Dot honored for her work

Dot Wainright with her floral decorated retirement cake.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 a reception was held on the front sun porch of Miller Nursing home from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. honoring Doris C. "Dot" Wainright for her many contributions benefiting the hospital and nursing home of Colquitt, Miller County. This was a most appropriate setting since this porch was one of the many projects spearheaded by her during her time as public relations/ marketing director for Miller County Hospital and Miller Nursing Home.

This public relations director was the main reason for many of the improvements at the hospital and nursing home for the past few years. Although the credit was given to the CEO and the board, we all know who was the heart and soul of getting up the events, programs and money that made the hospital and nursing home what it has become. Dot would be the first to say that the hospital leadership allowed her to instigate the programs that have brought in the public and private donations and monies that helped finance many of the improvements.

Other than the doctors and nurses, Dot Wainright might just be one of the most valuable assets the Miller County Hospital and Miller Nursing Home had, and she is retiring.

Dot received friends, fellow employees, board members, physicians and others from the community who came to express their heartfelt gratitude for her efforts in helping to keep the hospital and nursing home in front of the agencies, organizations, philanthropists and other benefactors that could help keep it going when there was a fear we would need to close.

For almost a decade Dot has turned over every possible stone looking for grants and gifts to not only keep these facilities open but also to make them comfortable and serviceable to the residents and patients. There is not one corner of the hospital or nursing home that has not been renovated to some degree by funds Dot "found" through various means. She wrote grants, applied for matching fund monies, wrote letters to politicians and searched for available funds through the internet. She will, however, be most remembered for her "small" fund-raisers such as the annual golf tournament, Hospital/Nursing Home Thrift Store, annual Health Fair and walk, bake sales, raffles, and the list goes on. Dot has literally raised several hundred thousand dollars for the hospital and nursing home, sometimes a quarter at the time.

Dot will officially relinquish her full-time duties on Friday, June 29, 2007, after almost a decade. Word has it that she has agreed to be available on a consulting basis if need be. No doubt, the need will be!

As several of the employees stated, "Miss Dot will miss the Miller County Hospital and Miller Nursing Home, but even more, the hospital, nursing home, the personnel and especially the seniors of this community will miss her."

The very popular Senior Breakfast held each Thursday morning has not only helped seniors live longer and better, but helped the hospital by letting those who use it the most know what there is to offer at the Miller County Hospital and Miller Nursing Home.