Jenine C. Ouillette/Special to the Eagle

Philip Egizio, on left, presented Peggy Aurori with the Marco Healthcare Center Auxiliary's Volunteer of the Year Award, and is pictured holding the MHC Auxiliary award plaque where Aurori's name will also be imprinted. Egizio was accorded the privilege of presenting the award this year (and in past years) as the Auxiliary Volunteer who donated the most hours (11,000) in 2007.

Jenine C. Ouillette/Special to the Eagle

Philip Egizio, left, accepts his 11,000 Hours Award pin from Jack Patterson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Marco Healthcare Center.

Jenine C. Ouillette/Special to the Eagle

Brian Settle, Chief Human Resource Officer of NCH Healthcare System, is pictured telling the MHC Auxiliary volunteers they're doing a wonderful job, and thanking them for everything they do.

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Hugs and smiles set the tone for the Marco Healthcare Center Auxiliary (MHCA) 2008 Awards Presentation held March 28 in the Marco Island Yacht Club’s Harbor Room.

The Naples Community Hospital hosted the Awards Presentation Luncheon to honor the Marco Healthcare Center Auxiliary Volunteers for their commitment and the many services they provide at the Healthcare Center.

Peggy Aurori, MHCA 2006-07 President, welcomed the assemblage, explaining that they (Auxiliary Volunteers) were here to be honored for their services.

“It is so good to see so many of you here for this special occasion. I would like to introduce the staff members of both the Naples Community Hospital (NCH) and the Marco Healthcare Center (MHC) who have made this event possible,” she said introducing: Dr. Allen Weiss, President and CEO — NCH Healthcare System; Brian Settle, Chief Human Resource Officer — NCH Healthcare System; Rev. Michael Harper, Chaplain — HCH Healthcare System; Amanda Smith, Director of Volunteer Services and Retail — NCH Healthcare System; and Melissa Felice, Director of Development — NCH Healthcare Foundation; Melody Kappoff, NCH Secretary and newly assigned liaison to the Auxiliary; as well as Pam Wagner, Administrative Assistant of the Marco Healthcare Center; Deborah Dorbad, Clinical Coordinator of the Marco Healthcare Center; Jack Patterson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Marco Healthcare Center.

Each person stood up after their name was announced and was greeted with a round of applause from the assemblage. Then, Dr. Allen Weiss stepped up to the podium.

“We can’t serve our fellow man without serving each other,” Weiss said, noting that people who volunteer usually live longer and enjoy healthier lives. He also briefly described the attributes of NCH’s new robot technology that, in most cases, reduces in-hospital stays and enables small incisions, which in most surgeries can be covered with band-aids. He stated positive recognition was important.

“Thank you for serving your fellow man — the hundreds of thousands ’people who are patients or visitors.”

Brian Settle also praised the volunteers for being players who make a choice to control attitude and become involved.

“You’re doing a wonderful job, thank you for everything that you do.”

Amanda Smith followed with a Power of One video presentation.

“The Power of One is the power to do something — you are (volunteers) the Marco Healthcare Center,” Smith said. “Thank you for being compassionate!”

Aurori stepped up to the podium and asked Rev. Michael Harper to come up and give the invocation. He asked everyone to stand, explaining it would be more practical because after his prayer everyone would already be standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and then the assemblage would sit down so that lunch could be served.

The Marco Island Yacht Club’s Executive Chef Neville Ebank never fails to create a lovely lunch no matter the occasion and the grilled chicken breast filet was fork-tender and juicy, the rice pilaf equally piquant, and the baby vegetable mélange steamed superbly. A slice of decadent triple chocolate torte and coffee capped the meal nicely.

Jack Patterson, Chairman for the Board of Trustees of the Marco Healthcare Center, was called to the podium by Aurori, who explained he would be assisted by Rita Broderick and Mary Remley, for the Presentation of Hour Pins to the MHC Auxiliary Volunteers (for hours donated.) Patterson began awarding those volunteers who donated 100 hours of service and continued in numerical sequence up to 11,000 hours donated by Philip Egizio (stet both). Worthy of mention, the Awards Presentation program noted that the total hours donated by the volunteers in 2007 added up to 19,606 hours.

Aurori returned to the podium to read the Recognition Poem she created especially for the 2008 Awards Presentation saying in verses, “It’s been fun, for each and everyone; I am grateful, to have been able to serve, and interact with a wonderful group of volunteers …” reciting five more, and concluding, “There is much to be done, in serving our great community, and those who visit to have fun; Thank you for all your support, family spirit and positive attitude, for without you, it all could not be done.” This was her last official act as departing MHCA 2006-07 President.

Philip Egizio, in his persona as the Auxiliary’s unofficial master of ceremonies, returned to the podium to present the Marco Healthcare Center Auxiliary’s Volunteer of the Year Award, a privilege accorded this year to Egizio as the Auxiliary Volunteer who donated the most hours (11,000) in 2007. Egizio has been earning that honor for the past several years of Awards Presentations.

The assemblage fell silent.

“The Volunteer of the Award goes to Peggy Aurori,” Egizio declared before his voice was drowned out by the thunderous applause that accompanied Aurori as she walked up to the podium. “I’m not stepping down, I’m just stepping aside,” she said, her eyes welling with tears. “It’s been a wonderful two years!”