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Sparrow Women’s Hospital Association
In early 1896, Lansing was 40 years old. The City was just coming out of its second depression. Many businesses had been lost, but many new ones had sprung up
including some interest in horseless carriages. The population of Lansing was 15,000. One afternoon the ladies of Lansing were having a game of whist.
One of them became ill and was taken to the doctor. Some of the women began discussing where people went who could not afford the doctor.
If the sick had no where else to go, they usually were taken to the jail for care.
These women organized a meeting to be held on March 18, 1896, at the Downey Hotel. 114 women attended that meeting.
They paid $5.00 ea. (a healthy sum for those days) and organized The Women's Hospital Association.
They elected an 11 member Board of Control, rented a house on West Ottawa, brought in their own bed linens and canned goods and a hospital was born.
They would move the hospital to 2 more locations before Edward W. Sparrow donated the money for land and a new building that would be built as a hospital in 1912.
The Board of Control was increased to 15 members and changed its name to the Women's Board of Managers because Edward Sparrow insisted that an all male Board of
Directors be appointed to take care of the financial matters and the Women's Board would manage the hospital. The women agreed only if the Women’s Board of
Managers would have representation in the general operations of the Hospital. Today, the Women’s Board of Managers President and President/Elect sit on the
Sparrow Health System Board of Directors. Other Women’s Board Managers may be invited to sit on System Board Committees.
A nursing school was opened in 1899 for 4 students. These first students came from Canada. As
the school grew, it became a good source for nurses in the hospital. In 1902, the Auxiliary was
formed to sew and mend linens. In 1924, the Guild was organized to raise money for and run a
free clinic. These two original groups continue to sew and raise funds for the Health System.
In 1988, the Women’s Hospital Association of Ingham County became The Sparrow Women's Hospital Association consisting of both men and
women who have paid annual dues or life memberships.
In 1997, Sparrow Health System and St. Lawrence Health Care Services merged. Although the volunteer forces did not totally merge, the groups and leagues have
worked together to build a strong volunteer base in both facilities. The Women’s Board of Managers opened its membership to the St. Lawrence volunteers
and has been inviting them to join its Board, as positions become available.
The annual meeting of the Association is in May when the membership is honored for years of service. The Association is governed by the Women's Board of Managers,
whose members are elected for three-three year terms by members of the Association. Managers of the Women's Board serve on several committees and each manager is
assigned to at least one of three committees: Community Health Education, House/Decor and Volunteer Services.
- The Community Health Education Committee works with the Community Health Education Department and assists in planning, implementation and evaluation of services and programs.
- The House-Decor Committee coordinates the decorating and furnishings in the hospital to ensure a pleasant environment. The committee also reviews the cleanliness, efficiency and safety within the hospital.
- The Volunteer Services Committee assists in the leadership and guidance for the hospital’s volunteer groups consisting of 1600 active volunteers. Committee members
act as liaisons to one or more volunteer groups. They and the Volunteer Services Department are responsible for recruitment, placement, orientation, evaluation and
recognition of volunteers. Representatives from the St. Lawrence Campus Auxiliary Executive Board are part of the Volunteer Services Committee.
Dues are $1.00 to the Association per year to be used for nursing and educational scholarships, financial assistance for new volunteer groups, purchases of artwork for public areas throughout the hospital and other activities of the organization. Life memberships are available for $100 for an individual and $150 for a couple.
The Women's Board has 21 members. At the end of the third three-year term, the member becomes an honorary member.
Honorary members are invited to sit on the board committees and help in other areas as well.
The status of the Women's Board is different from the other hospital boards. The Association is incorporated having a separate
status and total control over its activities - of course within reason. This is a heavy responsibility. The Board meets monthly.
The System's President and CEO, Dennis Swan, is present at our meetings. The Chief Financial Officer gives a report at each meeting and although,
we no longer have a nursing school, the Vice President of Nursing gives a bimonthly report.
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