New Award and Scholarship Honor Dr. Brewster Martin
By Sandy Vondrasek

Patricia Manion was awarded the first "Dr. Brewster Martin Excellence award" by the Clara Martin Center, which is based in Randolph and serves Orange County with mental health services. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

At Clara Martin Center's annual meeting Nov. 1, "the focus was on Brewster Martin," reported the agency's Executive Director Linda Chambers this week.

Two new awards- both named in honor of the much-loved family physician from Chelsea- were announced at the meeting.

The first "Dr. Brewster Martin Excellence Award" was presented to Patricia Manion, a psychiatric nurse practitioner who has worked in the agency's Community Support Program, for the chronically mentally ill, for 14 years.

Also, it was announced that the agency is launching a new Brewster Martin scholarship, to be awarded to an Orange County resident "pursuing a career in any health-care field," Chambers said.

There will be an application process for the $2000 scholarship, which will be awarded annually. Details on the scholarship, she indicated, will be released at a later date.

Martin, who died in August at the age of 84, served on the Clara Martin Center's Board of Trustees from 1990 until his death. The mental health agency, initially called Orange County Mental Health, was renamed the Clara Martin Center in 1994. Clara Martin- Brewster's wife, who died in 1990- was known for her efforts to keep mental health services local, and thereby more accessible to residents of rural Central Vermont.

Chambers said this week that a portion of the contributions made in Brewster Martin's memory have beenused to establish the new awards.

Martin's spirit of excellence, she added, continues to inspire the entire organization.

Pat Manion, who works with the clients in Randolph and in Chelsea, was selected as an exemplar of Dr. Martin's standard of excellence.

Manion was cited for a long list of attributes and actions, including her compassion, knowledge, teamwork, and advocacy for clients. She works directly with clients, as well as coordinating care with family members, physicians, and other caregivers.

Reached this week at her office at CMC's site at 24 South Pleasant Street in Randolph, Manion said her chief satisfaction on the job is working with clients. They include, she said, people with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, and major depression.

"I really enjoy helping others, and trying to make lives better for the clients we serve- it's very rewarding work," Manion said.

Other Awards

Two community members also received special acknowledgement for their efforts on behalf of Clara Martin Center clients.

Kelly Stacy, manager of the Randolph McDonald's restaurant was honored for her support of an employee with mental health issues, who is a client of Clara Martin's Community Support Program.

Stacy, cited for her support of all her employees, has made extra efforts on behalf of the client, including securing transportation to and from work.

Also cited was Jennie Martin, teacher and coordinator of Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, "who never fails to make room in her cramped schedule to help others help themselves."

Clara Martin's executive director, Linda Chambers, reflected this week that the agency's annual meeting- this is the 41st- is always an occasion to recommit to the agency's mission.

That mission is working with other communities and agencies to provide the mental health services that residents need, and to provide those services as close to home as possible.

Chambers noted that in rural areas, and in a time of fiscal and health care pressures and problems, keeping services local is a challenge.

"Really, we are the people that hire people to take care of people in their communities, and that's what we do- and we have to do that in very flexible and creative ways," she said.

Staff Anniversaries

Helping the Clara Martin Center deliver its services are a number of long-time employees. Honored at the annual meeting on the occasion of their "staff anniversaries" were: Joyce Fullam, 25 years; Robin Wheeler, 20 years; Hillary Cole and Melanie Gidney, 15 years; and April Ketcham, Jeff Rothenberg, and Melanie Townsend, 10 years. Eight who achieved the five-year mark were also acknowledged.

____________