Deer Park resident Vera Rich, a Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, volunteer, was elected to a one-year term as president of the Nassau- Suffolk Council of Hospital Auxiliaries. Her term expires June 2008.

Rich has been a member of the Guilds of Good Samaritan since 1975 and held the position of president of the Medical Center's Central Council from 2000 to 2002. She has also held several positions with the Nassau-Suffolk Council of Hospital Auxiliaries, including recording secretary and first vice president.

In her role as Nassau-Suffolk Council of Hospital Auxiliaries president, Rich will continue to lead this organization of hospital volunteers that is aligned with the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC), the organization that represents Long Island's 24 not-for-profit and public hospitals.

Hospital auxilians play a vital role in the delivery of compassionate care at each of their facilities and are major fund raisers for their respective institutions. Collectively, Long Island's volunteer auxilians raise millions through gift shop and thrift shop sales, fashion shows and boutiques, and other events.

Cub Scout Pack 175 of West Babylon participated in Youth Service Day, sponsored by Assemblyman Bob Sweeney and Town Supervisor Steve Bellone. The Scouts conducted a clean up at Anthony Sanchez Memorial Park. Her term expires in June 2008. She is pictured with outgoing president Candy Misner, an auxilian volunteer for South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside.