Gold Brick Program: Supporting Life-Sustaining Dialysis Services

    PRESQUE ISLE – Richard and Lynn Lombard understand the importance of the County Dialysis Center. Richard’s mother, Beryl Lombard, who visits the center three times each week for treatment, relies on dialysis services to stay alive.     “I first became involved with the dialysis center because of Beryl’s need for dialysis,” said Lynn. “But as a member of TAMC’s Board of Trustees, I’ve also come to know a lot more about the dialysis center, and certainly have a real sense of the value that it brings to the community, most especially from a personal viewpoint.”
    County Dialysis Center, a department of The Aroostook Medical Center, opened in May of 1997 after countless individuals, businesses, and civic organizations, led by the Presque Isle Rotary Club, provided financial support for the project.
    In addition to providing much of the initial funding for the center, the Presque Isle Rotary Club has continued to support dialysis services through the Gold Brick Program.
    Funds from Gold Brick purchases go into an endowment fund, which supports needed technology and equipment upgrades at A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital. According to Larry LaPlante, chair of the TAMC Endowments Board, interest from the endowment will be used to purchase three new dialysis machines in the coming months.
    “The endowment fund was established 50 years ago with the start of the Presque Isle Rotary Club Gold Brick Program,” said LaPlante. “Over the past 50 years, income from the endowment has funded many worthwhile projects at the hospital. Our project for 2007 is to fund the replacement of dialysis machines that were originally purchased through a special project of the Presque Isle Rotary Club several years ago.”
    Each year, the endowment board works with hospital administration to determine how the yearly interest earned by the fund should be spent.
    “Some of the hospital equipment that we’ve funded over the years has included ultrasound, anesthesia, and mammography equipment, and more recently, funds were used for imaging equipment,” said LaPlante. “The endowment board only spends the earnings on the fund. The principal is invested to produce income for future projects. It gives the hospital the resources it needs to purchase valuable equipment on an ongoing basis.”
    Dialysis machines only have a five-year lifespan, and for people who receive dialysis treatment, the machines are their lifeline.
    Having up-to-date equipment is an important part of making sure dialysis service remains available to anyone in Aroostook County, whenever it is needed.
    For Beryl and the other patients of County Dialysis Center, having the service available close to home is important.
    If County Dialysis Center did not exist, patients would have to go to Bangor three times a week.
    “If the center had not been here, it would be difficult to make arrangements to travel to Bangor, because both my husband and I have full-time jobs,” said Lynn. “So having the center here is wonderful.”
    At this year’s annual auction, the Presque Isle Rotary Club is expected to reach its original goal, set in 1958, of obtaining 1,000 pledges of $1,000 each.         Thanks to the club’s support, the endowment will continue to fund the purchase of needed medical equipment and technology for generations to come.
    “I want to express our heartfelt thanks to the Presque Isle Rotary Club for what they do in continuing this fabulous program and for what they have done in establishing the County Dialysis Center,” said Lynn. “Thank you very, very much.”