CMH Foundation Auxiliary Honors Riddell In Final General Meeting Of The Year

           WILMINGTON - The CMH Foundation Auxiliary spent the majority of its final general dinner meeting of the year Tuesday, Oct. 20, honoring Andy Riddell, who will retire at the end of 2009 after more than two years as president and chief executive officer and nearly six years as a member of the CMH Regional Health System executive leadership team.

           Riddell also serves as a member of the CMH Foundation Board of Directors and has been a strong supporter of auxiliary special events. His wife, Carole Riddell, was an active member of the auxiliary.

           Since Andy Riddell is affectionately known as the Big Kahuna, the evening in the CMH Conference Center had a South Pacific theme. Members were encouraged to dress for the islands and the CMH Nutrition Services staff provided a Hawaiian style buffet.

           It also happened to be Riddell's birthday. A special Hawaiian birthday cake was served and members sang Happy Birthday.

           Auxiliary member Betty Rice narrated a light-hearted PowerPoint presentation, "In Search of the Big Kahuna." Riddell was presented with and then wore a Hawaiian head dress, while Rice presented photos and narrative from her recent trip to the Hawaiian Islands where she also joked that she searched but did not find the Big Kahuna. Fortunately, she concluded, the Big Kahuna has been in Clinton County leading CMH since April of 2007.

           Riddell was presented gifts of appreciation from president Charlyn Kruszka, who also read a special poem she had written in honor of Riddell - "Rumor Has It," a reference to Riddell's signature communication piece, the Riddell Rumor Remover.

           Riddell thanked the auxiliary membership for the gifts, kind words and support during his tenure at CMH. He said that he has always tried to be giver and not a taker in his four-decade long career and that the philosophy has served him well. The crowd gave him a standing ovation.

           Dana Dunn, director of CMH Community Development, including the CMH Foundation, for the past two years, thanked Riddell for his support of the foundation and auxiliary. Dunn said that others also recognized his leadership, including the Wilmington Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, who

recognized him as Business Leader of the Year, and the Clinton Leadership Institute, who have acknowledged the many hours of leadership training he has donated to class members.

           Foundation Board of Trustees chairman Chris Chaney spoke of the benefit of Riddell's honesty and straightforwardness in leading CMH during a difficult time of transition and economic pressures.

           During the regular meeting, absent members Ruth Ann Faris and Janet Perkins were recognized for reaching the milestone of 10-14 years of service.

           Nominating Committee chair Betty Rice read the slate of officers and board members for 2010. There were no additional nominations and all will be sworn in January at the first regular meeting of 2010.

           Members were reminded of the next CMH Foundation special events which will be the $5 jewelry sale November 29 through December 1 and the book sale on December 15 in the Clinton Memorial Hospital atrium. Members Lou Ann Arnold and Sandy Briggs are co-chairpersons of the jewelry sale and

Cindy Camp, Ann Johnson and Sandy Pidgeon are chairs for the book sale.

           Kruszka and Dunn made closing remarks to the group and Kruszka read another poem she composed about her fellow members and received a standing ovation for her service during two years as president. She will be specially recognized at the first general meeting of 2010.

           Dunn thanked auxiliary members for their hard work and fund-raising support in 2009 and encouraged them to be positive as they head into 2010.

           Finally, Cari Middleton won a copper colored chrysanthemum for being voted to be wearing the best Hawaiian outfit.