Your Impact – A Message From Our Board Chair
Surviving Covid and its impact has been our dominant news for the past two years. Although we have always recognized our reliance on people – our staff, directors, volunteers, donors, patients using our health services and facilities, and beneficiaries of our programs, this year I wish to pay special tribute to Andrea Mitchell, Executive Director.
My own involvement with SRHT began at the request of Dr. Robert Haslam, who not only initiated many of our successful programs, but was a keen financial supporter. That was over 20 years ago and our budget was less than $ 100,00. Can’t do much with that these days. To my delight, I have watched the Trust grow. For many years, I wondered whether we would ever meet our strategic goals.
In 2012 Andrea Mitchell joined the Trust. Our fortunes changed. Andrea, committed to our Mission, provided the leadership we needed and undertook to lay the ground work for the achievement of the Strategic Plan and our Vision. This year, we celebrated her 10th anniversary as our leader.
She has established a wonderful working relationship with everyone in the communities along the Sheep River – Turner Valley, Black Diamond, Okotoks, Longview, Priddis and High River.
Did you know the Trust’s Mission is to raise funds to support Health and Wellness in our communities? There are so many aspects to wellness – physical, mental and spiritual for our children, youth, families and the elderly. Our Vision is to make a difference through volunteerism and philanthropy. Join us.
Together, we can continue to make a difference. How? Support our many initiatives: Radiothons, Photos with Santa, Avenue of Trees, Points of Light and numerous smaller third part fundraisers hosted by many supporting businesses in Okotoks and the Sheep River Valley – or Be a monthly Health Hero. There are many ways for you to become involved.
These fundraising activities are critical to maintaining healthy coffers and enabling us to support the increasing health and wellness needs of the Sheep River community.
The Board is pleased to welcome Shanon Maksymich of Black Diamond, who recently joined us to lead Fund Development. You will have an opportunity to meet her as we gear up for fall events.
This spring, we said goodbye to directors Richard Ellum and Tamara Smith-Deglow. Each made a memorable contribution to the committees on which they served. We shall miss them. Remember we are always looking for new board members. You will learn a lot about our community and have fun to boot.
Tania Willumsen, SRHT Board Chair
