The Boothbay Region Health and Wellness Foundation has gone from upstart to institution in two short years.

Founded originally in the battle to halt the closing of St. Andrews Hospital and emergency room, the foundation has continually broadened its scope while maintaining its focus on health.

While the foundation is still at the forefront of the fight to retain and reclaim healthcare services on the Boothbay peninsula, it has also launched a series of initiatives to help residents stay healthy and become more engaged in their own health.

At its second annual meeting on Monday, Sept. 29, the foundation reviewed its past year’s successes, its plans for the coming year and also raised the possibility of an alternative healthcare system for the peninsula.

Through it all, Foundation President Patty Seybold and other board members asked local residents to join the group’s efforts.

Margaret Jones Perritt reviewed the year’s accomplishments, from its successes with the Department of Health and Human Services to its informational sessions, wellness programs and volunteer efforts.

Relative to the ongoing Certificate of Need process, Perritt said of the community’s response: “We were brilliant. We know our voices were heard in the first hearing and we are confident our voices will be heard this time.”

Seybold outlined the foundation’s planned projects for 2015, chief among them: the ongoing effort to replace skilled nursing beds lost when St. Andrews and Miles Memorial Hospital merged.

“We need a strong voice at the table,” Seybold said. “As many of you know, there are many people who have not been able to recuperate or even be treated locally.”

This year, subcommittees will also focus on programs related to behavioral health and substance abuse, healthy families and kids, and holistic health, in collaboration with other local nonprofits and healthcare providers.

“How much emphasis we can dedicate to these programs depends on how much energy we can gather for them,” Seybold said.

She said the foundation has also applied for grants to support other projects, such as a senior social worker and a 24-hour health safety net, and is working with other local nonprofits to locate a space for a senior center.

Board members then provided brief updates on ongoing programs.

Ira Machon, of the Awesome Seniors/Thriving in Place committee, described the success of the foundation’s Walk at the YMCA program, which attracted 102 walkers last year.

“Some who had to hang on to the rail are now not using the rail,” Machon said. “People who started with walkers are no longer using them.”

June Phillips recounted in detail her recent illness and the various ways her experience typifies the problems many in the community face.

“I believe my story illustrates the issues my committee is trying to address,” Phillips said. “There are a lot of hurdles to staying at home.”

Phillips, who volunteers for the foundation and FISH, encouraged other seniors to become involved in service to others.

“We need a coordinated senior-to-senior volunteer program,” Phillips said.

Dr. Stephen Cook, who served as a physician in St. Andrews ER until retiring this year, described a patient empowerment study group that he will lead, which begins Oct. 7 at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library.

“I went though the whole sad saga and I couldn’t say much as an employee,” Cook said. “Now I’ve channeled some of my anger and frustration into something positive to help the community.”

Jerry Homer, a former hospital administrator, outlined the national and local problems plaguing healthcare.

“We trusted the system to do what’s best for us,” Homer said. “What we have now is not a healthcare system but a diseased management system that keeps us from dying but sick enough to continue to use the healthcare system.”

After recounting the problems, Homer hinted at a ongoing foundation effort to recapture the local system.

“We have been working largely under the radar to create an alternative healthcare system in this community that offers a superior competitive model of health services,” Homer said.

He said the group has had preliminary discussions with some national firms and is still looking for the right mix to serve the community. The foundation envisions hiring “dedicated primary care physicians who will work under the direction and control” of the local community.

After the meeting, Homer said he would be able to provide more details in the next few weeks.

Pam Reed summarized the foundation’s financial status and said the nonprofit’s IRS Form 990 and audit are available for public perusal on its website (corporate documents).

In closing the meeting, Jane Good explained her own continuing interest in the Foundation and asked community members to step forward to help.

“I could not not do something,” Good said. “When you find a community you truly love, you have to give back.”