NEWS

March 5, 2008

Thanks to Mary Armstrong Chapter IODE for Helping Strathroy Hospital Patients

Two members of the Mary Armstrong chapter IODE, visited Strathroy Hospital to present Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation with a cheque for $1,500 to help purchase new surgical equipment.

Photo (left-right) Susan McLean, SMGH Foundation CEO, Nancy Larocque, Mary Armstrong Chapter Regent and Mary Rajsic, IODE Chapter Hospital Convener.

The IODE chapter received a letter just before Christmas of last year, asking for donations to help buy the new equipment for the hospital surgical suites. The members were already discussing a donation they wanted to make to a healthcare cause, and decided that a donation to the hospital would be a great way to help a large number of people in the community.

“We collectively felt that donating to help purchase surgical equipment would help serve many patients at the hospital along with others in our community,” said Nancy Larocque, Mary Armstrong Chapter Regent. “We really feel that the money is well spent on surgical equipment.”

The letter sent in December, is part of an appeal SMGH Foundation is making to the community to help raise $200,000.00 to purchase new surgical instruments, sterile field tables, a ureteroscope, and a video system for laparoscopic procedures which allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive operations. This type of surgery allows patients to recover more quickly and to have shorter hospital stays.

So far, $114,874.74 of the $200,000 goal has been raised. The Hospital is hoping to purchase these important new surgical tools later this year.

“The IODE does many wonderful things in our community every year,” says Susan McLean, SMGH Foundation CEO. “I'm extremely pleased that the chapter has made this wonderful gift to help purchase new surgical equipment.”

The 21 members of the IODE chapter gather 6-8 times during the year to meet and hold fundraisers for children's education, health and other special initiatives. They have also donated to the Salvation Army, Women's shelter, and other local charities.

Their chapter fundraising events take place throughout the year and include garage sales, and the very popular marathon bridge tournaments, where pairs play other pairs in a show-down of card playing. One of the largest fundraisers for the chapter is a poorboy luncheon held in the fall.

Along with the many wonderful things the Strathroy IODE chapter does to help the community, they are also faced with the struggle to improve their membership numbers. This is an issue that many community groups have been faced with over the past few years with the ever changing family dichotomy, time constraints, and interest in chapter activities and events. There is also an issue of continued leadership secession as the group wants to continue moving forward in the coming years with its strong tradition of helping people in the community.

The chapter welcomes new faces and membership is open to any woman or girl who is interested in furthering the mission of IODE to improve the quality of life for children, youth, and those in need through educational, social service and citizenship programs.

Call Karen Reid Membership Secretary at 519-245-2597 if you are interested in joining the Mary Armstrong Chapter IODE in Strathroy.