Spring Convention 2009 – Awards


Awards presented at the Spring Convention 2009 included the following:

C & L Award presented to Dorii Gbolo, CEO Open Cities Health Center. This award is presented annually to a non-Toastmaster who has made significant contributions in his or her community, modeling effective communication and leadership skills.

Lou Novak Award, awarded annually to a District 6 Toastmaster who has demonstrated excellence in Club Building. This year’s recipient is Brian Rice, DTM.

Don Murray Award, awarded to a member who has made significant contributions to the District, outside of his or her own club, while not serving as a District Officer. This year’s recipient is Laura Hutt, DTM.

Lorin Pollmann Award for Excellence in Speechcraft was awarded to VAMC Toastmasters Club#3334.

Spring PR Contest Winners – please visit the PR Contest page.

2009 C & L Winner: Dorii Gbolo, CEO Open Cities Health Center

Each year, District 6 recognizes a non-Toastmaster in the community who has made a significant contribution in the community, modeling effective communication and leadership skills. The recipient is honored at a special Communication & Leadership Award Luncheon each year at the Spring Convention. On Saturday, April 25 we will present this award to Dorii Gbolo, CEO of Open Cities Health Center.

Open Cities Health Center (OCHC) is a non-profit organization which serves as a safety net in the community for those who might not be able to afford necessary health care otherwise. It began in the basement of a church in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. Today they operate two facilities in St. Paul, serving people “from birth to grave” according to Gbolo. They offer a full range of medical and dental services, behavioral health services, free classes, support groups, WIC assistance, and more. Cost is provided on a sliding scale fee, based on the patient’s income and family size. General medical care is their most utilized service, followed by dental care. The Dunlap facility sees about 200 patients a day. Most hear about the clinics through word of mouth, and some are referred there after visiting the local emergency rooms.

Ms. Gbolo knows a thing or two about leadership which is why she is a well deserving recipient of the award this year. She has served as a missionary in Liberia, and upon returning from a mission back in 1990, enrolled in the nursing program at the College of St. Catherine. After completing her program she was hired by Open Cities as a Nurse Manager. Gbolo recognized a need for something more than simply treating an ailing body part; that is the need to treat the whole human being. She was recognized in 2008 by Twin Cities Business magazine and Medica as a Health Care Hero in the area of Community Outreach. She was recently featured on NBC Nightly News in a segment regarding the stimulus package and how it will help the healthcare system.

OCHC is a fully-staffed organization, with no volunteer providers. Everyone is paid, and when asked how they have continued to expand and serve the growing population of those in need, Gbolo said “You are the second person to ask me that. We just do what we can, add more staff if we need to.” The clinic bills 3rd party insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid, and also receives grants from private foundations and donor groups. There is also a federal grant which helps cover those who are uninsured, and programs including SAGE and SAGE Plus which help with routine breast and cervical cancer screenings, diabetes and high blood pressure diagnosis and treatments. OCHC has one major fundraiser event in the summer, which is a golf tournament honoring the late Bill Skally who was a long-time OCHC board member and active member of his community. Skally died in August 2007 and his family organizes the tournament to raise funds for OCHC.

When asked how someone can get involved in giving back and helping others, Gbolo said “All you have to do is open your eyes and look around to see the needs. People have pride and you have to respect their privacy, so you can help someone and not even tell them. Put a bag of groceries by someone’s door. Get involved with your church, help a youth group, or go to a nursing home; they always need help. It has to be a selfless effort; you don’t do it to get brownie points with God.”

What is next for Dorii? “I don’t know what God has planned, but I will step up to the plate.” OCHC recently received a grant for their north end facility on Rice Street in St. Paul. They are currently leasing space, so they may look to purchase space, possibly in or near their current facility, as well as expand services. When she is not helping with the community, Dorii Gbolo enjoys spending time with her family. She is the mother of 11 children, and loves to sit in their back yard and watch them interact with one another. She also loves to spend time with her 90 year-old grandmother who has been an inspiration to her, as she was the first African-American nurse in her hometown on Danville, Illinois. Gbolo has followed a legacy of strong women helping those who need it most as her mother was also a nurse.

Finally, taking a line from James Lipton’s famous 10 questions in his celebrity interviews, Gbolo was asked, “If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?” Gbolo: “Well done, a good and faithful servant. Come on in; let’s get busy. There’s a lot of work to be done!”

Please plan on attending the C&L Luncheon on Saturday, April 25 at our Spring Convention as we present the C&L Award to Dorii Gbolo. For more information on Open Cities, visit their website at http://www.ochealthcenter.com.

Watch the video featured on the February 18 NBC Nightly News here: