As a life-long resident of the Mauston area, Lynn Erickson is committed
to improving the economic wellness, education, and healthy of her community.
It is Lynn's personal belief that vibrant communities excel in all
of these areas, and she has had the good fortune to work with groups who
share that vision.
After a 30-year career in the banking industry, Lynn has been dedicating
much of her retirement to the service of others. By working with groups
like iLead Charter School and Mile Bluff Medical Center Foundation, Lynn
is looking to make community improvements that impact and inspire future
generations.
Why have you chosen to support the foundation?
As a youngster, I remember going to the old hospital downtown Mauston
after a bad fall. I don't remember much about that visit, but I do
recall Dr. Strong's kindness and good manner. A few years after that,
in the late 70s, the hospital set out on a major capital campaign called
'Project 80.' That was a success, and resulted in the relocation
of the entire operation, to the medical center's current location.
My husband, Kevin, and I were fortunate to benefit from the availability
of the new facility when it was time to deliver our babies.
I bring up this history because it's easy to forget how things really
do change and improve over time. Plus, it's very easy to take all
of this for granted, especially when you enjoy good health. That brings
me to the 'why.'
When I joined the Friends of the Foundation several years ago, I honestly
did not know a great deal about the foundation or the hospital. What I
have learned over the last three years is that the hospital has an absolutely
massive impact on our community. It's truly one of several gems in
our community. We all should try to understand the value and take a little
time to 'polish' our gem. Although there are many wonderful hospital
employees leading the charge when it comes to the foundation, it's
going to take additional help from the community - both in the form of
talents and treasures.
Right now, my volunteer efforts on behalf of the foundation are focused
on planned giving.
Is there one foundation initiative that really stands out to you?
It's incredible to me that over the last four years, the foundation
has re-invested over $177,000 into the equipment at Mile Bluff. That doesn't
even account for scholarships or tuition reimbursement awards toward Nurses
Helping Nurses or Carol Purvis Education Fund scholarships. I am always
impressed by the hard work of Nurses Helping Nurses to support their peers.
I believe the entire community benefits when we have highly-trained, compassionate
staff at our hospital.
What would you say to others about the importance of supporting the foundation?
Jump in. Get involved. Give what you can. If we all give a little bit,
we can do great things. You don't necessarily need to be part of a
committee or make a long-term commitment in order to help. You can help
simply by supporting one of the many foundation events or fundraisers.
The same holds true with other community organizations - get involved
to the degree that you are able. Being part of the solution beats the
alternative.
What is your hope for healthcare in our community for the future?
Mile Bluff Medical Center looks totally different than it did just 30
or 35 years ago. I'm certain it will look completely different in
another 30 years. Continual change is the only thing that we can really
count on, especially with rapidly-changing technology. Hopefully, we can
channel these changes to improve health outcomes over all.
Like most people these days, I'm very concerned about accessibility
and affordability, yet, I'm hopefully that all stakeholders (consumers,
providers, insurance companies, and regulators) can work together in the end.
If you'd like to give like Lynn...
You can
learn more about the foundation
or make a
donation online. You can also call Martha at 608-847-1495 for more information.