The History of North Central District

In 1957 the Michigan Association of Hospital Auxiliaries created the North Central District (NCD).  The NCD is composed of the 20 most northern counties of the Lower Peninsula.

The North Central District is the second largest district in area in the MAHA. It stretches from Lake Huron on the east, to Lake Michigan on the west, to the Mackinac Bridge on the north, and to West Branch on the south.  There are 12 hospitals affiliated with the NCD, with approximately 2,188 auxilians/ volunteers.

ALPENA

The auxiliary meets nine times a year for general meeting with the executive board meeting two weeks earlier.  They have several very successful fund-raisers, plus the gift shop. Their biggest event is a Christmas Ball.  They usually raise over $30,000 dollars at this event.

CADILLAC

The auxiliary meets 11 times a year with no separate board meetings.  At Christmas time they have the “Lights of Love” sale.  The gift shop is the biggest moneymaker.

CHARLEVOIX

They meet 12 times a year with about 12-15 members at meetings.  They have between 80-100 active members. The Gift Shop is the big money producer.  They enjoy a picnic in July and a potluck dinner in December.  

CHEBOYGAN

They have 6 luncheon meetings a year with 55-60 members present.  The Gift Shop is a good moneymaker plus the “Tree of Lights” sale, from which a large profit is realized.  Another big fund-raiser is “Tag Day,” when auxilians stand on the street corner on a specific planned day (much like the Salvation Army), and to solicit donations for the hospital.  They make from  $3,000-4,000 with this event.

FRANKFORT

They have a board meeting every month with 25-30 members attending.  There is one general meeting in the spring when the awards, etc. are presented.  Some interesting ways of raising money are a Home Tour, and a book on Benzie County, which has raised over $30,000. 

GAYLORD

They meet every month, with the executive board and general membership together, and approximately 35-45 members present.  In addition to bake sales and the “Pink Awning” gift shop, they have a Dinner Dance in May. One of the bake sales is a “Choco-Mania” sale at which everything must have some chocolate in it!  At Christmas time, they have a “Cookie Walk,” which brings in approximately $1,000.
 

GRAYLING

The board meets every month with general meetings in December and in the spring. Approximately 15 members plus the board attend.  The auxiliary is run “by committee,” with various people on the board taking turns conducting the meeting and doing other jobs.  This method seems to be working well for them.  They have been doing this for 3-4 years. They have a big Golf Classic in the spring, Lights of Love at Christmas time, and they sell many, many pasties in the fall. This generates a lot of money, but is a lot of work.

NORTHPORT

They hold a summer picnic and a membership luncheon, that approximately 30 members attend.  The Gift Shop opened  over a year ago, and it is doing very well.  They hold a Charity Ball in December and raise $6,000 or more. They have an ongoing cookbook project, which continues to be successful.

MANISTEE

They hold 12 board meetings a year, and 6 general meetings sponsored by the hospital. One of the big money makers besides the gift shop is a Christmas Craft/Bake Sale/Raffle which brings in over $5,000.  People buy tables and only auxiliary members are allowed to participate.  The merchants help with prizes.  The auxiliary also has a “Tag Day” which also brings in a lot of money.

PETOSKEY

Ten Board meetings are held each year (no meeting in July and August), with about 12-15 members in attendance.  There is a Recognition Day and general meeting held in November, and a general meeting at the awards luncheon in April during Volunteer Week.  The gift shop is the biggest moneymaker raising over $75,000.  They also hold gold and uniform sales.  The auxiliary has pledged $300,000 over three years to the Capital Campaign for the enlargement and improvement of Northern Michigan Hospital.

TRAVERSE CITY

The Munson Medical Center Volunteers held 11 board meetings and two general meeting last year.  The gift shop provides almost all of their funds with an unbelievable $86,000 for the month of December 2002, compared to $73,000 during December 2001.  They held two, two-day jewelry sales and raised over $10,000 at each.  One was held at the hospital and one at the Munson Community Health Center. In hopes to get people to join, the volunteers marched in the Harbor Days parade in Elk Rapids.  They were not able to get into the Cherry Festival Parade.

WEST BRANCH

The board meets every month with between 20 and 25 attending.  They have redone their chapel with some help from the community.  They staff the Seton Center, which is a cancer center and a heart center.  They are both connected to the hospital. The auxiliary staffs a gift shop, and has a uniform sale.