70 years of service
Weirton Medical Center Auxiliary applauded during National Volunteer Week
SEVEN DECADES OF LENDING HELP, SUPPORT — As part of the observance of National Volunteer Week, Weirton Medical Center applauded members of the WMC Auxiliary, which is marking 70 years of service to the hospital and community. On hand for the Monday luncheon attended by representatives of WMC were, seated, from left, auxiliary members Barbara Hall; Vivian Weigel, assistant treasurer; Elda Weekley, recording secretary; Sondra Weigel, president; Domenica Malloy, corresponding secretary; Lola Starvaggi; Dolores Krinock; and Joan Hawrot; and standing, Susie Collins; Florence “Flo” Jonczak; Diane Bond; Samantha “Sam” Joyce, human resource generalist; John Frankovitch, WMC president and CEO; Sue Ball; Cathy Colabrese; Paula Billick; Mary Lou Batcho; and Barb Visnic. -- Janice Kiaski
THANK YOU — A luncheon Monday at Weirton Medical Center was an opportunity for hospital officials to express appreciation for the dedication of members of the WMC Auxiliary that has been in existence for 70 years. Members of the auxiliary with the most years of service — Florence “Flo” Jonczak, second from left, 38 years, and auxiliary President Sondra Weigel, second from right, 33 years — join with hospital representatives, from left, John Frankovitch, WMC president and CEO; Samantha “Sam” Joyce, human resource generalist; and Dave Artman, COO. -- Janice Kiaski
AUXILIARY GIFTS — Elda Weekley, recording secretary for the Weirton Medical Center Auxiliary, wears a corsage and holds a gift tote filled with items and presented in appreciation of the group’s 70th anniversary. -- Janice Kiaski
SEVEN DECADES OF LENDING HELP, SUPPORT — As part of the observance of National Volunteer Week, Weirton Medical Center applauded members of the WMC Auxiliary, which is marking 70 years of service to the hospital and community. On hand for the Monday luncheon attended by representatives of WMC were, seated, from left, auxiliary members Barbara Hall; Vivian Weigel, assistant treasurer; Elda Weekley, recording secretary; Sondra Weigel, president; Domenica Malloy, corresponding secretary; Lola Starvaggi; Dolores Krinock; and Joan Hawrot; and standing, Susie Collins; Florence “Flo” Jonczak; Diane Bond; Samantha “Sam” Joyce, human resource generalist; John Frankovitch, WMC president and CEO; Sue Ball; Cathy Colabrese; Paula Billick; Mary Lou Batcho; and Barb Visnic. -- Janice Kiaski
THANK YOU — A luncheon Monday at Weirton Medical Center was an opportunity for hospital officials to express appreciation for the dedication of members of the WMC Auxiliary that has been in existence for 70 years. Members of the auxiliary with the most years of service — Florence “Flo” Jonczak, second from left, 38 years, and auxiliary President Sondra Weigel, second from right, 33 years — join with hospital representatives, from left, John Frankovitch, WMC president and CEO; Samantha “Sam” Joyce, human resource generalist; and Dave Artman, COO. -- Janice Kiaski
AUXILIARY GIFTS — Elda Weekley, recording secretary for the Weirton Medical Center Auxiliary, wears a corsage and holds a gift tote filled with items and presented in appreciation of the group’s 70th anniversary. -- Janice Kiaski
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WEIRTON -- Seventy years of service is a milestone that didn't go unnoticed during National Volunteer Week for one local organization.
The Weirton Medical Center Auxiliary -- its membership once boasting a roster of 175 -- was applauded by hospital officials during a luncheon Monday that included a time of reflection and review along with gift packs of gratitude for the members' commitment to Weirton Medical Center and the community.
"Seventy years of service, that's such a rare thing," commented John Frankovitch, WMC president and CEO, in the midst of 16 auxiliary members on hand for the event attended by Dave Artman, COO, and Samantha "Sam" Joyce, human resource generalist, who helped organize the festivities.
"Seventy years of anything is such a rare thing, and I know we talk a lot about what the auxiliary used to look like when there were say 120, 130 members, but the reality is it's almost, to me, more special sitting here with you today than it was with 130 members because the dedication that you all show, that you keep coming even though it's a small group, just speaks volumes as to why the auxiliary is so integral to what we do, and it's so important what we do, and you're the face of Weirton Medical Center -- you really are in a lot of ways," Frankovitch said.
"I can't thank you enough. We just really can't thank you enough for what you do -- don't ever think that because there's not a lot of you, that it doesn't matter, because it matters so, so much. It really defines who you are so thank you," Frankovitch added.
"Thank you for all you do, and it's an honor to plan this event and thank you for your service to the hospital," commented Joyce, who greeted auxiliary members as they arrived, presenting them with a WMC tote filled with items, including a gift card. She also gave members corsages.
"It's so nice seeing you all here at the hospital," chimed in Artman. "You could stay home and be relaxing and be retired and doing what you want to do, but you choose to come here and you really do bring this element of caring when you're here, and it's important," Artman continued. "We see you around the hospital, and we're just so appreciative," he said.
The WMC Auxiliary, led by longtime President Sondra Weigel, has 20 members in 2023.
Aside from her they are Sue Ball, Peggy Barbber, Mary Lou Batcho, Paula Billick, Diane Bond, Cathy Colabrese, Susie Collins, Kalpana Gupta, Barbara Hall, Joan Hawrot, Florence Jonczak, Dolores Krinock, Corresponding Secretary Domenica Malloy, Lola Starvaggi, Dorothea Stakias, Barbara Visnic, Recording Secretary Elda Weekley, Assistant Treasurer Vivian Weigel and Joan York.
Sondra Weigel and Jonczak have the longest years of membership with Weigel at 33 and Jonczak, 38.
Membership has declined radically, Weigel regrettably reported in sharing some statistics.
"I went back through some of my books and in 2006, we had 95 members. In 2010, it went down to 73. Then in 2013, we had 64. And in 2023 we have 20," said Weigel, who has served consecutively as president since 2010 but had that position as well from 1996-98.
The first president of the auxiliary was Mrs. Anthony Battaglia; the second, Mrs. Carl Ferguson; and the third, Mrs. George Anas.
The W.Va. State Auxiliary Association leadership had WMC Auxiliary representation with Sondra Weigel having served from 2008-2010.
"I enjoyed it and met many nice people all over the state because we had to travel all over the state," Weigel reminisced.
The state association's first president, though, was Mrs. Andrew Gould, 1951-1953; then Mrs. Lou Battaglia, 1956-1958; Mrs. M.R. Marsh, 1970-1972; and Betty Coen from 1994-1996.
Weigel speculated that the first two presidents of the state association were from Weirton and were instrumental in getting the auxiliary established at the former Weirton General Hospital, but also statewide.
Frankovitch gave the members a brief update on improvements in the works at the Colliers Way facility, noting the next phase of construction involves the redesign and rebuild of the G.I. lab which will moved and once the G.I. lab is completed, Dec. 15, the reconstruction and expansion of the emergency department begins.
The auxiliary will be holding its annual awards dinner in July, an occasion at which leaders make a donation to the hospital that through the years has been in the thousands of dollars, representing money generated from various fundraisers.
The auxiliary supports the hospital gift shop where Roberta Ziemer is its manager and Cindy Ferrari serves as assistant manager.
In addition to running the gift shop, the auxiliary traditionally has seven fundraisers a year -- two Robert's Medical Uniform sales; three $5 jewelry sales; and two book sales.
At one time in its history, the auxiliary had 175 members, not to mention a healthy presence of as many as 75 "volunteens" who helped with the organization's activities.
Founded in 1953, the auxiliary made its hospital and community presence known in varied ways, through support of the hospital's needs to "Mrs. Bubbles" presentations in schools that taught children the importance of hand-washing and bicycle rodeos that provided safety tips and helmets.