By the selection Committee of Judy Dolphin and Kim Russel, Judy Clem has been selected to receive the Carrie Chapman Catt League of Women Voters Award for 2006.
Judy exemplifies a LWV member who “contributed long and outstanding service to the community, who has supported and advanced the ideals of League and who presently resides in Ames.”
Judy began her League service as a loyal member of a “unit” in 1968. Each unit met once a month to work on a study or discuss the proposed program. These unit meetings established rapport and initiated vigorous discussions about important community, state-wide or national topics. Judy made sure that little children had care and their mothers could keep brain-cells operating.
It wasn't much later that Judy chaired a study of Story County, known as “Know Your County.” This study prepared her for future work and created an interest in the hospitals within Story County.
Judy's involvement in LVW studies included her leadership, along with Carol Patterson, in urging renovation of the Ames depot. As a result of the study, the Ames LWV approved the commercial renovation of the Ames Depot in 1988. She chaired the study of Story County Hospital and served twice on LWV hospital studies.
Judy's training was in nursing. She cared about patients and their families. She served as a LWV observer at the Mary Greeley Hospital Board of Trustees meetings. Before long, Judy was thinking how much she might contribute to public involvement in area hospitals. So, she decided to run for election, and she was elected to serve on the MGMC board in 1989.
Over her ten years of service on the hospital board, Judy saw the completion of the “state of the art” gastroenterology services department, the construction of the parking ramp, the construction of the west addition, the addition of chaplaincy services-including construction of the Interfaith Chapel, the development of the warm water therapy pool, the Israel Family Hospice House, expansion of dialysis services, implementation of First Nurse, and collaboration with Story County Medical Center.
Judy took her career in nursing to new heights with an understanding of League principles. Please join Judy at the annual meeting to honor her many achievements.
