Volunteers celebrate 50 years of service, dedication

Corresponding secretary Helen Wright said, "The original purpose of the Villa volunteers were to act as interpreters between the Villa and the community and to explain its method of operation, to assist in providing entertainment for residents, to staff the information desk, and help out in other capacities as the needs arose," said Wright. "They were soon in charge of the library, assisting with the mail, helping out in the beauty salon, sponsoring individual residents, and assisting in the occupational therapy department."

Historian Shirley Mariani said the Villa volunteers began keeping scrap book right from the beginning. The first few pages consisted of newspaper articles from the Salt Lake Tribune and from the Intermountain Catholic. They called themselves the VV’s, and put that on their first scrapbook. Fran Ellis became the historian in 1984, and continued in that position for 24 years.

"I became historian in self defense so I wouldn’t have to be president or vice president," said Ellis as she was being honored for her service.

Parliamentarian Maxine Giovacchini said, "The first parliamentarian was installed with the newly elected officers, which is not the case today. The first meeting was to establish the bylaws. While we do not have a copy of the first bylaws, we do know they are the federation of the bylaws under which we operate under today. The amount of dues has increased from $1, as have some of the committees."

Giovacchini has served as the parliamentarian for more than 12 years.

Fran Ellis is the chairwoman of creative expression committee. Patricia Wessel chairs the birthday committee and the sing-a-longs. Myrtle Clark is in charge of bingo. Jo Ellen Mendiola is chairwoman of the contact committee. Kathy Tangaro is the membership chairwoman. Vi Yelderman is the chairwoman of publicity and the newsletter. Joan Mirka is also chairwoman of table decorating. Shirley Mariani is the social hostess. Helen Wright is the chairwoman of the nominating committee. And Maxine Giovacchini is the chairwoman of the gift shop.

"The first gift shop was very small," said Giovacchini. "It began in 1984. At that time my husband, Joseph Giovacchini, was the consulting pharmacist at the Villa. We were asked if we would supply merchandise, which we were happy to do as a service. It was suggested we bring centerpieces and the like, but what they wanted was candy, toothpaste, cream, and toiletries they could use. Our rent was 10 percent of our total sales to go to the Villa volunteers, which amounted to a few dollars a week because we were not open that much. But eventually the volunteers started helping. We started out with a drawer and a cash box, so we have come a long way."

Giovacchini was honored for her service and association with the gift shop for 25 years. She said she will volunteer until she is no longer able.

Mirka said the volunteers began the beauty salon soon after they were formed. With the money they raised from their early fund raisers, the Villa volunteers, under the leadership of Mrs. Van Smolik, completely furnished the beauty salon. The Hollywood School of Beauty furnished operators two afternoons a week.

The Villa volunteers have decided to put away a time capsule they will open in 10 years. Each committee placed something significant in the capsule. To be included in the time capsule were a copy of the bylaws, officers’ handbook, volunteer roster, list of names of the past presidents, a sympathy card sent to the next of kin, hand-made booties, Kleenex, a cash register receipt, and so on.

Galen Ewer, president and chief executive officer said, "What I have to express really comes from very deep down in my heart. But I had to go to other sources to be able to express what I wanted to say."

The source he chose was author Rick Warren who wrote "The Purpose Driven Life."

"His book explores what is the essence of life," said Ewer. "The first and most important, and the penetrating first question he asks is, what on earth am I here for?

"He goes on to say that everyone’s life is driven by something," said Ewer. "Generally five of the most common drivers are guilt, resentment or anger, fear, materialism, or wanting someone else’s approval. Of course, he goes on to say those are all the wrong reasons.

"If we look at the New Testament, and what Jesus did the night before he faced Pilot, he showed us what life was about," said Ewer. "He did not have to tell us, he showed us. He washed the feet of his disciples.

"Can you imagine what that was like 2000 years ago at the time of Passover. It was probably springtime and raining, muddy, or dusty. They also walked the same roads the donkeys and the horses," said Ewer. "So for someone to bend down and wash another’s feet was pretty lowly. But Jesus showed us what life was about through that act.

Ewer said 50 years ago a group of people began to demonstrate what Warren wrote about in 2002. They began as partners and associates of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word to care for the seniors of Salt Lake City.

"What a great way to not only meet the needs of God’s people, but also to show gratitude to God for all He has given us. I had to pleasure today to speak on the part of the Sisters, the lay staff at Saint Joseph Villa, and the Board of Directors, to thank you for what you have done," said Ewer. "Over the past 50 years you and other volunteers have touched the lives of over 10,000 patients’ and residents’ lives at Saint Joseph Villa. The volunteers of 50 years ago and today really understand the secret of the purpose of life. You all show it in what you do. You may not say it but you demonstrate it. The key is you can’t look inward you have to look outward. It’s not about you."