrounds."

In other business, 2007 officers were elected. They are Barbara Campbell, president; Dorothy Taylor, vice president; Rosie Cooper, recording secretary; Rosemary Logan, corresponding secretary; and Jeanette Patterson, treasurer.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133