Rotary Flag Plaza Anniversary

The Medical Center Foundation recently made a special presentation to some of the leadership of the Rotary Club of Braselton.

As the foundation’s Braselton cabinet gathered for a meeting, the recognition of a special milestone, the one-year anniversary of the dedication of the Rotary Flag Plaza, was marked as the cabinet is approaching its current fundraising goal.

Tony Funari, chairman of the Braselton cabinet, thanked his board for helping to raise money for the foundation and its support of improving the health of the community.

Anthony Williamson, president of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, reminded that the Rotary Flag Plaza was dedicated almost one year to that Jan. 15, 2015, day as a pretty cool, chilly day highlighted by a nice ceremony. He described the event as memorable when a photograph of a large contingent of people were on hand in advance of the April 1official opening of the hospital as construction was still going on.

Williamson said a lot has happened since the opening of the hospital including an addition now under way and Women and Children’s Services facilities to be available in August.

“Thank you for the signature gift,” said Williamson to the Rotarians in attendance including president Leigh Carroll and past presidents Howard Hardaway, Mike Day, Jim Joedecke and Funari, who acknowledged Rotarian Paul Maney “as the reason for all of this. He was determined to see that the Braselton Rotary Club was part of a legacy project with the new hospital. We owe him a special thank-you for being a part of this and making it happen.” Past president Craig Heighton and president-elect Chad Bingham could not attend.

Funari explained the Rotary leadership of past presidents came together in support of the flag plaza project as a legacy project for the club and noted the significance of multi-year financial commitment. The community’s support of Rotary endeavors to raise funds to put back into the community and toward Rotary District 6910 and Rotary International initiatives, such as the ongoing PolioPlus effort to stop the transmission of wild poliovirus.

Williamson acknowledged the significance of the flag plaza.

“We have an opportunity daily to arrive on the campus and look up as the flags which reflect what those flags mean for each of us and remember those who have served our country, community, state or nation well,” said Williamson. “It is a meaningful place, a special place on our campus.

“As the breeze is hitting them, there is a moment to reflect,” said Williamson, who noted that Rotarians have been a part of the hospital from the beginning of the efforts “by welcoming us, helping us to ask the community to connect with us.” He acknowledged that many of the relationships which have been developed in the community were through efforts of Rotarians.

And the relationships within the community are growing. “We are quickly becoming a hit,” he said, noting the hospital had 74 patients nearly filling all the 82 staffed beds. The community is patronizing the hospital and the feedback being received is positive. The Emergency Department is seeing close of 3,000 patients per month, meaning the facility is a third as busy as the Gainesville campus.

Williamson welcomed the Rotarians to the podium for the unveiling of a commemorative piece developed in recognition of the Rotary Flag Plaza.