BEING AN HAAO MEMBER
by Joan Farlinger - 2009

Our Auxiliaries/Associations stretch across this great province from Manitoba to Quebec and from James & Hudson Bay to the United States. Each of us could make our own rules and govern our own destiny and never come in contact with other Auxiliaries/Associations.  However, it makes more sense to come together as an Association to gain strength from our numbers and learn from each other.

The Hospital Auxiliary Association of Ontario (HAAO) is a voluntary, non-profit association representing the hospital Auxiliaries/Associations of Ontario.

As a member of HAAO we’re all part of an extended family who work together to achieve our common goal – excellence in health care in our communities.

One of the prime objectives of the HAAO is to provide the vehicle for education and to emphasize the need to educate the members of those auxiliaries serving their healthcare facilities throughout the province.

HAAO’s principle role is leadership and advocacy in support of its members. HAAO represents the auxiliaries/associations’ interest, needs and views to the Ontario Hospital Association, the government, other organizations and the public.

To meet and to represent the diverse interests of its members, HAAO is organized into 12 regions. Each region has its own Regional Executive and Chairman. The Executive committee of 10 manages the organization and together with the 12 Region Chairman, they form a Board of 23. The full Board meets only twice a year, in May for education sessions and at the Convention in November. The executive meets four times a year. All of these Board members are non paid volunteers just like you.

The Region Chairman is responsible for assuring that the members in each region are given the opportunity to meet at Region Conferences at least once a year. The Presidents of each member Auxiliary/Association are asked to complete an annual questionnaire, return it to the Region Chairman who reports the findings to the Director of Regions. The information that is gathered is used to understand what is happening at the grass-roots level so that HAAO knows where to concentrate our efforts to improve our organization.

HAAO hosts one major event per year, the convention in Toronto in November.  The annual convention helps auxiliaries/associations with such essential activities as strategic planning, fundraising, incorporation, and a president/treasurer session to deal with concerns that your organization may be encountering.  There are also workshops for gift shops, HELPP, health and nutrition and recruitment and retention of members. We are very thankful for the support that the Ontario Hospital Association has given us in allowing us to hold our Convention at the same time as they do and the support of their staff in garnering speakers etc. for this event.

The Leadership Workshop in February is co-sponsored with OHA, HAAO and PAVR-O.  Your HAAO President, Past President and Director of Education meet with leaders from OHA and PAVR-O to plan this one day seminar. The purpose of this conference is to help develop better leaders and to train and educate the volunteers to do an even better job of serving their hospitals, communities and most of all, the patients.

If your auxiliary/association can’t afford to send a delegate to either of these conventions, there is an Education Fund to which you can apply for a grant. This also applies for the student convention.

In 2010 HAAO celebrated their Centennial. One hundred years is a testament in itself.  It represents decades of change and adaptation to the requirements of its members.  HAAO has always tried to respond to the issues and needs of its Auxiliary/Association members by being the catalyst of change itself. Through strategic planning, continued education, communication via the Volunteer , the web site and financial assistance to attend conferences and conventions, HAAO has put our members at the forefront of all our strategic planning.

Consider the resources available to members; education of members, education of executives, grants for organizations unable to financially afford going to the annual convention or help in raising funds through HELPP, assistance and resources in programs and literature available for recruitment and retention of members and for managing a successful organization, student assistance, bursaries and reinforcement of volunteer commitments through recognition of hours and years of members and organizations and a strong voice with OHA and our governments.

Through our website www.haao.com you have access to links to other auxiliary sites to garner ideas and suggestions useful in your own auxiliary; the promotion of your activities and achievements on the web; and tools to use to help with your by-laws and job descriptions.

Together we can make a difference!