Record breaking blood donor is recognized!

A record number of units of blood have been donated by one of our local members, Ralph Vaughan, to the San Diego Blood Bank, North County Coastal Donor Center in Vista. Currently at 899, Bro. Vaughan will have donated 900 units in March of 2011, which is equivalent to 112.5 gallons of blood.


Vaughan began donating blood casually in the early 1970s. In 1975, his youngest daughter, Lara, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, stage IIIB, a cancer of the lymph glands. Although there was nothing he or his family could do directly for her, there were several other children at the hospital that could benefit from blood donations. He began donating regularly in 1976 and hasn't missed a minimum interval appointment since. In the 1980s, blood science had advanced to a new process called blood aphaeresis. When it was brought to the San Diego Blood Bank, Vaughan was the second person to undergo the process. At the time, it required to be hooked up to a machine the size of a clothes washer for almost two hours with needles stuck into both arms. Now, the process has changed considerably, and he currently donates 24 times a year, the maximum number allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


Regarding his donations, Vaughan says: "Lara is doing very well now and has been in remission for several years, but I continue to donate. I consider it 'paying rent' and I jokingly say 'I do it for the donut!'"


Karen Mower, manager of the Coastal Donor Center, says of Vaughan: “I wish we had a hundred Ralphs. He has helped out so much, not only with blood donations, but the donation of his time as a volunteer at the blood bank. That I know of, he has never missed working for us at a Chargers’ Blood Drive since they began.”


He is a member of the Vista 1st Ward, and he and his wife, Gaea, have five children and three grandchildren.

Serving Our Community

The annual opening of Operation HOPE provided 20 youth from the Vista 8^th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the opportunity to hone their custodial skills and provide service to the homeless women and families that will use the shelter this winter. Russ Blackwood, Director of Operation HOPE, explained that the shelter will be opening this year with new linoleum floors, all new computers, and new couches. All new items and labor were donated. Each year they continue to upgrade the shelter to make it homier and to have the necessities the families need to help them get back on their feet.

Marianne Griffiths, church youth leader, commented: “The youth look forward to this every year. It was mentioned to me by my girls that they would like to come back when the shelter is open and serve the people staying there. They love being part of a great cause.”

Alan Lewellen, Bishop of the Vista 8^th Ward, said of the young people that have been doing this service for the past six years: “We always like to come and serve our community. The feelings we get while doing this service make us want to come back year after year.” Supplies for the shelter are donated by many faith-based organizations, and this year members of the Vista 8^th Ward donated paper products: paper towels, napkins, paper plates, and toilet paper. The young men and women also sorted and folded clothing that had been donated.

Operation HOPE (Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement) provides a temporary winter shelter for homeless families and women, located at 123 West Orange in Vista. In 2003, the Vista City Council, recognizing the growing and complex problem of homelessness, requested help to begin exploring ways to find community resources to address the issue. Operation HOPE evolved out of these early meetings.

In 2006 the organization moved to its current site, a very modest structure centrally located in Vista, providing services from December through March. In the years since it began, programs and processes have evolved to help resident families regain confidence and independence. The shelter is maintained as a collaborative effort of the City of Vista, other government agencies, social service agencies, the faith community, organizations, and individual volunteers.

Vista Stake Has Talent!

Festivity was clearly in the air at the Annual Vista California Stake Fall Talent Festival held on Saturday, October 23^rd. About 350 people attended the talent show, and music, food, comedy and good company made the event hugely successful. Diane Smith, coordinator and chairperson for the event, thanked all the many individuals that made it possible. Josh McBride served as the evening’s host, lending humor and many changes of jackets throughout the evening.

The evening opened with Bagpiper Hayden Norris in a Scottish kilt, charming everyone attending. From 6-year-old twins, Brandon and Justin LeBlanc, acting as standup comics, to the stake’s own Susan Boyle, (aka Kerinda VanWagoner ), the evening was a delightful mix of entertainment. A singing group, the Norris Family from Bonsall, performed, with Shayley Norris on the guitar. A barbershop quartet, composed of Brian Gemmell, Richard Romney, Kim Neblett, and Marshall Edison delighted the audience. Danae Elton choreographed her dance group, The Star-Steppin’ Cloggers, composed of Cheyanne Elton, Jace Elton, Ryan Rice, Lindsay Sprague, Ali Sprague, Mackenzie Jones, Kristin Zenner, Blakeley Houk, Casey Frame, Olivia Sterk, Jenna Hervey, Taryn Hervey, Madeline Frith, and Alyssa Munoz.

A lyrical dance interpretation of “I Am His Daughter” was performed by Anna Staffieri, Lyndsey Gemmell, Paige Hall, Bridgett Hall, Amanda Severson, Brooke Munoz, Bridget Cobb, Caitlin Cobb, Elise Warner, Lauren Warner, Maya Goshai, Darcy Woodmansee, and choreographed by Anna Beck. Loren LeBlanc tickled the ivories, (with a Liberace-style candelabra gracing the piano) and Debbie Norton sang “Only Hope.” Greg and Rowena Greenwood glided over the floor in a comedy dance routine as Mr. and Mrs. Hughes. A soloist, Craig Heesch, performed “Pennies from Heaven”, a song from his Grammy-nominated album. Two talented young people, Shelby Anderson and Mike Cazanave sang “Hello,” in a fashion patterned after the hugely popular TV show Glee. Watch out, American Idol. Here they come!

The event concluded with refreshments elegantly prepared and served, with Carol Kelly as food chairman and Cherie Darian adding her artistic touch, to make a most memorable evening. President Paul Hatch was very pleased with the participation of all the performers and enjoyed the camaraderie of members from all over the stake gathering together.