Contact: Jennifer
Kurczek
Community Relations Director
(920)361-5481
or jkurczek@partnershealth.org
Community Health Network (CHN) kicked-off National Volunteer
Appreciation week during “An Evening of Elegance” at the Berlin Knights of
Columbus on April 24th.
As more than 150 of CHN’s volunteers arrived
at the venue, they were greeted with nostalgia: dance cards were distributed
for use later in the evening. After cocktail hour concluded, Volunteer Services
Coordinator, Teri Meyer, welcomed guests and introduced the Rev. Harley Tretow,
who provided the invocation prior to dinner.
Following dinner, catered by CJ’s of Ripon, and numerous prize
drawings, Cathy Schmidt, member of the CHN Volunteer Services Council, gave an
overview of the group’s activities throughout the past year. Upon conclusion,
she introduced Craig Schmidt, CHN's President and
CEO, who shared his gratitude on behalf of the physicians and employees of CHN.
"I’d like to thank you all for
coming out this evening as Community Health Network honors you -- and the
contributions you provide to our employees, physicians, patients, residents and
visitors,” he said. “As Community Health
Network has evolved through the years, we've done so only because we've been
privileged to have the enthusiastic support of your volunteer team. For that,
we are eternally grateful.”
The program was then turned over to Tretow once again, to present the
2003 Human Services Award, which honors one individual, recommended by hospital
employees, peers and the general public, who has gone above and beyond the call
of volunteer duty for CHN Volunteer Services.
As last year’s recipient, Tretow presented Laura Chier with the 2003
Human Services Award. An obviously stunned Chier accepted the Award in front of
her peers and numerous family members and friends who discreetly arrived at the
event to share her accomplishment.
According to those who nominated her, Chier is "a person who always
loved working with the sick,” and even received training as a nursing assistant
and in physical therapy. She is “always willing to help others” and is “still
faithfully dedicated to her volunteer work.”
Chier has been part of CHN’s volunteer team
for more than 50 years – starting as a “Grey Lady” at
Other nominees for the Human Services Award included Charlotte Abel,
Bernadine Bahn, Irene Hochrein,
Joan Krause,
The recognition evening continued with music provided by “Just the
Two of Us,” setting the stage for those in attendance to dance their hearts
out.
Committed to helping others, the dedicated team of 221 active CHN
Volunteers provides nearly 900 hours of monthly service at
More information about volunteer opportunities at CHN is available by
calling Teri Meyer, Volunteer Coordinator, at (920)361-5522 or 1-800-236-1283 x
5522.
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