Sixty-three staff and volunteers were recognized for anniversaries ranging from 5 to 35 years at the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties’ Annual Staff and Volunteer Recognition Dinner recently. Over 200 staff, volunteers and friends of the VNA gathered to honor their colleagues and friends at the celebration, which was held at the Hampton Inn in Colchester.
Two staff members were honored for a remarkable 35 years of service: Patricia McGarry, RN, of the Adult Home Care team and Lisette Baxter, RN, of the Community Hospice team. Six staff joined the prestigious Quarter Century Club and were celebrated for 25 years of dedicated service: Allison Mercure, manager of Accounts Receivable; Donna LaFromboise-Perretta, site manager for the Prim Road Adult Day Program; Toki Eley, Director of Family and Children Services; Diane Bacon, RN, a pediatric high-tech nurse; Mae-Gene Zimmer, a Personal Care Attendant in the Long Term Care division; and Linda Alderman, for 25 years working with families at the Family Room Parent Child Center.
The VNA Richard H. Wadhams Award, the VNA’s highest honor, was presented to Bobby and Holly Miller. The Wadhams Award is given to individuals who generously provide outstanding support to VNA programs and participate in efforts to increase public awareness of home care and related services to our community.
VNA President and CEO Judy Peterson, RN, applauded the Millers for their decades of dedication to quality end-of-life care. The couple was among the group of visionary community leaders who, in 1991, founded the J. Warren and Lois McClure Vermont Respite House as a home-away-from-home to care for people with terminal illness. The Millers also played an instrumental role in helping the Respite House become a program of the VNA in 1997. This year the Millers have taken the lead on a project to build an expanded Respite House, which will increase the capacity of Vermont’s only Medicare-certified hospice home from 13 to 21 rooms, with the potential for more growth to meet future demand.
“Over the years, the Millers have generously donated to and volunteered for a large number of outstanding organizations in our community. The VNA could not ask for more dedicated supporters of the work we do to care for community members, especially those at the end of life,” Peterson said.
Holly Miller, who is a member of the VNA Volunteer Quarter Century Club through her work as a hospice volunteer and former Board member shared a story about her personal inspiration for becoming an advocate for quality end-of-life care. Her father, she said, became terminally ill before the days of hospice care. He wanted to die at home, surrounded by family, and also to spend his final months at a family camp. When his family said they didn’t know how to make that happen, he said, “I’ll show you.” It was in those final months, weeks and days, Holly Miller said, that her father “opened up like a flower” and she got to know him on a deeper level than ever before.
“I can say that it’s easier to say goodbye when you’ve had the chance to say a true hello,” she said. “I don’t think my life would be anywhere near as meaningful as it is today if my father hadn’t given us that gift.”
The J. Churchill Hindes Community Service Award, created to acknowledge a person or group who exhibits exemplary community service and support of the VNA, was presented to photographer Daria Bishop, of Williston. Bishop has been taking photos for the VNA for nearly 10 years; her images communicate the meaning of the VNA’s work caring for individuals and families across the lifespan, adding vibrancy to annual reports, newsletters, the website and so much more.
“Daria is so much more than a photographer. She takes the extra time to get to know our staff, our volunteers and our clients. She doesn’t just make us look good; she understands who we are and what we do,” said Ellen Kane, VNA Vice President of Development and Community Relations.
The VNA is a 109-year-old non-profit home health and hospice agency caring for people of all ages – from critically ill children to vulnerable families to adults who need rehabilitation, care for chronic illness, adult day services or end-of-life care. The VNA provides medically-necessary home and community-based care to individuals and families regardless of their ability to pay, serving over 5,000 individuals and families in Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties each year. The VNA is proud to be a funded agency of the United Way of Chittenden County.
Photo Credit: Heidi Brodtman
Picture 1): A portion of the 63 VNA staff and volunteers, who were recognized for anniversaries ranging from 5 to 35 years, pose at the Hampton Inn in Colchester, following the VNA’s Annual Staff and Recognition Dinner
Picture 2): Bobby and Holly Miller stand beside VNA President Judy Peterson after receiving the Richard H. Wadhams Award, the VNA’s highest honor.
Picture 3): Ellen Kane (left) presents photographer Daria Bishop with the J. Churchill Hindes Community Service Award, created to acknowledge a person or group who exhibits exemplary community service and support of the VNA.