AAHV HISTORY

     Realizing that Arizona had no statewide healthcare auxiliary for education, networking, and professional support, several Central Arizona auxiliary leaders met in 2000 to gather information and to plan for a state auxiliary, using the models of many other long-standing state auxiliaries. The initial Advisory Committee planned an Organizational Conference in October 2001 to assess and to build on statewide interest, and to organize future directions.

     The Advisory Committee in 2001 obtained recognition by the American Hospital Association's Committee on Volunteers as an official State Auxiliary under the name Association of Arizona Healthcare Volunteers. Bylaws and Policies and Procedures were presented and approved at the first educational conference in October 2002. The second educational conference in November 2003 included the first election of officers of the Advisory Board. Subsequent educational conferences are held annually.

      We operate independent of any other organization, although we intend our organization to support and to complement the work of the Arizona Society of Volunteer Administrators in Healthcare (AzSVAH) and the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA), as well as the American Hospital Association Committee on Volunteers.