Long Time, No Blog!

Hello to All of our Wonderful Volunteers!

I know that it has been a very long time since we used the blog to comunicate. But I think it is time to bring it back to life! Don't you?

I will be using the blog to post volunteer activities such as, meetings, outings, cookie baking, etc. Also to share encouraging stories from our line of work.

If you would like to post anything, please let me know. It can be our own little social network! :)

Here is a picture that is long over due!

Hello to all of our Volunteers! This is a test entry to make sure the blog is up and running! :)

Tis' The Season

Mark your calendar for Thursday, Dec. 18th and Monday, Dec. 22nd.
This is truly my favorite time of the year - the food, family, decorations, giving and receiving of gifts, and on-and-on. It is a tremendous blessing to be in a position to help others in need. Based off your ideas, I have coordinated some fun and rewarding activities that I hope you will join in to participate to bring some joy and light to the sick and needy.

CAROLING: Monday, Dec. 22nd, 4:00 to 5:30PM - Let's go caroling at a few Norman/Noble Nursing Homes with Heartland Staff! Feel free to dress up in Xmas colors, wear your Santa/elf hats, and bring jingle bells.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY:

We will be adopting a family of 4 in Oklahoma City through Integris. Our "adopted" family will be thrilled. The best part is that we have the opportunity to personally deliver the gifts to them. The wrapping and visit to the family will take place during our Volunteer Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 18th, 5:00PM. Please let me know if you're able to donate wrapping paper/ribbon.

5:00 to 5:45PM - Wrapping of gifts
5:45 - 7:00PM - Delivery of gifts to family

See below for gift suggestions/family wishes. In addition, we'd like to collect pantry items or canned goods. Please leave a comment or email me at 4638officestaff7@hcr-manorcare.com, listing (1) the gift you'd like to donate and (2) the family member it's for on this post. You can do so by clicking the comment button at the end of this post. You can also view what others have signed up to donate by reading the comments. The goal is 2-3 gifts per person. This will ensure that every family member gets around the same # of gifts and avoid duplicate gifts.
GIFT DONATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 5PM ON THURSDAY, DEC. 18th!!!

Grandmother, 55 yrs
Gift suggestions: short socks, small earrings, shoes (6.5W or 7)

Dad, 29 yrs
Gift suggestions: clothes, eye glass lenses (not frames)
Sizes: Pants - 31x30; Shirts - L

Mom, 33 yrs
Gift suggestions: PJ's, short socks, perfume
Size: 4X

Child, 5 yrs
Gift suggestions: clothes, My Little Pony, anything Princess, Beginner Books
Size: Kids 10-12

Let's take advantage of these opportunities to bring the joy of Christmas to others! We'll carol to our patients/others at the nursing homes and Adopt-A-Family. Santa will surely put you on his "nice list". =). Merry Christmas to you and your families! We appreciate all you do!

It's Time for Your Volunteer Annual Inservices/Education!

Only for volunteers who started before January 1, 2008.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

8AM - 12PM

(may get done early, especially Level 1: Administrative/Special Project volunteers)

Please make it a priority to attend because this will be the only day to complete Annual Inservices. This date is not a game-day and Heartland staff have agreed to come in on the weekend to present information.

It has been a requirement that all volunteers must complete a number of Inservices/Education annually in order to continue volunteering. This is crucial to patient and work safety, compliance, and to continue providing the best quality of care! Material will be presented to help you stay compliant with state health regulations, corporate compliance, and patient and work safety, policies, and procedures. This is similar to the material that you were given during your volunteer training, but some of you have indicated that your training was quite different than what has been outlined by the company due to various Volunteer Coordinators in the past. Therefore, we will also go over the important basics such as proper documentation, visit frequencies, various Volunteer levels, etc.

Please feel free to contact me if there are any extenuating circumstances that will prevent you from attending or questions.

August Volunteer Meeting

This month's Volunteer Meeting will be somewhat of a social event. However, we will also be discussing some important issues and strategies concerning our volunteer program and Heartland!

Venue: Maggie Moo's

Address: 1200 12th Ave SE, Norman, OK (off 12th & Lindsey)

Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM (stop by even if you'll be late)

First 5 volunteers to get there will have their ice-cream paid for!

Come spend a short evening to enjoy ice-cream and socializing.

Please read your Newsletter that you should receive this week for some very important announcements concerning the date for mandatory Annual Inservices/Continuing Education, Spa Room, Bowling League, and more!

July's Post

I apologize that the website was not updated for July. Please continue to check regularly because there will be several updates for July. It will not have everything that i send in emails or newsletters, but will highlight the important things, so please also read your newsletter.

Reminder: Volunteer notes/clerical logs are due by the end of the month!

Announcing 2 BIG Events: Summer Sizzler and Memorial Service

Volunteers are needed on all days of June 23-27 in the mornings and afternoons. Please contact the office or refer to your June newsletter for details and to sign up to help.

Summer Sizzler is a 6 week Marketing Blitz that will highlight a differenct topic/service that Heartland offers to clients that sets us apart from other hospices. The volunteer program will be the focus during this week. Our Marketing Team needs volunteers to accompany them in their visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and referral sources in the community.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Answering questions
• Talking about your volunteer experience
• Being a representative of Heartland
• Helping serve refreshments if needed

______________________________________________________________

You are invited to attend and participate a special Service of Remembrance.
We will honor and celebrate the lives of those whom we have served together over the past year.

Memorial Service

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

First Christian Church - 4pm

Volunteers are needed to help the day of service from 3pm to 6pm.

Please vote for your favorite name for our Volunteer Newsletter on the right side. Take this opportunity to give your input! Thank you for all the submissions.

Volunteer Lunch-Out

On Tuesday, May 27th, there will be an opportunity for volunteers to get together for fellowship. We will also welcome some of our new volunteers, so please welcome them as well if you see them. For those who have access to email, you should be receiving an online Evite soon. Join us at Schlotzsky's Deli on W. Lindsey Street at 12:00pm on May 27th! Then, we will head to the Snow Cones stand on Lindsey for an afternoon treat. I hope to see you there so we can all get to know each other better.

"Spring Into Recruitment"

Get those names turned in. The last day of our campaign to recruit new volunteers is May 31st, if you want to qualify for the prizes.

PRIZES!!!
۰ A raffle ticket for every potential volunteer that contacts me with your name or for turning in a contact! Drawing is for $20 to Outback Steakhouse.

۰ The volunteer that recruits the most potential volunteers who complete training and orientation will win $30 to Charleston’s!

Nursing Home Week - May 11th to 16th

In addition to the Volunteer Opportunities listed on the right margin, our Marketing/PR team needs lots of help with celebrating Nursing Home Week! Perhaps you can squeeze this in if you visit patients at any of the locations. Please call the office/email if you can help with any of these events:

Mon 5/12 - Ice Cream Sundaes @ Brookhaven, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Tues 5/13 - Cookies @ Whispering Pines, 3:00pm - 4:30pm

Wed 5/14 - Cookies @ Cedar Creek, 10:00am - 11:30am
Wed 5/14 - Ice Cream Floats @ Moore Nursing Home, 3:00pm

Thurs 5/15 - Cookout @ Holiday Heights, 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Fri 5/16 - Ice Cream Floats @ Noble Health, 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Thank you for your time and assistance! Look out for your May newsletter in the mail!

Volunteers Appreciation Banquet

Mark it on your calendar! April 30, 2008

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Moore Norman Technology Center (Franklin Road Campus)

Room A200

4701 12th Avenue NW

Norman, OK 73069

The staff at Heartland Hospice of Norman and myself want to let you all know how much we value you as a volunteer. All of you have stepped out of your comfort zone and given your time to serve our patients and our community. We also appreciate all of you who have helped out our office with special projects and have stepped up even on short notice. Thank you so much!

To show you our appreciation and in celebration of "you", we hope you will join us at this year's banquet. The theme is "Cherishing Each Moment With You!" We will be joined by special guest speaker, Sharon Rentzel. She is the President of the Junior League of Norman, a nationwide and prestigious volunteer organization for women. You will be inspired by her words and passion for volunteerism. In addition, we will have a live musical performance just for you. Dinner will be served and gifts will be poured.

Invitations have been mailed! Please RSVP by April 21st. If you have not received your invitation, please contact the office or email.

Hope to see you there! You don't want to miss this!

Cast Your Vote...We Want to Know!

Every year, Heartland Hospice advertises our services and organization through various avenues. One in particular is through a billboard on Robinson Street. We are wanting your feedback on the effectiveness of this particular billboard, located on Robinson Street (close to US77). We would also like to know what days are the least busiest for our volunteers. This will help us with scheduling events and meetings. Will you please take a few seconds to cast your vote through our poll on the right side? If you have other comments about this, please feel free to contact us.

Reminder: Turn in your volunteer notes and clerical logs!

Wanted!!!
We also still need a few more hands and bodies to help with baking and bagging cookies for "Dr's Day!" Let's show them how much their appreciated. Look at the Upcoming Events/Opportunities section for more info.

Look out for your April Newsletter in the mail!

Hello Goodbye

My name is Christine Yeo. I am so blessed and excited to be the new Volunteer Coordinator! I have been training with Sara Proctor for the last two weeks. I am eager to work with all of Heartland Hospice's Norman volunteers, as I have been familiarizing myself with the volunteer files.

You will notice some upcoming developments in the next few months in terms of communication, activities, and leadership/involvement opportunities for you, our volunteers.

Please feel free to stop by the Norman office or contact me. I look forward to getting to know each of you!

Habitat for Humanity!!!

We helped build a house...

November Volunteer Meeting

We're thankful for the gift of hospice!!!

Alzheimer's Walk in Bricktown!

Heartland Hospice Staff & Volunteers joined Arbor House Reminisce for the Alzheimer's Walk in Bricktown! It was a lot of fun as well as a great experience for all of us!

October Volunteer Meeting

Our volunteer meeting on October 16th at 4:00 pm went great! We learned lots of great facts about Breast Cancer from our guest speaker from the Susan G. Komen Foundation! If you would like more information go to www.komen.org.

August Meeting

Topic: Stress Management

"We learned how to be stress free!"

September Volunteer Mtg

Our September Meeting on the 20th at 10:00am was very informative! We had a guest speaker from the Alzheimer's Association come speak about Alzheimer's Awareness and the Memory Walk. After the meeting we were really ready and excited for the walk on the following Saturday!

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is a special kind of care designed to provide comfort care as well as spiritual and emotional support for people in the final phase of a terminal illness. Hospice focuses on enhancing the quality of life, rather than the length of life. It neither hastens nor postpones death; it affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. The hospice program stresses human values that go beyond the physical needs of the patient. Hospice ensures that patients spend their final days in dignity and comfort.