About & Contact

Mission: The mission of the Association is to provide and develop effective leadership, support, and education to member organizations of Virginia health care facilities.

About VAHAV

VAHAV was founded in 1949 by a group of 32 women representing eight Virginia hospitals and is the only state organization of its kind, which specifically serves healthcare auxiliaries and volunteer organizations.

VAHAV membership is open to any auxiliary or volunteer organization affiliated with a healthcare facility in the Commonwealth of Virginia and recognized by the governing body of a health care facility. The organization is dedicated to helping its member organizations achieve their full potential by offering support, education, fundraising, communication, and recruitment tools to its members.

The healthcare organizations of VAHAV are made up of men, women, and teens who volunteer their time and caring concern to help others. A volunteer is normally the first person a patient and their family member sees when they arrive at the hospital and the last as they are discharged. Our volunteers cover patient escort and information services in hospitals, operate hospital Gift Shops, man community Resale/Thrift and Consignment shops, and conduct fundraising events – all of which financially support hospitals and healthcare facilities. In addition, many of the hospitals now also have pet therapy programs.

VAHAV is partitioned into five districts. Each district hospital has auxiliaries with the roles of Auxiliary President, Director of Volunteer Services, Gift Shop Manager, Thrift Shop Manager, and Legislative Chair. Each of the five districts has a District Chair, who is a member of the VAHAV Board. Each District holds a Spring District Meeting for members, as well as a District Meeting at our fall Annual Education Conference.

Each summer, we conduct a survey of membership and contribution of hours and funding. The survey, due August 31, can be filled out online or via a hard copy. Survey information is aggregated and posted on our website to report the number of active adult and teen volunteers, their volunteer hours, and the money raised for their facilities, the community, and scholarships. The number of Active Adults in each Auxiliary reported in the annual survey is used to compute nominal Annual Dues due the following May.

AUXILIARY PRAYER

Almighty God and Heavenly Father of Mankind, bless, we pray Thee, our endeavors in those hospitals in which we strive to bring comfort and hope to all who are in distress of mind or body.

Guide us so that we may use the privilege given us to help the aged, the ill, and the very young with generosity, with discretion, and with gentleness.

Give us the strength to labor diligently, the courage to think and to speak with clarity and conviction, but without prejudice or pride.

Grant us, we beseech Thee, both wisdom and humility in directing our united efforts to do for others only as Thou would have us do.

Amen

AUXILIARY PLEDGE

Believing that the hospital has real need of my services as a volunteer worker:

I will be punctual and conscientious in the fulfillment of my duties and accept supervision graciously.

I will conduct myself with dignity, courtesy, and consideration.

I will consider as confidential all information which I may hear directly or indirectly concerning a patient, doctor, or any member of the personnel and will not seek information in regard to a patient.

I will take any problems, criticisms, or suggestions to the Chair of Volunteers.

I will endeavor to make my work of the highest quality.

I will uphold the traditions and standards of this hospital and will interpret them to the community at large.

VAHAV Anthem - VAHAV

00:0000:00

We work to serve for good. We volunteer our time.

We graciously honor those who trust us with their lives.

The steadfast volunteer is ever strong and true.

Providing those who need us most the care they are due.

(REFRAIN)

Volunteers are we with joy and honor care;

Striving to convey a ray of hope and prayer.

(END OF REFRAIN)

The volunteer is kind; The volunteer's sincere.

Attentive, always dutiful, devoted our mission clear.

The tasks we oversee are vital day-to-day.

And bind us in a calming way to keep our patients safe.

(REFRAIN)

Important Dates and Events

VAHAV BOARD MEETINGS

January 20 & 21, 2020: Board of Directors Meeting
VHHA Headquarters

4220 Innslake Dr.
Glen Allen, VA 23060

May 11 & 12, 2020: Board of Directors Meeting
VHHA Headquarters

4220 Innslake Dr.
Glen Allen, VA 23060

August 10 & 11 2019: Board of Directors Meeting

VHHA Headquarters

4220 Innslake Dr.
Glen Allen, VA 23060

SPRING DISTRICT MEETINGS

Capital District Spring Meeting

Location and Date TBD

Hampton Roads District Spring Meeting

Sentara Careplex Hospital in Hampton

(Behind Hampton Coliseum off I-64)

May 8, 2020

Northern District Spring Meeting

Location and Date TBD

Piedmont District Spring Meeting

Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg

TBD

Southwestern District Spring Meeting

Location and Date TBD

SAVE THE DATE

Save the date for the 71st Annual VAHAV Educational Conference being held Oct. 26-27, 2020 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Richmond, VA. View the event flyer here.

ANNE LEWIS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FUND

In 2004, VAHAV established a leadership development program. The purpose of this program is to assist member healthcare facilities that have a need for educational assistance and which, at times, find it financially difficult to have members attend the VAHAV Annual Education Conference. Seed money was made possible with donations from the daughters of Anne Lewis (then President-Elect) who passed away in 2002. Hospital auxiliaries and individuals continue to support this fund.

Guidelines for Requesting Funds to Attend a VAHAV Education Conference

Applicants must be an active member in good standing of an auxiliary or volunteer group, which is a member of VAHAV.
All applicants must complete the application, which is found below, and submit to the Leadership Development Chair by August 1.
- These applications will be reviewed at the VAHAV August VAHAV Board Meeting.
- Applicants will be notified shortly thereafter.
- The VAHAV Board may approve partial funding.
Two (2) VAHAV member organizations could be funded, which means that four (4) people (2 from each organization) would be eligible.
The same auxiliary or volunteer group will not be eligible for funding two (2) consecutive years.
No one (1) person from an auxiliary or volunteer group will receive funding more than once.
The selection process will be based on the reason for which the applicant is applying.
Full funding will include:
- Registration for up to four (4) people to the VAHAV Education Conference.
- Hotel accommodations (double occupancy) for the entire conference.

Click here to download the application

VAHAV SCRAPBOOK

The VAHAV Scrapbook is a history book of activities and events of VAHAV throughout the years. The scrapbook is prominently displayed during the Annual Conference. VAHAV members are encouraged to send pictures and articles to historianscrapbook@vahav.org for inclusion.

VAHAV Leadership Manual

The Leadership Manual has been developed by VAHAV as part of their mission to be a resource to assist hospital auxiliary leaders in their efforts to direct and promote the service of their auxiliaries. The manual has been designed to be a guide for the administrative framework of a hospital auxiliary and a recommendation of methods by which auxiliary leaders can work to fulfill the mission of their organizations, whether serving large or small, acute care, or sub-acute care long term care facilities.

Download the Leadership Manual

Board Blue Book

Blue Book Tabs

VAHAV Bylaws (October 2017)

VAHAV Standing Rules (October 2017)

Position Guidelines (May 2018)

Sections 8, 9, 10: District General Information and Meetings Information

Contact VAHAV

VAHAV President: president@vahav.org

VAHAV President Elect: presidentelect@vahav.org

VAHAV Treasurer: treasurer@vahav.org

VAHAV Newsletter Questions: newsletter@vahav.org