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The Partners of Moundview Memorial Hospital & Clinics, previously known as the Hospital Auxiliary, was formed in 1958 under the direction of Marcia Weihe, wife of Dr. Arthur Weihe.  Mrs. Weihe met with nearly 40 women’s groups and helped recruit over 200 members for the auxiliary to benefit the new hospital that was opening in 1959. 

 

The auxiliary held fundraisers including smorgasbords and ice cream socials for the new hospital. They also recruited volunteers to clean floors, paint, wash windows, and sew special linens and drapes prior to the hospital opening its doors. Two of the group’s original members from 1958, Ida Ashworth and Helen Lowe, remain active members.  

 

Today the organization is open to both men and women. Over the years, this dedicated group has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the hospital for items ranging from medical equipment to building renovations such as the hospital’s meditation room.

 

In recognition of their 50^th Anniversary, Partners are planning a year-long celebration through July 2009. Their current plans include a rotating display of photos in the hospital lobby, each featuring one decade of the past 50 years. In September they will serve pie and ice cream to members and guests at their regular monthly meeting in remembrance of the many ice cream socials the group held.  The organization’s Christmas luncheon will include a skit about the auxiliary’s early years when the members cleaned the new hospital to prepare it for its opening. 

 

Partners are also planning a new fundraiser in honor of their anniversary on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Cedar Shack from 7 – 11 p.m. Tentative activities include music by Maggie Mae and band, 50/50 raffle and paddles (with half going to the winner and half to Partners), silent auction featuring theme baskets, a possible pie and ice cream social, and other prizes. Make sure to mark your calendar for this event. 

 

Myrna Garnett wrote a poem about the Partner’s 50 years which was read at the organization’s annual meeting in July and follows below.

 

The Hospital Auxiliary

It has been 50 Years

Who remembers names

of those first volunteers?

Weihe, Polivka, Hollman, Stormoen,

Roseberry’s Ashworth’s and Sauer

To name just a few

Please chime in with others

Remembered by you!

 

These ladies of the area answered the call

When a hospital was built here

For one and for all

With tasks of making a building much more

Than bricks and mortar

And, of course a front door

“How can we help? What needs doing?”

Was the heartfelt response

and they were not fooling!

 

Windows were cleaned

Floors brought to a shine

Curtains were sewn with cloth of the time

Some became Aides

To the nurses and patients

Some served in the laundry,

housekeeping or kitchen

 

Some recruited help of churches and others

To become bakers or servers at community socials

Cutting pies and cakes, scooping ice cream

Raising funds for equipment

Of the hospital scene

 

They gave of their talent

They gave of their time

To better this area’s health

and today it continues by you who have followed

Being part of this community’s “WELL-th”

 

Now PARTNERS you are named

And partners you are

In keeping this hospital

Right up to par

 

Many “THANKS” to the Auxiliary Ladies

For starting a trend

And “THANKS” to you PARTNERS

For not letting it end!