Capturing a perfect October day amid tales of a pumpkin project sent across the county, St. Andrews Auxiliary held their All-Member annual meeting Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the old Boothbay Town Hall on the grounds of the Railway Village.

The historic building’s walls rang with the chatter of an excited membership. It was a strong turnout of volunteers who assist throughout St. Andrews medical facilities and volunteers who channel their energies into the newly relocated and enlarged St. Andrews Auxiliary Thrift Shop at the Meadow Mall.

The Auxilians had more than autumnal charm to be enthused about. The combined efforts of this all-volunteer organization were clearly highlighted. Scholarship was the star of the day! Scholarship Chair Linda Redman reported that the Auxiliary donated over $26,000 in scholarships to students receiving medical related training during the past fiscal year. An additional $14,000 was donated over the same period to the Tufts/LincolnHealth Program that supports training for doctors who later pursue a career in Maine.

St. Andrews Auxiliary supported 10 scholarships. Four of these were Fran and Don Hale Scholarships — a program founded by Fran Hale, a longtime Auxiliary member and early childhood educator, in 2011. The scholarship icon was fondly remembered for her generosity and volunteer days at the former St. Andrews Hospital in “Reflections on Fran Hale,” a presentation to the membership by Auxiliary Publicity Chair Carole Zalucky. (The Fran Hale presentation and other Auxiliary videos may be seen on You Tube — “St. Andrews Auxiliary,” thanks to the videography skills of Auxiliary board member Debbie Moorefield.)

Three scholarship recipients are currently enrolled at the Central Maine Community College/LincolnHealth Nursing school in Damariscotta. The program has been successful in training and keeping nursing professionals in the area.

Regional Director of Education Cathy Cole was on hand to emphasize the importance of the nursing school especially given the nationwide nursing shortage. She gave a close look into the training of the scholarship recipients starting with one of the earliest recipients, Jerie Phinney (currently activities director at St. Andrews Village), to a delightful video from current scholarship recipient, Riley Sullivan, a nursing student at the University of Maine.

There was more excitement in store at the gathering when Auxiliary treasurer Judy Boyes announced a $57,133 annual gift to LincolnHealth for facilities improvements at St. Andrews Village, for equipment for St. Andrews Campus and donations to the Tufts program and CMCC/LincolnHealth Nursing School.

In other news, Nominating Chair Irene Gerny presented a slate of officer candidates to begin a two-year term on the 2021-2023 St. Andrews Auxiliary Board of Directors:

Laura Zajdel, president; Carole McCarthy, vice president; Paula Endicott, treasurer; Kevin Bowler, recording secretary and Mary Lou Newstead, corresponding secretary. The membership voted in favor and everyone adjourned for a picnic style, fall luncheon of homemade sandwiches and cookies prepared by the Auxiliary Social Committee: Sally Eastwood, Laura Honey, Abbie Shaw, Susan Stapleton, Irene Fowle, Kevin Bowler and Linda Clapp, committee chair. Many thanks to everyone who helped with preparations on this fine Auxiliary day!

If you want to learn more about St. Andrews Auxiliary, talk to any of the members mentioned in this article or stop by the Thrift Shop for a membership form and join our efforts to support and keep our medical community strong. Follow us on Facebook (St. Andrews Auxiliary - Thrift Shop). Our address is St. Andrews Auxiliary, P.O. Box 202, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575.