Bob Berntsen Named Volunteer of the Year

A celebration was held Tuesday, April 17 to honor all the dedicated volunteers at Androscoggin Valley Hospital. Dozens of volunteers gathered at the annual recognition program held in the cafeteria at 4:00pm, with hors d’oeuvres and a complete dinner, prepared by Carl L’Heureux, Director, Food Services and his staff. Volunteers enjoyed being waited on all evening by AVH staff including, Diane Lysitt, Jeanine Gagnon, Clare and Leo Vallee and Dan Blais.

Service award pins were presented, and Bob Berntsen received the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award. Bob joined Volunteer Services in 2008, starting out as a greeter. Afer a few short months, he changed roles to assist with the large volume of confidential documents that needed to be shredded. In addition to his current shredding duties, he volunteers in Purchasing, helps out at the Auxiliary’s annual Spaghetti Dinner and at the Hospital Golf Tournament. He is at AVH nearly every day and has contributed 861 hours this year alone. 

Special thanks were given to Beth Isaacson who serves on the AVH Auxiliary Board of Directors and has chaired the Golf Tournament for the past ten years. An Impression of Care Walkway brick was purchased in Beth’s name honoring her ten years as Chairperson. Annemarie Platt, who also serves on the Auxiliary Board of Directors has been sewing AVH patches on teddy bears for over 20 years. In addition, she also comes in each Christmas Day and gives a teddy bear to every patient using her own funds. Nicknamed the “Teddy Bear Lady”, a brick was purchased in her name. It will be installed next month.

Groups recognized this year were: Chairpersons: Noella Bartoli, Spaghetti Dinner; Ron Fini, Auxiliary Rotating Arts Program; Linda Morris, Christmas Fair and Christmas Memory Tree. New volunteers include Kelly Baer, Jean Croteau, Pam Couture, John Elliott, Launa Keenan, Lucille Mainguy, Phyllis Morrissette, Angela Poulin, Rita Robitaille, and Brad and Sue Wyman.

Pete Gagne, Henry Hachez and Lorraine and Norman Lacroix have been going into AVH every month to fold and mail the Hospital newsletter. They have been doing this for many years. They also serve in other areas.

Pauline Tibbetts, Angela Poulin, Joan Merrill and Mike Neil represented the Volunteer Hospice program. They provide respite to families and bring much needed comfort to terminally ill patients.

Other recognitions went to: Yvette Hachez, who has volunteered as a Greeter for 12 years, serves on several committees and the AVH Auxiliary Board of Directors. Becky Mulaire, serves in Surgical Services, Warren Johnson and Theresa Lessard, Gift Shop, Blood Drive, and Special Projects.

Mrs. Edwina Keene, AVH Volunteer Services Coordinator, thanked all the volunteers for their dedication to and continued support of the Hospital. All of the women volunteers received a cardigan with the AVH logo and the men received a polo shirt with logo . Several gift items were raffled at the end of the program.