“One of the very hardest things to do during life is to let go of something worthwhile … something that was needed and valued, something that required lots of hard work by many for the benefit of our Orcas Island community.”

And so, the Board of Directors of the Orcas Island Medical Guild (OIMG) presented a resolution to dissolve that body at its Annual Meeting on Oct. 25.

In the resolution, the OIMG board stated that it “has concluded that medical needs and services in the community have changed since 1985 when there was only one medical center on the island and Orcas Island Medical Guild came into existence …’to raise funds for support of health services, medical clinic and health education programs and projects for the people of Orcas Island.’”

The statement said, “The Board of Directors of the Orcas Island Medical Guild has recognized the decline in membership, lack of enthusiasm for fundraising projects and associated activities, duplication of efforts with other organizations and concerns from the community about Orcas Island Medical Guild’s inability to assist private practice (for-profit) physicians in their practices since we claim to assist the entire Orcas Island community,” and recommended dissolution of the OIMG, a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Formal documents (Articles of Dissolution) and a plan for distribution of remaining funds and dissolution of the OIMG corporation will now be filed.

“The time has come to recognize the valuable contribution of Orcas Island Medical Guild and to move on to help in other ways that are now available to us (one being as a friend of OIMCA/Orcas Island Medical Center Association)” said current OIMG President Diane Baxter in a formal statement issued last week.

“Muriel Silvertooth and many others were instrumental in heading up this effort and tirelessly and joyfully gave of their time and energy for well over 20 years to see to it that we have had the best equipment, training, education and health-related programs to fulfill the mission and purpose of the Orcas Island Medical Guild,” said Baxter.

The following Board members were nominated and unanimously voted into office for the duration of the time needed to complete dissolution of the Guild: President – Diane Baxter; Vice-President – Sharlene Winsor; Treasurer – June West; Recording Secretary – Judy Whiting: and Corresponding Secretary – Betty Williams.

Other officers of the OIMG include immediate Past President – Muriel Silvertooth, Membership – Dorothy Lundquist,

Historian – Terry Cairns, Constitution & Bylaws – Karen Ritter, OIMCA Designee – Velma Doty, Nominations – Judy Schliebus and SHIBA – Peggy Griswold.