…..and let endurance have its perfect result…..

A celebration!

Abigail Paulson was an amazing inspiration to us at our April 18 meeting.

Abigail described the compassion and support she and her family receive

while her son is treated for rhabdomyosarcoma. The extra love,

encouragement, advice and commodore that the Paulson family obtain

from the support staff at Rady Children’s Hospital is because of your hard

work and kind gifts.

This month we are celebrating the 19th annual Celebration of Champions

for the Peckham Cancer Center. Marilyn, Marjo and Linda have worked

endless hours and devoted unending energy while planning for this year’s

Celebration. Five title sponsors have been acquired, and 337 runners will

be participating. The carnival

will have 34 booths. 99% of the

La Playa membership will be

setting –up manning stations and

tearing down this monumental

event. We are inspired by the

dedication of the members of the

La Playa Unit of Rady Children’s

Hospital. Many more children

and families will benefit from

our efforts. Thanks to you, our

celebration will be the perfect

result of our endurance.

We look forward to seeing you

on May 10th!

Thank you for volunteering!

Marleen Shook

Chairman of La Playa Unit

Rady Children’s Hospital

Auxiliary

From The Chairman, Marleen Shook

LA PLAYA FLYA

NEXT MEETING: MAY 16

SAN DIEGO YACHT CLUB

POOL PAVILION

SOCIAL IS AT 9:30

MEETING IS AT 10:00

May 2014 Volume 29, Issue 8

LA PLAYA UNIT 2013-2014 Board

CHAIRMAN Marleen Shook

VICE CHAIRMAN

Karen Robertson RECORDING SECRETARY

Erica Morton/Lori White TREASURER

Tammy Miller EDUCATION

Heather Wolff

MEMBERSHIP April Purcell/Cheryl Haas

WAYS & MEANS (Out-Unit) Marilyn Cornwell

Marjo Dyer Linda Hervey

FANTASY ON ICE

Ann Jessop/Mary Kay Bates/ Chris Stehly

PUBLICITY June Olcott

KID’S NEWSDAY Denise Pryor/Cheryl Haas

HISTORIAN

Dulie Ahlering HOSPITAL LIAISON

Leigh Burdine HONORING & REMEM-

BRANCE Barbara Brown/Candice Lyford

BERNARDY CENTER LIAI-

SON Jet Heintz

PARLIAMENTARIAN Linda Hervey

YEARBOOK Julie Connolly

RESERVATIONS

Patrice Saxton COMMUNICATIONS

Lisa Vieira INSPIRATION

Teri Boyea

SANTA LETTERS Kate Smith/Heather Wolff

RCHA LIAISON Kathee Weisenberg

UNIT WEBMASTER Julie Connolly

LA PLAYA FLYA EDITOR

Wendy Hoke MAILING

Cinda Caruso PRINTING

King’s Printing DEADLINE: 24th of each

month

A big thank you to Nancy Peckham for hosting our April meeting in her beautiful

home! Thank you to our hostesses, Lauren Root and Julie Connolly for bringing

such delicious treats and thank you Marleen Shook for taking charge of the chairs!

Don't forget- Our next 2 meetings are at the San Diego Yacht Club!

Our May 16 Meeting will be held by the Pool Pavilion courtesy of Katie

Carruthers. Our hostesses will be Ollie Nourskajian and Susan Davis.

The end of year luncheon is on June 6, please RSVP to Patrice Saxon.

Karen Robertson

Vice Chair Karen Robertson Vice Chair

Vice Chair Report, Karen Robertson

Dates for Celebration of Champions

“Even if I

knew the

world would

go to pieces

tomorrow, I

would still

plant my

apple tree.”

Martin Luther

Page 2

NICU

Front entrance

May 10 Active and Life Active CoC Contributions Due

May 1 Champion Pennant Work Party

May 1 Final Parking, Schedule, Directions mailed to

all participants

May 5-8 Logo wear Work Parties at The Thursday

Club

May 9 Set-up at Embarcadero Site

May 10 19th Annual Celebration of Champions®

May 10 Tear down of event 2:00-4:00pm

June 15 All Celebration of Champions reimbursement

receipts into Sam

19th Annual Celebration of

Champions®

At our April meeting, it was our gift to meet Mrs. Abigail Paulsen and learn how

her son and family benefited from the support services that we are currently raising

money for via our Celebration of Champions®. She told us how important these

funds are to cancer families, and this was an opportunity to recharge our batteries

for the beautiful Saturday in May that is less than two weeks away!

All our Chairmen are currently working diligently to accomplish their tasks. There

are still several work parties where we need your help. And as always, we need

every Active and Life Active at the event on May 10th to help in any way you are

asked. The various Celebration Chairman expect each La Playan to sign up for at

least one job the day of the event (this is in addition to any volunteering that you

have done prior to May 10th.) Individual event Chairmen have made their needs

known and you need to sign up on SignUp Genius at www.signupgenius.com/

go/30E0549ACA928A31-volunteer. If you have any questions contact our Volun-

teer Chairman Mary Kay Bates at marykaybates@cox.net or 619.723.6454.

If your supplies are stored at our storage unit at Secure Self Storage, you will need

to remove any supplies from our Celebration of Champions® storage locker your-

self. Every chairman’s name has been given to Secure Self Storage at 3865 Rose-

crans Street. You just have to identify yourself to get the key. Likewise, upon con-

clusion of the event, you are responsible personally for returning your

supplies to the storage locker. Please do not leave them at the site and

dump them on some other poor, tired chairmen to return for you.

Logo wear work parties at The Thursday Club are scheduled beginning

Monday, May 5th thru Thursday morning. Contact Lisa Stevenson at

misslisa@cox.net or Kathee Weisenberg at gokatgo@cox.net or one of

these dates. Credit cards may be used at the event to purchase logo

wear this year.

The date for the Champion Pennant Work Party is May 1st beginning at

9:30a.m. at Diane's fathers home at 4368 Narragansett Avenue. We

Celebration of Champions

“Nothing is

impossible, the

word itself

says I’m

possible!”

Audrey

Hepburn

Page 3 Volume 29, Issue 8

Lobby

Hallway

need 6-7 ladies to make the pennants. This task consists of gluing the flag to the

wooden dowel, and then cutting and tying the ribbons to the dowel. This is a fun

job you can do while talking to another La Playan and a super job for our new

members so you can meet new friends. Call Diane Raines to let her know you will

be there (858)560-5757.

To date we have raised about $360,000 from sponsors and donors. Be thinking

about new sponsors for 2015, and invite potential sponsors to this year’s event so

they can see it in person. It will make your future sponsorship request so much

more successful! Our 2014 Sponsorship Brochure is posted on our website at

www.celebrationofchampions.com

Thank you to our nine online virtual fundraising teams. With a 2014 goal of

$25,000 we have raised nearly $17,000. If you haven’t already joined a team, do it

now as six of the teams are accepting new members at our teambuilding website:

www.celebrationofchampionsonline.kintera.org. Or, you can just make a general

donation at the same website.

We also thank the following NEW 2014 Celebration of Champion

contributors since last month’s listing:

TITLE- Anonymous

SILVER- Rhodes Family (courtesy of La Playa member Lisa Peckham)

BRONZE- NWCA Coronado #167 in honor of Joey Welch (Champion fam-

ily)

Team Royal (Champion family)

Kayla Laine Drummond duPont in Memoriam (founding supporter)

Rotary Poway Scripps (returning after absence) In Memory of Fran Podhradsky (in memory of our dear La Playa

member by her family) Kai & Franny- Music for Champions (Member Sam Przywitowski’s

daughter)

South Coast Commercial (returning after absence)

DONOR- Charlie Rae Fund (courtesy of member Megan Rebelo)

Celebration of Champions Report from Marilyn, Linda, and Marjo

“Don’t judge

each day by the

harvest you

reap, but by the

seeds you

plant.”

Robert Louis

Stevenson

Page 4

Caption describing picture or graphic.

“The best and

most beautiful

things in the

world cannot

be seen or even

touched. They

must be felt by

the heart.”

Helen Keller

Page 5 Volume 29, Issue 8

Caption describing picture or graphic.

Deadlines are approaching. Please help these chairmen do their jobs.

Active/Life Active Donations- due by May 10th

Pennant Work Party- May 1st Nametags- to Julie Connolly by April 24th (call for directions on Excel

formatting, if needed)

Logo Wear Work Party- May 5-8 at The Thursday Club

We are on the cusp of another great Celebration so thank you again for all

your support. It will be a great day of hope, healing and renewal due to your

individual contributions.

Marilyn, Marjo and Linda

To All Active and Life Active La Playans: It is time to fulfill your membership obligation to contribute $100 or more to Celebration of Champions® 2014. Your contribution is due by May 10th, and there are two easy ways to do this: 1. Send a check payable to RCHA to Sam Przywitowski at 1804 Capistrano St.,

SD 92106 2. Donate online at www.celebrationofchampionsonline.kintera.org and click on “General Donations” J Thank you for your contribution and support!

Celebration of Champions Report from Marilyn, Linda, and Marjo

2014 Celebration of Champions Committee Chairs

Event Co-Chairs Marjo Miller, Marilyn Cornwell, Linda Hervey

Account Managers Heather Wolff, Linda Johnson, April Purcell,

Katie Carruthers, Chris Pickering

Carol Sands, Ceci White, Julie MacDonald

Sponsorship Dev. Rep. Karen Robertson

Administrative Support Patti Horan, Julie Connolly

Administrative Task Force Nancy Peckham, Lisa Vieira

Awards Barbara Arrieta

Carnival Kathleen Caffo, Lori White, Ollie Nouskajian

Celebrities Cindy Edson

Champion Coordinator Lisa Peckham

Decorations Erica Morton, Nicole Wickstrand

Entertainment Candice Lyford

Environmental Compliance Laura Kyle

Equipment Wendy Hoke

Food Tammy Miller, Maggie Silva

LogoWear Lisa Stevenson, Kathee Weisenberg

Marine Corps Band/Color Guard Jean Federici

Medals and Pennants Diane Raines

Parking Jet Heintz, Cinda Caruso, Marilyn Cornwell

Photography Terri Boyea

Program Sharon Dennison

Public Relations Megan Rebelo

SD Harbor Police/SDPD Betty Hamlin, Mari Fink

Signage Jinny McRoberts

Snack Bar Annie Jessop, Jet Heintz

Thank You Secretary Cinda Caruso, Linda Baker

Treasurer Sam Przywitowski

Volunteers Mary Kay Bates, Chris Stehly, Cheryl Haas

Hospital Liaisons Gloria Rucobo, Josefina Martin del Campo

JoAnne Auger, Karla Escalante

Event Consultant Rick Kozlowski- KOZ Events

Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary EDUCATION SEMINAR – April 4, 2014

Ann Desmond – Dana Unit Representative

The April 2014 Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Education Seminar was presented by the RCH Laboratory Director Judy Heng and Microbiology Supervisor Michelle Vanderpool. Judy has been the laboratory interim director for three months. Michelle has been at Rady Children’s Hospital for 24 years. Judy spoke about the important role the laboratory plays in diagnosing disease and illness. While laboratory costs are about three percent of hospital operations, the lab has an 80 percent impact on clinical decisions. The laboratory is particularly important for the diagnosis, treatment, and disposition of patients in the Emer-gency Department, the Intensive Care Unit, the Surgical Unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Oncol-ogy Unit, and for medical and surgical emergencies. Responsibilities and purposes of the lab include: • Quality control (at the beginning of each day “control reagents” are used to ensure the

accuracy of laboratory equipment that unless working properly, will not provide correct results) • Development and maintenance of appropriate levels of patient care • Accurate and efficient lab testing • Introduction of new procedures • Continuing education Pathologic and testing services at Rady Children’s Hospital are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. There are several “departments” within the lab including • The microbiology department where tests for living organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, are

performed. These tests can take 24 hours to six weeks for results depending on how long it takes for the organism to grow.

• Point of Care (POC) occurs when blood or tissue to be tested is taken from a patient. • The Blood Bank tests blood for transfusions. • The chemistry department tests blood for cholesterol and glucose.

• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) lab is used to diagnose hereditary diseases.

• Phlebotomists are technicians trained to draw blood for testing.

• Hematologists study the blood, and histologists study tissues such as those from biopsies.

• Information Health and Technology is the computer support group.

• RCH also provides referral services to more than 100 “referral” groups that perform additional tests.

The Rady Children’s Lab employs 105 people, 70 of whom are full time employees. They include four pa-thologists, three supervisors, six tech specialists, 47 clinical lab scientists, two lab technicians, 32 laboratory assistants, six histology technicians, one administrative director, and nine administrative and support staff.

The lab is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, the American Association of Blood Banks and, along with the hospital, the Joint Commission. Projected 2014 revenues from the lab are about $76 million. While it appears that revenues have declined, this is due primarily to a reduction in the pricing of tests. The annual cost of supplies is about $11 million. Expenses are high because of the need for a new patient information system due to EPIC (Electronic Pri-vacy Information Center) standards and new tests. The lab’s operating income is more than $65 million an-nually. The clinical pathology volume is more than one million tests per year over all lab departments. Several new tests are being performed at Rady Children’s Hospital including respiratory/viral tests, point of care urinaly-sis, and “nanosphere,” “a molecular diagnostic system that provides rapid diagnostic information” or as Judy stated “to provide the right drugs to the right patient at the right time.” Several performance measures are used to assess the quality of the lab program. These include daily per-formance controls, blood culture contamination, critical value documentation, corrected reports, specimen mislabeling errors, turnaround times, and patient satisfaction. The number of false positive tests at RCH is low, only 0.3%. Moving the patient “draw station” several times caused confusion and long wait times, which have impacted patient satisfaction rates for the lab. The laboratory participates in a number of Rady Children’s Hospital committees including infection control, transplant, antibiotic stewardship, safety, credentialing, billing and compliance, and revenue cycle among others. The Rady Children’s Hospital lab supports several continuing education programs. Nine Clinical Lab Scien-tists (CLS) are trained in two to four week rotations. RCH partners with Southwestern College in a two-year Medical Lab Technician program. FACES of the Future is a program that rotates high school students through the lab two days per week for three weeks, five times per year. In addition, laboratory pathologists attend monthly joint conferences, present at various hospital teaching conferences, and host UCSD pathol-ogy fellows and residents. QUESTIONS and ANSWERS 1. Is it difficult to find enough qualified lab technicians?

Yes. Some years ago there were several lab technician-training programs in the San Diego area. These programs mostly disappeared, but are beginning to come back. However, the average age of current lab technicians is 50 to 55 and many will be retiring in the next few years.

2. Why did false positive test results spike in December? There are fewer children in the hospital in December, so just a few false positive tests can skew the av-erage.

3. How do lab technicians protect themselves?

There are standards for protection: Every sample is treated as though it is infectious. Technicians wear gloves, use filters, and labs are equipped with negative pressure rooms in the event of bioterrorist speci-mens.

4. Are the technicians who draw blood trained to work on small babies? Yes, technicians are trained to work on very small veins. Doctors or other specialists perform some spe-cialized procedures on infants.

5. Is MRSA still a problem? We haven’t heard so much about it recently.

MRSA is not a large problem at Rady Children’s Hospital. The antibiotic resistant bacteria used to be a problem only in hospitals, but strains are now being found in the community. These bacteria are espe-

RCHA LA PLAYA UNIT

MEETING MINUTES – April 18, 2014

WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER: Marleen Shook called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. Marleen thanked Nancy

Peckham for opening up her home and Lauren Root and Julie Connolly for being hostesses.

INSPIRATION: Marilyn Cornwell introduced our real life inspiration for today’s meeting, Abigail Paulsen. Abigail

thanked La Playa members for the support and all that we do but especially for Celebration of Champions. Every year the

event makes her son Bode Paulsen the real champion for a day. He looks forward to CoC and meeting celebrities like the

Navy Seals whom he loves running with and carrying the torch and getting his metal. It has been a rough year for the

entire family because Bode’s cancer has had a recurrence, but because the staff and all the help they get at Rady Chil-

dren’s Hospital from child life specialist to doctors, nurses and counselors to name a few are not just for Bode but the

entire family and all of which are truly amazing. She has spent a lot of time at other facilities across the country, which

are all great, but she believes Rady Children’s Hospital is the best, in large part because of auxiliary units like ours and

all that we do.

SECRETARY: Marleen Shook asked if there were any changes or corrections to the March Minutes. There were none.

A motion was made to approve the minutes and seconded. The March minutes were approved as written.

VICE CHAIR REPORT: Karen Robertson thanked Nancy Peckham for opening up her home. She reminded everyone

that the next two meetings would be at The San Diego Yacht Club and that our annual luncheon would take place on June

6th.

TREASURER’S REPORT/ANNUAL BUDGET: Tammy Miller said that there was not a lot of change and that our cur-

rent balance is $11,191.99.

WAYS AND MEANS (out-unit): Marjo Miller let everyone know that we have had an exciting development and were

able to get a 5th Title Sponsor. The new sponsor would like to remain anonymous. The La Playa member who brought

us this new sponsor will also remain anonymous - we are so thankful to both. Marjo thanked some of our new donors.

She reminded members that if anyone has any potential new sponsors in mind for next year to make sure to get them to

Celebration of Champions this year so they can see what it is all about. She thanked all our wonderful account managers

and thank you committee for all their hard work. Last, she expressed her thanks to Sam Przywitowski, our CoC treas-

urer, for all her hard work.

Marilyn Cornwell and Linda Hervey thanked everyone and called for committee reports and updates. Mary Kay Bates

thanked all her volunteers for signing up and we went over all open spots that need to be filled. We were able to fill most

positions, and Mary Kay will send a follow-up email asking people again to sign up and help where they can.

Lisa Stevenson went over all the logo wear. The work parties have changed from the SDYC to Thursday Club this year

and will be held May 5th- May 8th from 9am to 4pm. She asked that people volunteer on the sign-up sheets going around

or just stop by to help since they need all the help they can get.

Sam Przywitowski reminded everyone that all active members are required to donate $100 or more to Celebration of

Champions and asked for people to please donate. She also asked that all expenses be turned in ASAP so that they can

close the books. It was also brought up for all of us to be on the lookout for any unnecessary costs at the event where we

could save money next year.

Marilyn Cornwell wanted to bring up that a couple of members have gone above and beyond this year - June Olcott who

was able to secure 1,000 additional parking spots and Cinda Caruso and her husband Michael who were able to secure

the Navy lot which is so important because it is so close. Also, Jet Heintz secured 60 spots at The Hyatt. We have 300

spots for people that will have to pay $10. All lots must be vacated by 4pm. Spots for setup on Friday are limited. We

only have 25, so please take that into consideration when coming and going. On the day of the event, do not unload in

parking spots those are reserved for sick children and their families. Marilyn also reminded everyone to keep eyes open

for anything out of place and to report if need be. Check in will begin at 8am, and Marilyn went over a few last minute

things and thanked ladies for all their hard work and especially all the committees for making this happen.

EDUCATION: Heather Wolff toured the hospital’s laboratory. The lab is run 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The

people that work there are so passionate about the work that they do. They run about 1 million tests a year and some of

the test results can be given immediately as opposed to in the past when they had to wait for results. This new technol-

ogy is amazing and life saving. HOSPITAL LIASON: Leigh Burdine held up a paint scraper and watch asking if anyone had lost either of the items.

They were found in the donated toiletries. Neither item was claimed so she will donate the watch. She asked that mem-

bers continue to collect complete travel sets, if possible, for the hospital and said she will resume collecting in the fall.

PARLIAMENTARIAN (NOMINATING): Linda Hervey announced the proposed Board for 2014-2015, which is as fol-

lows: Chairman- Jean Federici, Vice Chairman- Tracy Wilkinson, Treasurer- Tammy Miller, Secretary- Alison Sullivan, Mem-

bership- April Purcell and Cheryl Haas, Education- Heather Wolff and Helen Willink, Ways & Means Out Unit- OPEN,

Sponsorship Chair- OPEN, Operations Chair- OPEN, Parliamentarian/Nominating- Marleen Shook, Kids’ NewsDay-

Wendy Rosenthal and Victoria Lugash, Fantasy on Ice- Mary Kay Bates, Chris Stehly, and Nicole Wickstrand, Newslet-

ter Editor - Wendy Hoke, Hospital Liaison- Leigh Burdine, Mailing- Cinda Caruso, Publicity- June Olcott, Honoring &

Remembrance- Lauren Root, Reservations- Linda Baker, Yearbook- Julie Connolly and Bernardy Center Liaison- Jet

Heintz. A motion was made to approve The 2014-2015 Board, which was seconded and approved.

NEWSLETTER/LA PLAYA FLYA: Wendy Hoke asked that members have submissions for the La Playa Flya submit-

ted by the usual 24th deadline.

MAILING: Cindy Caruso asked that people go electronic if they can to help save on the cost of mailings since it is so

expensive.

COMMUNICATIONS: Lisa Vieira asked that if you would like to go paperless to please let her know at

lisavieira@cox.net.

PUBLICITY: June Olcott asked that members send photos via email and reminded members to take photos at all COC

work parties as well. Send to Olcott@cox.net.

HONORING AND REMEMBRANCE: Barbara Brown announced that Virginia Nelson, one of our earliest members,

had passed away just before her 106th birthday. She also mentioned that Bonnie Hage is in the hospital and we have also

sent a card to her. Last, Muriel Kimball, a long-time RCHA member’s husband, Bruce Kimball, has passed away.

BERNARDY CENTER: Jet Heintz thanked Wendy Rosenthal, Robin Olson and June Olcott for their generous clothing

donations, which are very much needed and appreciated. Jet reminded everyone that if they have any donations to let her

know. They also took our child to the baseball game last weekend and had a wonderful time. They also just learned that

he could walk which is wonderful news.

OLD BUSINESS: Marleen Shook thanked everyone that participated in Jersey Mike’s day, which raised about

$100,000.

NEW BUSINESS: Marleen Shook reminded members about the RCHA Annual Meeting at The San Diego Zoo on June

4th which requires reservations so she asked that everyone who can attend to rsvp right away to Patrice Saxon. The cost

is $40 and includes a bus tour. She also reminded everyone of our June 6th La Playa luncheon at The San Diego Yacht

Club. The cost is $23.

ADJOURNMENT: Marleen Shook adjourned the meeting and said that she looks forward to seeing everyone at our next

meeting on May 16th at The San Diego Yacht Club.

Annual Dues Statement La Playa Unit - RCHA

2014-2015 Name ______________________________________ ☐Mrs. ☐Miss ☐Ms. Please list any changes from last year’s directory below. If there are not changes,

please mark: ☐ NO CHANGES ☐ Deceased Address _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Phone _________________________________________ Email _________________________________________

Membership Status – Please review carefully! Information on membership re-quirements for Active and Supporting Status can be found in the front of the di-

rectory. ☐ Supporting………$45.00 ☐ Active………….…$40.00 ☐ Life………….……$600.00 (one-time payment) ☐ I do not plan to renew my membership

Life Members pay only once but should declare their desired status each year: ☐ ☐Life Supporting

Please make check payable to RCHA - La Playa and mail to:

April Purcell 4420 Brighton Ave.

San Diego, CA 92107

Please help us by turning in your dues before MAY 1st!

Dues Renewal

Dues renewal forms were mailed out and are included in the FLYA. The dues are due by May 1st.

Please help the membership co-chairs this year by paying your dues on time. If you have ques-

tions about the requirements for Active and Supporting membership, you can refer to the front of the

handbook or call April Purcell or Cheryl Haas.

New Member Sponsorship

As a reminder, each proposed new member must be sponsored and co-sponsored by an Active or Life

Active Member. Letters can be turned in to April Purcell or Cheryl Haas anytime between now and the

September meeting. Attached to the sponsorship letter, please include all contact information

that would be included in the directory. When considering whether to propose a new member,

please consider whether you will be able support her to learn and carry out membership requirements

during the first year. It is helpful for new members to have someone they know who can introduce them

to others at meetings, share jobs with them, and answer questions they have during the year. Please re-

view the requirements of Active membership with prospective members before submitting a letter to

make sure the person will be able to meet the requirements of Active membership. As a reminder, Ac-

tive members are required to: attend at least 7 meeting which are held on the third Friday of each month

(September through June but excluding December), attend the Annual or Semi-Annual meeting of the

Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, annually participate in the planning and production of Celebration of

Champions, contribute at least $100 towards Celebration of Champions, and pay dues of $40 annually

for Active membership.