Baptist Medical Center Volunteer Named President of AFHAV

Jacksonville, Florida, September 26, 2007 -- Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary past president Daria Martin will be installed as the 54th president of the Association of Florida Healthcare Auxiliaries/Volunteers, Inc. (AFHAV) at the annual statewide meeting in Orlando, October 17-19, 2007.

Martin has served as a health care volunteer at Baptist Medical Center Downtown for nine years, where she has held such positions as social chairman, treasurer, president-elect and president. She has also been a member of the AFHAV board for five years, where she served as treasurer, first and second vice president, and president-elect.

In preparation for her role as president, Martin recently attended education and advocacy conferences in Washington, DC, sponsored by the American Hospital Association, and in San Antonio, Texas, sponsored by the American Society of Directors of Volunteer Services.

As AFHAV president, Martin's theme will be "Volunteers Are Bridges to Healing," and her charity outreach program will support lung cancer research.

"It is a tradition for the president to pick a charity that we raise funds for," says Martin, whose husband is a lung cancer survivor. "I also look forward to developing more awareness of legislative issues."

The mission of the AFHAV is to "serve those who serve" by educating and supporting health care auxilians and volunteers throughout Florida by holding regional "mini-meetings," five district meetings and an annual meeting.

The AFHAV has had three other Baptist Health auxiliary presidents over the years: Eunice Gooding, one of the Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary and Wolfson Children's Hospital Auxiliary founding members; Maggie Belden and Betty Graves.