Tavistock Community Health Inc. reports positive year at annual meeting

The incoming board of directors for Tavistock Community Health Inc. includes president Greta Riedel, seated. Standing, from left, are Dennis Kuepfer, Frank Meconi, Russ Huber, Deborah Wagler, Carolyn Kropf, Beverly Neeb and Amanda Pavey. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Tavistock Community Health Inc. (TCHI) reported a positive financial year during its annual meeting last week, despite several major capital improvements completed at the local medical clinic.

Audited financial statements, prepared by Stratford’s Famme and Co., showed the organization remained in a stable position after investing in several significant upgrades to the medical building.

Among the largest expenses were the purchase and installation of a new HVAC heating and cooling unit on the clinic roof, the replacement of an aging standby generator and renovations to the office, front waiting area and examination rooms. Those interior upgrades were completed on schedule by local contractor Jon Witzel Construction.

During the meeting, outgoing president Russ Huber was congratulated for guiding the board through a challenging year while helping launch TCHI’s $500,000 fundraising campaign.

Huber told those in attendance the organization is still looking for three new board members. Anyone interested, whether they are a clinic patient or not, is encouraged to contact Frank Meconi at 519-801-8693 or by email at fameconi@roger.com.

Huber also invited area residents to visit the clinic and see the upgrades for themselves, adding the board hopes community members will consider making capital donations to help ensure the clinic remains viable for another 25 years.

The annual meeting also featured guest speakers Barb Myers and Ron Harrison of Shakespeare, who spoke about living with Parkinson’s disease, with which Harrison has been diagnosed.

Speaking with optimism, the couple shared information about the symptoms of Parkinson’s, including anxiety, rigidity, freezing of gait, tremors, poor balance, cramping, sleep disruption and apathy. They noted dopamine-based treatment is currently the main therapy helping manage symptoms.

They also referenced actor Michael J. Fox, who has lived with Parkinson’s for decades, as an example of someone continuing to cope with the disease over the long term.

Harrison said doctors at Victoria Hospital in London have been surprised by how much strength he still has, and he remains hopeful he may eventually undergo deep-brain stimulation treatment.

Over the years, the couple, along with their families and supporters, have helped raise more than $300,000 in the Stratford and Shakespeare areas for Parkinson’s research and efforts toward a future cure.

This year’s Parkinson’s walk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, at Upper Queen’s Park in Stratford. Organizers said community support through sponsorship and participation continues to play an important role in funding research and support for those living with the disease.