Spirit of service: Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary salutes volunteers

Southeast Missouri Hospital recently held its Auxiliary and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, with the theme of "lighting the way to a better tomorrow." The dinner's highlights included announcing the winner of the Ilena Aslin Service Award, the presentation of a major financial gift to the hospital, and recognizing Auxilians who have reached service milestones. Folk singer Dale Haskell provided entertainment.

Service award

The Ilena Aslin Auxiliary Service Award for dedicated service went to longtime Auxilian Carol Koeppel this year. Presenting the award to Koeppel on behalf of the auxiliary, James W. Wente, Southeast Missouri Hospital's president and CEO, noted that Koeppel "demonstrates a 'can do' attitude. If you ask Carol to do a job, she does it -- and then some."

Since becoming a part of Southeast's Auxiliary in 1984, Koeppel has contributed more than 2,000 hours serving in numerous capacities. As co-chairwoman of the fund-raising committee and a member of the board of directors, Koeppel has helped raise significant sums that allow the auxiliary to support the hospital.

Koeppel's service began with the auxiliary's annual flea market. For the first Designer ShowHouse of Ideas she served as co-chair of the gardens committee. She also organized the annual recycled fashions and "my favorite things" sale. Koeppel chairs all three of the Auxiliary's popular plant sales, assists with open houses held by Southeast and volunteers for many other hospital events.

Marge Sullivan, director of Volunteer Services, said Koeppel "represents so many of our dedicated volunteers who give of themselves time after time in numerous capacities throughout each year to support the life-sustaining mission of Southeast."

Sullivan also praised the many volunteers who worked with the Designer ShowHouse. That project, she said, "has stretched the Auxiliary's muscles, tested our mettle and absorbed literally thousands of hours of service. We cannot express often enough or adequately enough our appreciation of these marvelous volunteers who give from their hearts."

Hospital given $36,500

The Auxiliary in 2003 pledged $200,000 to Southeast over a three-year period for the hospital's surgery expansion project. Auxiliary treasurer Dick Hammond presented Wente with a check for $36,500 to complete the second year of the Auxiliary's three-year pledge.

Service milestones

The Auxiliary honored volunteers who reached service milestones ranging from 100 to 15,000 hours. Those receiving pins for 6,000 hours of service or more were Jean Devore and Betty Wiist; Maxine Goehring, Ginger Beaudean and Jerry Patrick, 6,500 hours; Audrey McIntire and Shirley Waterman, 7,000 hours; Margaret Tunnell, 8,000 hours; Teresa Golden and Leroy Mier, 8,500 hours; Bruxie Norman, 9,000 hours; Ruth Edwards, 10,000 hours; Norma Sander, 15,000 hours.