Summer is here and the living is easy. Perhaps for some, but most dedicated volunteers at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital are as busy as always, helping out wherever needed. If you believe in fostering a strong community health-care system perhaps you might be interested in joining the auxiliary. Lorrie Lamb, director of volunteers (789-0022 ext. 297), would be happy to meet with you to explain the many areas where your talents and abilities would be put to good use.

Branches Gift Shop needs to make room for their fall collection of Ezze Wear; take advantage of the 20 per cent off sale of summer clothing and pay no GST. Children’s wear by Hatley is also reduced by 20 per cent. Many talented volunteers enjoy knitting beautiful baby sets, sweaters and slippers to raise funds for the hospital. Check out their fine handiwork when shopping for a baby shower or unique gift for your favourite people.

The Hospital Auxiliary is very pleased with results of the fourth annual Dragonboat Festival and would like to thank the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Rotary Club for partnering with us in this successful community event.

Out-of-town teams included those from Clinton, North Bay, Oshawa, Pickering, Stratford, Sudbury and also one from the Bracebridge Hospital. Every year since the Huntsville Dragonboat began, the team from Curves has raised the most pledges ($9,000) and for the second year in a row, Arrowhead Camp leaders-in-training team won the team spirit award. Auxiliary members responsibilities were varied: registration, working at the waterfront, raffle tickets, breakfast, food booth, t-shirt sales, etc. The kids’ tent kept youngsters happy with colouring contests, story time and each child received a book from Books For Newborns, Muskoka. Participants and observers enjoyed the fun and camaraderie and tell us they are looking forward to next year.

Winners of the raffle are as follows: Stover collector doll, Mr. Harkness; edition of Windows Vista, J. Carvalho; Deerhurst Highlands green fees, T. Thompson; television, J. Wagner; patio fireplace, L. Boothby; canoe bookshelf, H. Howorth; loon wall hanging, D. McIlroy; Ron Henry Jewellers gift certificate, T. LeBlanc; pet photo studio gift certificate, B. Bainbridge; iPod shuffle, A. Gray; Dragonboat paddle, E. Vautour; fluted tote, W. Krohn; Jane Marshall Flowers gift certificate, R. Meyer; Pickerel Lake Lodge gift certificate, D. Jewell; travel bag, D. Leeder; Group of Seven calendar, C. Mundy; suede pillows, D. Arsenault; Whispering Pines green fees, R. Newell. Congratulations.

Marion White is an active member of the auxiliary even though she passed the 90-mark a few years ago. This past month she sold tickets for the Dragonboat raffle at our table in the mall. Marion was a volunteer at the Whitby Hospital before moving back to her hometown of Huntsville. Since joining the auxiliary in 1978 she has enjoyed volunteering in the gift shop, blood donor clinic, toll bridge fundraiser, helping out in emergency, diagnostic imaging, many times convening large garage sales at her home, convener of tag day and was corresponding secretary for several years.

In 2000 Marion was presented with a Huntsville Auxiliary Life Membership. To quote Marion, “Receiving OHAA Provincial Life Membership in 2003 was the icing on the cake.”

For the past 11 years Marg McEachern has been a faithful and committed in-hospital volunteer transporting patients throughout the hospital. Marg worked 25 years at HDMH in housekeeping and since retirement has enjoyed having time to help others. We are sorry to hear she has not been well and send our very best wishes to Marg as we look forward to meeting her in the hospital halls again soon.