The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
‘SERVICE ABOVE SELF’
Ann Pierz awarded Roses to the Living
ONEIDA, N.Y.>> Ann Pierz thought she was at the Kallet Civic Center on Tuesday to learn more about the latest news coming from Oneida Healthcare.
A volunteer of 35-plus years at the hospital, Pierz was looking forward to hearing whatOneida Healthcare President and CEO GeneMorreale had to say about the planned cancer center.
Then the hospital’s CEO threw her a curveball.
“Each and every day is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back to our community. It has been said quite often that when you give of yourself, you get so much back in return,” Morreale said. “Ann Pierz, the Oneida Rotary Club recognizes you for devoting your life to helping the people of Oneida and the Central New York community. Your dedication and acts of kindness embody the Rotary motto, “service above self.”
And just like that, Pierz joined a prestigious club including 165 communitymembers that came before her as a recipient of the Oneida Rotary’s Roses to the Living Recognition.
“This is very nice, very unexpected,” Pierz said to a standing ovation from gathered family, friends, her Oneida Healthcare family, and Rotarians. She
said had absolutely no clue that she was walking into a ceremony celebrating her volunteer career.
“It’s a great honor,” she said. To her, volunteering is about relationships.
“It’s how you get to know neighbors and friends,” she said. “[It] helps make the neighborhood better.”
For decades, the Boston University Sargent’s College graduate volunteered her time with Oneida Healthcare, supporting husband Dr. Jay Pierz and facilitating financial funding to the hospital through the Medial Auxiliary. From assisting with theWhite Cap Ball and social gatherings to decorating the halls for holiday Ann was integral to volunteer efforts at the hospital.
“As one person recently noted, Ann put in more hours per week as a volunteer than most people did in their full-time occupations,” said Joanne Ernenwein, Oneida Healthcare Director of Development.
During her time with the Hospital Auxiliary, Ann worked alongside the founder of the original Follies, a community-wide revue that raised money for the enhancement of patient care at Oneida Healthcare, assuming a lead role in the event’s talent recruitment. Ann encouraged members of all generations to showcase their talents for nearly three decades as the show ran once every three years from 1978 to 2010.
In 1991, noting the increased need for nurses in the rural community, Ann created a scholarship program aimed at encouraging nurses of all levels to continue their education. Over the years, the program evolved so as to include all health-related fields and currently distributes nearly $20,000 a year. For 25 years, Ann chaired the committee taskedwith distributing the awardmoney and continues to serve as an active member of the Foundation Board to this day. Her volunteer efforts also include a 10-year stint as amember of the Hazel Carpenter Home Board of Directors
Also a 30-plus year member of Oneida Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Directors, Ann was instrumental in establishing the hospital gift shop, serving as the primary buyer and merchandiser.
“Working with other vol- unteers, they logged untold hours of research, travel to gift shows, and oversight of the inventory,” Ernenwein said. “Her efforts, along with the full Auxiliary, provided theOHC Capital Campaign with a donation of $120,000-plus in 2010.”
Beyond the countless hours of community service, Ann and her husband Jay raised three children - Brian, Elizabeth, and Chris - in Oneida. While raising their children, Ann found more ways to give her time to the community, volunteering with St. Patrick’s School and the Oneida Sports Boosters Club.
“We of the Rotary Club have a very high level expectation of you,” Rotarian Peter Shay said. “We want you to continue doing what you’re doing. We want you to continue to give without receiving. We want you to encourage you to serve without being served upon. For it is you, Ann, that has inspired us to love one another. Truly, truly you have made Oneida a better place.”
Shay commended Ann on her service before reading the poem “I Would Rather Have” , which starts offwith the lines, “I would rather have one small rose from the garden of a friend than to have the choicest flowers when my stay on Earthmust end.” He said the poemembodies the philosophy of the program, to recognize community members’ service efforts and achievements now, rather than wait until after the person’s passing.
The Rotary Club of Oneida began its Roses to the Living program in 1943 and recognizes community members for their service annually. To date, 165 Oneida community members have been recognized for their service as Roses to the Living recipients.