OSWEGO, NY – Three longtime Oswego Hospital Auxiliary members, who volunteered an unmeasurable number of hours to the Oswego Health system, are stepping down from their leadership roles.
The three include Barbara Handley-Place, a member since 2000, who has served as auxiliary president between 2007 and 2014, along with secretary Marion Duplessis and treasurer Sheila Gurdziel, who have both been on the board for the past 12 years.
“We very much enjoyed working with the hospital and working with each other,” Gurdziel said.
Outgoing auxiliary president Handley-Place concurred. “I have loved working with this group of individuals, she said. “And, to work together and be a part of the growth of Oswego Health has been wonderful.”
Each May, known at Oswego Health as Healthcare Month, the auxiliary has traditionally donated $50,000 to the health system for projects that assist in providing exceptional healthcare services to the community.
In addition to these donations, the auxiliary has financially supported many other vital projects, including the updating of Oswego Hospital’s third floor nurses’ station, the installation of new televisions in patient rooms, the purchase of a step cross trainer for the Lakeside Heart Center and the development of a serenity room at Oswego Hospital, which offers family members a comfortable and private place to gather as a loved one ends their journey of life.
“We are so grateful to these three auxiliary members who have been so dedicated to local healthcare,” said Oswego Health President and CEO Ann C. Gilpin. “Through their operation of the hospital snack bar and 510 Café at the Fulton Medical Center, as well as the numerous uniform and books sales, plus the annual bazaar, they have raised funds to support many important services and we so appreciate all their time and efforts.”
The auxiliary’s signature fundraising event is its fall bazaar, held in October at Oswego Hospital.
The organization works toward the two-day bazaar throughout the year, which directly benefits the auxiliary’s healthcare initiatives.
Each of the retiring officers has played a significant role each year in the bazaar’s planning, and during the two-day event.
Although the leadership roles change within the auxiliary, the trio won’t be far away.
While they may be stepping down from their Auxiliary offices, they plan to remain on the board, attending the monthly meetings and continuing their support of Oswego Health.
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