May 18, 2007
A Colleague Convention
Illini Campus employees past and present to reunite
SILVIS, ILLINOIS - Last year, retired physician Dr. John Jones suggested a small get-together for some retired Emergency Room staff of the Genesis, Illini Campus.
The word spread, and before long, “small” grew to 81 people who showed up at Ryan’s restaurant to share memories of Illini’s past.
Always a close-knit hospital, no one could underestimate the strong bond that remained among those who had worked there over Illini’s proud 38-year history.
“We’ve all remained close for a lot of reasons,” says Lois Griffin, a retired secretary for the Emergency Room who worked at Illini for nearly 27 years. “Illini was our home. A lot of people grew up at Illini. The people that worked at Illini worked there a long time. We’re a family.”
Of course, those who didn’t know about the “small” reunion began asking for a larger reunion. They will get their wish — thanks to Griffin and retired Emergency Room nurse Judy Johnson, who are planning a huge reunion with invitations going out to staff past and present.
A big reunion
The 2007 Colleague Convention, a reunion for past and current employees, will be Saturday, June 2 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Genesis, Illini Campus, in the lower level of the Larson Center, 855 Illini Drive in Silvis. Drinks and tableware will be provided.
Participants can bring a finger food to share. Old photos will be welcomed, too.
“From the time Illini first started, it has always been a very close-knit place,” Johnson says. “Going through all of these names, I can’t believe how many sons, daughters and spouses that worked at Illini. It’s unbelievable how many families that Illini basically supported.”
With the help of Judy’s husband, Bob, a retired law enforcement professor at Black Hawk College, they have compiled more than 600 names of past employees with whom they are trying to establish contact.
“We’ve got our own private detective working for us,” Griffin jokes. “Yesterday, we called 17 people from out of state. We’ve been on the phone non-stop. This is going to be really, really big.”
“The computer has been a godsend,” Johnson adds. “There was someone I worked with at Illini in the 70s who I knew lived in San Francisco, and I found her online in the white pages.”
Many who can’t come have sent e-mails and letters to share with former co-workers, she added. Already, the two have 10 sheets of poster board filled with photos.
An e-mail invitation also has been sent throughout the entire health system because those employees are now part of the Illini Campus history and family, too.
Illini Hospital affiliated with Genesis Health System in 1996 to create the area’s first bi-state integrated health care system.
“Illini has touched so many people’s lives in this part of the community. The employees have been passionate about this campus from Day One,” says Charlotte Powell, RN, BSN, who is manager of Educational Services for the health system.
“Over the years, Illini Campus employees and physicians have felt as a family. Most floors floated staff, so everyone knew everyone. Not only did we know each other, but many times our own families would meet each other. I can remember being told by a manager, ‘A wheel is only as strong as its hub.’ In our case, our hub is our families and departments.”
Already, more than 100 people have said they’re coming. Some are family members of former employees who have passed away. Someone is coming from Texas. It’s a lot of hard work, but Griffin and Johnson know the importance of reuniting old friends. At last year’s reunion, a friend and former co-worker who was dying of cancer rallied long enough to spend several hours at the party. She had a great time reminiscing, and died just days after the reunion.
“We definitely think it’s worth all the hard work to get everyone together,” Johnson says.
###
