any years are: seated from left, Sandy White, and Jackie Krutsch; back row from left, Vivian Mettler, Linda
Weston, Mel Morrison, Diane Chapman, Joane Grubaugh, Eleanor Sutliff, Steve Paterka, Marilyn Dumbauld,
and Charlevoix Hospital President Joanne Schroeder.
Vivian Mettler arrived in Charlevoix more than 20 years ago and through friendships became acquainted with the Women’s Guild of Charlevoix Area Hospital.
Now, she is the last president of the group that has donated more than $300,000 to the hospital and spent decades staffing its gift shop for patients and visitors. The gift shop closed its doors earlier this month.
Mettler and her late husband moved to the area after careers in southeast Michigan. She shares that part of her working life was at a hospital downstate.
“My husband retired, and I wanted something to do. I had a friend who was active in the Guild at the time, and I started going to meetings and then I started volunteering in the gift shop,” she said. “Eventually it came to the place where I was the manager because membership in the Guild was declining.”
While Guild members had responsibility for operating the gift shop, Mettler said they were active in volunteering at other areas within the hospital as well.
“At one time there were about 60 of us,” she said. “But now there are about 25 and many members are not active. We have all gotten older.”
Guild fundraising through the years has contributed to various hospital equipment and facility needs. Among other items, the Guild has supplied a large refrigerator for the Food and Nutrition Services department, stuffed animals for children needing care in the Emergency Department, and its latest gift was a special gurney for ophthalmology patient use during eye surgeries.
As part of the Guild in years past, Mettler has fond memories of traveling with other members to state conferences where there would be fellowship with other guild members and an opportunity to share ideas with one another.
“We would compare notes and learn what other hospital guilds did,” she said. “We also would publish a newsletter every two months. I think people don’t realize that what the Guild did for the hospital was more than running the gift shop.”
Now 87 years old, Mettler was celebrated at a special hospital tea to honor her and other volunteers at the hospital this week.
Hospital President and CEO Joanne Schroeder said she appreciates the years of commitment and care shown by Mettler and other Guild members who have supported the hospital and its mission.
“Vivian is a great example of the many volunteers who have served this hospital selflessly over the years,” she said. “We appreciate her and the Guild’s efforts that add to the rich history of this hospital as well as their support through the years that has allowed this hospital opportunities to enhance its high-quality care.”