LEWISTON – Sisters of Charity Health System rounded up a good number of its adult volunteers for a recognition dinner “western-style” with all the fixin’s, including country western music, line dancing, cowboy hats, neckerchiefs, cactus plant gifts and a southwestern dinner menu. Door prizes rounded out the evening.

More than 160 of the health system’s 268 volunteers turned out for the festivities held during National Volunteer Week at Bates College in recognition of its volunteers and an outstanding donation of 49,300 hours of service during 2003.

Top senior leadership was present to honor the volunteers, including Jim Cassidy, president and CEO. “You, our volunteers, are truly a gift to our health system and to our communities? You are always there when we need you, helping us to deliver services and adding that very important personal touch.”

Also present to honor the volunteers was Kevin Healey, division leader/vice president of human resources, who remarked on the dedication and outstanding commitment that volunteers demonstrate every day in providing support services to patients, visitors and staff alike.

Joyce Paradis, CAVS, director of volunteer services, reflected on the extensiveness of volunteerism at Sisters of Charity, with volunteers involved at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, St. Marguerite d’Youville Pavilion, Good Shepherd Food Bank and the Grieving Children and Teens Program, a joint program shared by St. Mary’s and Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice.

Paradis also remarked on the longevity of some of their volunteers – two of whom are now 92, still active and have a combination of 71 years of service. “Our dedicated volunteers are truly a part of the fabric here at Sisters of Charity and help us live out our mission.”

Among those receiving pin awards were the following volunteers who logged varying levels of achievement as of Dec. 31, 2003:

14,000 hours: Laurianne Cormier and Dot Doyle, Lewiston.

13,000 hours: Marthe Rivard, Lewiston.

6,000 hours: David Turcotte and Murielle Turmenne, Lewiston.

5,000 hours: Lorraine Samson, Lewiston.

4,000 hours: Neil Francoeur, Lewiston.

3,000 hours: Gerry Cloutier, Lewiston; Louise Morgan, Greene.

2,000 hours: Amy Audet, Turner; Marlene Crawford, Mechanic Falls; Denise Dubois, Lewiston; Claire LaMore, Lewiston; Madeleine Marcotte, Lewiston; Jim Sullivan, Auburn.

1,000 hours: Ailene Cosgrove, Lewiston; Theresa Dion, Lewiston; Carmen Giguere, Lewiston; Romeo Giguere, Lewiston; Donna King, Lewiston; Connie Laverdiere, Lewiston; Susan Lawlor, Auburn; Beatrice Lenhart, Turner; Jackie McLellan, Lewiston; Mary Minigell, Poland; Donna Palmer, Oxford; Connie Pleau, Auburn; Theresa Sevit, Auburn.

500 hours: Anita Baribault, Lewiston; Mariette Bernier, Lewiston; Ed Boutennot, Lewiston; Anita Chamberlain, Lewiston; Silke Cormier, Clinton; Alexina Cyr, Lisbon; Barbara Doyle, Auburn; Rejane Gosselin, Lewiston; Donna King, Lewiston; Jeannette Lacasse, Sabattus, Carol Levesque, Durham; Jennifer Marcotte, Auburn; Sue Rodrique, Lewiston; George Rousseau, Lewiston; Jan Sites, Lewiston; Frank Steele, Rumford; Erlinda Timerlake, Sabattus; Joanne Tiner, Leeds.



100 hours: Cheryl Appel, Arrowsic; Valerie Denis-Atkins, Lewiston; Janice Baker, Lewiston; Rita Cassidy, Turner; Dorothy Charpentier, Lewiston; Peter Clifford, Lewiston; Stacia Cordwell, Oxford; Laurette Doyon, Lewiston; Leo Doyon, Auburn; Suzanne Doyon, Auburn; Elaine Dubois, Auburn; Jane Edwards, Lewiston.

Also, Bonita Gregoire, Greene; Crystal Hewitt, Turner; Trudy Hodgdon, Auburn; Tony Hodgdon, Auburn; Donna Lalonde, Lewiston; Peg Maguire, Auburn; Ann Mitchell, North Monmouth; Joanne Murch, Greene; John Norman, Turner; Connie Ouellette, Turner; Irene Plourde, Lisbon; Sandra Pomerleau, Lisbon; Claire Tardif, Lewiston; Sister Rene Turcotte, Lewiston; Louise Way, New Gloucester; Marilyn Weston, Lewiston; Sandra Wood, Lisbon.