4/19/07

CMH honors its valuable volunteers with luncheon
By Cathy Gilbert

CATHY GILBERT/Manning Times

Clarendon Health System Chief Operating Officer Sue Shugart and Chief Executive Officer Edward Frye, honor volunteer Carl Farley for his accumulated 2,421 hours of service to the local hospital. Farley is one of just a few of the volunteers who are men.

There is no doubt that this is a community that thrives and survives on volunteerism.

Nowhere is that more evident and more deeply appreciated than at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.

With more than 7,000 hours given in 2006, CMH’s devoted cadre of volunteers, almost all women, give the equivalent of four full-time employees, all without asking for a single thing in exchange.

To try and give thanks for their devotion, the hospital, along with volunteer coordinator Scherrie Cogdill, members of the senior management staff and department heads celebrated their volunteers with a lovely spring luncheon on Friday, April 13.

Nearly 75 people were in attendance to honor the volunteers with words of praise, small gifts, certificates and roses.

“Your beautiful smiling faces make us realize how much you are appreciated,” said Chief Executive Officer Edward Frye. “Your time devoted to making our hospital a better place has a monetary value of nearly $200,000 from the hours you give. That’s like four full-time employees! We couldn’t do it without you.”

Following a delicious salad lunch catered by Brenda Baker, a keynote address was given by Richard Cameron, a 36-year veteran of the DuPont Chemical Company, where he worked in the human resources department. He is also pastor of the New Life Christian Church, where he has distinguished himself as minister, mentor, counselor and coach.

“This hospital is blessed with the gift that you as volunteers are,” he noted. “The greatest gift you give is that you are a seed of God. Your gifts have brought you to Clarendon Memorial as you willingly make the choice to give your gift of service.”

From a total of 4,800 lifetime hours given by Mary Sheley, to Rhett Barrett’s overall high for 2006 of 600 hours, each volunteer was recognized by name and called to the podium to be recognized.
The volunteers, represented by Barbara Ardis, gave special thanks to Human Resources Director Glenda Duke for her leadership over the past years. Until recently, Duke oversaw the volunteer program until those responsibilities were transferred to Cogdill.

Hugging Mary Sheley, who volunteers in her office, Duke said, “Mary has become my second mother and is just so completely special to us. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

The love and admiration was felt throughout the gaily decorated room. CMH truly does love its volunteers. Perhaps a Rainer Rilke quote on the day’s program said it best: “This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really live: the more they give, the more they possess.”