Dale Marie Clark - Executive Director dmclark@hvwa.org Dale has the overall responsibility for the operation of Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area and takes those actions necessary to develop, fund, maintain and promote the various programs and services offered by HVWA. Dale became a Hospice Volunteer in 1992 and subsequently she was hired as Bereavement Coordinator in 1994. She continued to oversee programs and services until her appointment as Executive Director in 2003. Dale led the way in developing the overall bereavement program including Hope's Place for grieving children. She is the founder of Camp Ray of Hope, a statewide program of HVWA which was launched in 1995. Dale is a graduate of CMG / CMMC School of Nursing and has 20+ years experience in the nursing field. The untimely accidental deaths of her husband and son (in 1988) led her to realize that grief support services did not exist in Central Maine. This realization, plus a well established interest in Hospice, led her to HVWA.

Marilyn Pelletier, R.N. - Volunteer Coordinator mpelletier@hvwa.org Marilyn helps plan and coordinate non-medical care for HVWA clients, and their families, such as respite, errands, household chores, transportation and emotional support. She also assists with training, supervision and support of Hospice Volunteers. Marilyn partners with physicians, nursing homes, hospitals and the Medicare certified medical Hospices in the Waterville area in planning and implementing comprehensive care for our clients. Her nursing background is invaluable to her in this role as Volunteer Coordinator. Marilyn began her association with HVWA in 2006 and maintained commitment to Hospice through her volunteer efforts as office support volunteer, member of the Quality Control and Direct Care committees and she was a Regional Volunteer Coordinator. In 2009 Marilyn accepted the staff position of Volunteer Coordinator. Marilyn is a graduate from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Portland. From 1981-2005 Marilyn was an operating room registered nurse at MGMC - most recently as MGMC's OR Clinical Education Specialist. Following retirement from her nursing career she followed her interest in Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area & completed the volunteer training.

Terry Brandwein - Director of Bereavement Services tbrandwein@hvwa.org Terry oversees our bereavement programs and services. This includes working with the Youth Services Coordinator, Regional Volunteer Coordinators, Bereavement Correspondent, Certified Hospice Volunteers and partner agencies to determine and implement services for bereaved clients. She assists in the training, continuing education and support of volunteers. She serves as liaison between volunteers, physicians, health care workers, involved agencies and community resources. Terry began her association with HVWA in 2004 and maintained commitment to Hospice through her volunteer efforts and as HVWA's administrative assistant. From 2007-2009 Terry was Volunteer Coordinator and she began as Director of Bereavement Services in January 2010. Terry was a primary caregiver for her father who died of ALS in 1985 and also helped care for her mother when she died of melanoma in 1992. Those life experiences plus her interest in working with people led her to the nursing profession and Hospice. She was born in Waterville where she grew up in her family's business, Sterns Department Store. She attended elementary schools in Waterville and graduated from Oak Grove-Coburn in 1973. She attended Lesley College in Cambridge, MA and is a 1993 graduate of KVCC School of Nursing.

Jillian Fortin - Youth Services Coordinator jfortin@hvwa.org Jillian develops and implements bereavement and end-of-life peer-support services for children, teens and their families; recruits and helps train volunteer facilitators who provide youth services; coordinates Hope's Place, a year round program for grieving children and teens; and plans and coordinates Camp Ray of Hope, HVWA's annual statewide weekend retreat for grieving families and individuals. She also helps plan and implement education and outreach workshops regarding grieving children and teens to schools and other youth service programs throughout the state. Jillian first became a member of the HVWA team in the fall of 2007 as a University of Maine intern. She is a graduate of the University of Maine, Augusta and holds a BS in Mental Health and Human Services. She came on staff as Program Coordinators Assistant in 2008 and in 2009 became Youth Services Coordinator. Jillian makes her home in Skowhegan.

Deb Thurston Community Education and Outreach Coordinator dthurston@hvwa.org Deb trains and coordinates the speaker's bureau to promote the mission and services of HVWA through marketing, speaking engagements and public relations. Deb also coordinates appropriate community education and outreach to places such as schools, service organizations, colleges, workplaces and churches. Deb holds a B.A. in Psychology and has an extensive background working with college students and with school age children. She has also been a creative movement teacher, has taught Sunday school and was Christian Education Director in Waterville. She also served on the board of directors at the Inside / Outside Playground. Deb began her association with HVWA in 2004 as administrative assistant and made an impact with her ideas, organizational skills and energy which she continues to do in her current position. She was HVWA's Youth Services Coordinator 2006-2008 before accepting the Community Education and Outreach position. Deb lives in Waterville with husband Jim and daughter Olivia and Anna.

Deb Letourneau - Administrative Assistant dletourneau@hvwa.org Deb assists and supports the Executive Director with book keeping, fiscal management and fundraising efforts at HVWA. Deb first became aware of Hospice bereavement services in 2008 following the accidental death of her daughter, Krysta. Deb says "the one on one support, grieving parent group meetings and Camp Ray of Hope gave me a place to vent my feelings and helped maintain my emotional well-being during that time!" Deb joined our staff in June 2009 and became a Certified Hospice Volunteer that fall. In addition to working on staff she hopes to volunteer at some point with Veterans in the Hospice Unit at Togus. She also has interest in supporting grieving parents.

Debbie Sills - Administrative Assistant dsills@hvwa.org Debbie is the first voice you hear or face you see when you call or visit HVWA. She has been a member of the HVWA team since 2007 when she came on staff. Her interest in Hospice began when she received support during her Dad's diagnosis of cancer and subsequent care. After his death she realized the Hospice philosophy was a good fit and that she wanted to become a part of that. Hospice led her to a change in career paths from business to this helping profession to which she brings compassion and understanding to all.

The average time a volunteer spends with an individual and his/her family is about 3-4 hours per week. The days and hours for volunteer services are determined by interviewing the individual and family. the volunteer is selected for a family based on where they live, personality, age, other personal factors and their availability.

We do our best to provide help when needed. When we are unable to meet a requested schedule, we will offer our best alternative based on availability of volunteers.