Silver anniversary of benefit wine tasting

In anticipation of the silver anniversary of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation’s annual wine tasting, microbrew sampling and auctions, I began reading past minutes and treasurer’s reports of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation’s meetings, as well as past issues of The Odessa Record in search of information about previous “wine tasting parties.” I hope you will enjoy this walk down memory lane.

In June of 1988, the Odessa Memorial Hospital Board of Commissioners had a desire to set up a foundation structured in such a way as to have positive and long-term effects on the healthcare needs of Lincoln County Hospital District #1 and the community of Odessa.

After several organizational meetings, the Odessa Healthcare Foundation by-laws were ratified on October 4, 1988. Serving as the first board of directors were Todd King, president; Jim Walter, vice-president; Carol Schott, secretary; Mavis Smith, treasurer; Marsh Roberts and John Strohmaier, board members and Ron O’Halloran, hospital administrator.

In addition to these individuals, the following have also served on the board of directors because they believed in Odessa and the importance of maintaining the vitality of the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center: (in alphabetical order) Carol Bell, Noreen Groh, Margaret Iltz, Kelly Johnson, Kim King, Sue Null, Lise Ott and Paul Schafer. As part of their job, past hospital administrators were also on the board: Jon Davis, Mark Barglof, Alyssa Oestreich and Gary DelForge.

The current board consists of Nancy Floether (president), Brenik Iverson (vice-president), Carol Schott (secretary), Lecia Fink (treasurer), Barbara Greenwalt, Matthew Kagele, Jackie Johnston, Dr. Linda Powell, Keith Schafer, Danielle Scrupps and Mo Sheldon (hospital administrator). We appreciate the past leadership of those individuals and strive to continue the mission first established in 1988. The board especially appreciates the dedication and hard work of Carol Schott, who has served on the board since its inception, both as a private citizen and in her role as hospital administrator.

At a February 1992 board meeting, the minutes reported, “the official ‘kick-off party’ for the foundation will be a wine tasting party in May with more discussion to occur at the next meeting.” So members of the board attended other wine tasting parties, committees were formed and plans were made. Those plans included Carol Schott preparing picture presentations, flyers, tickets and posters; Noreen Groh obtaining licenses and wine service; Jim Walter securing music and Mavis Smith overseeing food preparations.

On May 29, 1992, the Odessa Healthcare Foundation offered a toast, “A Votre Sante” (To Your Health) at the first annual wine tasting held in the Old Town Hall. The following week, the Odessa Record reported, “The first annual wine tasting was a success in every respect. The wine was good, and an estimated gathering of 100, not all necessarily vinophiles, enjoyed it as well as the evening’s ambiance. It is estimated that approximately $1200 was realized from the event. This will go toward the purchase of electrical beds for the hospital.”

In 1993, Noreen Groh was elected president of the Foundation. As the longest-serving president, from 1993-2002, she also served as the wine tasting chairperson, encouraging everyone in the community to attend and enjoy an evening with friends, food and wine.

May 21, 1993, was chosen for the second annual wine tasting and saw the beginnings of the silent auction with items donated by the wineries. Net profit that year was $1,454 and went toward the purchase of carpeting for the hospital. When asked about the beginning years of the wine tasting, Marsh Roberts said, “It was always fun getting ready for the wine tasting and serving the wine also. The different wineries would send representatives, and I enjoyed learning about the different wines from them as to taste and what foods they would enhance.”

Minutes from the April 1994 meeting of the Foundation included plans for the third annual wine tasting, “representatives from wineries will be present to pour and will have something for auction, Gordon Neale will emcee the program, truffles from the Wine Shop in Record Square along with hors d’ oeuvres will be served, and Verla Bly will provide quiet listening music.” The Odessa Record later reported, “The 3rd annual wine tasting party sponsored by the Odessa Healthcare Foundation was perhaps the most successful yet held. About 125 benefactors turned out to enjoy themselves at what has become one of the social events of the season.” Proceeds that year were $2,294 and went toward the building of the heliport on the roof of the hospital.

The year 1995 saw the addition of a live auction to the fourth annual wine tasting. The advertising poster announced it as a “silent and bidding auction” and a time to “Sip and Socialize.” Many local individuals and business donated items for the auctions. A profit of $3,165 went toward the window remodeling in the long-term care unit.

The fifth annual wine tasting on May 3, 1996, netted a profit of over $5,000 to be used toward the renovation of the dining room in the long-term care center.

The year 1997 brought about changes. The sixth annual wine tasting was now billed as the sixth annual wine tasting and auction. There was also an increase in donated items for both the silent and live auctions resulting in over a $10,000 net profit dedicated to the continued renovations in the long-term care unit. The enthusiasm and support of the community for the wine tasting and auctions was very much appreciated by the Foundation board.

In 1998 and 1999, enthusiasm and support from individuals and businesses continued for the seventh and eighth wine tasting, auctions, and microbrewery samplings sponsored by the Foundation. Each year showed a net profit of over $19,000 for the remodeling of the dining and activity rooms in the long-term care unit.

To be continued…