Board member profile: Larlene Dunsmuir
After more than two decades in nursing with Providence Health Systems, nurse practitioner Larlene Dunsmuir had begun to look for additional ways to remain connected with the reason she originally chose to enter the healthcare profession – to make a positive difference in the health of others.
Larlene has had a leadership role for many years with the Nurse Practitioners of Oregon (“NPO”) and had helped them develop a Student Nurse Practitioner Scholarship. The first scholarship recipient is a Project Access NOW Volunteer and she introduced Larlene to the wonderful work that Project Access NOW does. Later that same day, Larlene had dinner with Frank and Cathy Betzer and Frank mentioned that he was a board member for Project Access NOW and again Larlene heard about the great work that this organization was doing.
Amazed by this coincidence, Larlene knew that she had to become a part of Project Access NOW. Following an introduction to executive director Linda Nilsen-Solares, Larlene joined the Marketing and Development Committee and soon began working on the first Bridges to Healthcare event. She brought her years of experience planning and chairing other events, such as the annual NPO Conference. In addition, her knowledge and connections in the wine industry as the owner of Vin Affaires, a personal wine business, and as President of the Portland Chapter of Women for Winesense helped when it came time to procure donations of wine for the event. And her involvement with the NPO led to that organization’s sponsorship of our Bridges to Healthcare event for the last two years, for which we are so grateful.
Larlene says there have been several occasions when she has asked people if they know about Project Access NOW, and the answer too often is no. However, after she has described the program, people say how wonderful it is to learn about the efforts and contributions of all of its volunteers and how much a program like this is needed. Larlene believes that many more people need to know about Project Access NOW. It is partially for this reason that she joined the Board of Directors. As a board member, Larlene wants to increase her involvement and have a greater impact by, among other things, building relationships and increasing awareness of Project Access NOW’s presence among the community.
(July 2011)
