— History of the Twigs —

One crisp October day in 1887, Lois Whitney, a member of the Rochester City Hospital (later renamed Rochester General Hospital) Board of Lady Managers, invited four friends for lunch. Afterward, she drew from her work basket some hospital table napkins which needed hemming. Her friends offered to help, and they spent the afternoon chatting and sewing. Two weeks later, the group expanded to include eight friends who enjoyed meeting together while they accomplished a worthwhile project for the hospital. The new circle of friends decided they were not big enough to be called a branch of anything, so they called themselves a 'twig.' This first Twig later named themselves the Parent Stem. Two and one-half years after that first luncheon meeting, Lois Whitney died, but before her death, said to a friend, "Do not lose sight of the Twigs, for they may grow to be a power for good."

By the 1890s, other Twigs had formed. They met in their homes on alternate Fridays for lunch and a pleasant afternoon of conversation while they sewed sheets, pillowcases, towels, washcloths, and nightshirts. The tradition of sewing for the hospital, which was to continue for more than 70 years and provide thousands of all kinds of needed items, was now established. Individual Twigs also became involved in special projects. They gave incubators, refrigerators, and books for the library. They also endowed beds for the Children's Pavilion and gave a wide variety of memorial gifts. Physically, the women laid floors, painted and redecorated rooms, wards, halls, and porches.

The Twigs also took an active part in the Donation, an annual benefit for the hospital, which was held on the first Friday and Saturday in December, and involved almost everyone in the city. A wide variety of items were sold, from items of clothing and knitted goods to popcorn, baked goods, jellies, preserves, and even garden produce. The Donations also provided entertainment over the years with plays, booths, dances, song recitals and concerts. In 1901, the Twigs managed the Donation for the first time, and realized a profit of $2,500 for two days of hard work. From that time on, each Donation was the Twig's responsibility. The Donation was held at Convention Hall until 1916 when the Twig Sale moved to the First Presbyterian Church, the first of many moves which included private homes, Cutler Union, the Masonic Temple, the Dome Arena, and its present location, the Eisenhart Auditorium. In 1977, a Twig Mini-sale was held on the Concourse of the hospital the week after the Twig Sale. It was so well received that it has become an annual event. The Twig Sale continues to sell quality handmade items and realize a profit of $3500 each year. It is the oldest sale of its kind in the community.

The first Twig Gift Shop Opened in 1947 and was an immediate success. Hospital personnel and visitors could now conveniently do some of their own shopping and could also purchase gifts for the patients. Twig volunteers, then as now, managed the entire operation from purchasing to staffing. The success of the first gift shop encouraged the Twigs to open a combined Twig gift and Coffee Shop when the hospital moved to its expanded facility on Portland Avenue in 1956. Twig members continued to manage and staff the gift shop, and they also learned to make milkshakes and serve lunches and snacks to the hospital staff and visitors. The Twig Gift and Coffee Shops were enlarged and renovated in 1977, providing space for a large selection of gifts, flowers and greeting cards. The Twig Gift Shop is open every day of the year.

During the early years, Twig profits primarily funded furnishings for the hospital. As medical technology expanded, fund raising efforts increased, and the Twigs were able to provide the hospital with equipment which included such items as a laser surgery instruments, mammography units, and cardiology monitoring systems. In 1977 and 1978, the Twigs gave more than 4000 volunteer hours to the Bankers Trust LPGA tournament and received $43,000 for their efforts. These funds, added to monies from all sources, helped to fund the Pulmonary Unit. A great increase occurred in individual Twig fundraisers following 1980 when, through incorporation, the Twigs became 'The Twigs of the Rochester General Hospital Association.' From golf and tennis matches, road rallies, country fairs and garden tours, to dances, picnics, gourmet dinners and pool parties, the Twigs showed great ingenuity in their fund raising efforts for the hospital. These profits, combined with profits from the Twig Gift Shop, the Twig Sale, and the vending operation, made it possible for the Twigs to make a five-year pledge of $700,00 for the construction of the Twig Birthing Center. In addition, monies are allocated each year to the Patient-Staff library, Social Services, Nursing Scholarships and Education, and Pediatrics. The Twigs also give a poinsettia plant to each patient in the hospital on Christmas day.

Through the years, Twig membership has continued to grow and there are over 700 members in 55 Active Twigs and there are 40 Emeritus Twigs in Rochester. In addition, Twig members who moved from the area established new twigs throughout the country.* In New York State alone, there are Twigs in Buffalo, Cooperstown, Amsterdam, Brockport, Portchester, Medina, Newark and Canandaigua. Nationally, there are Twigs in Summit, N.J.; Memphis, Tenn.; St. Louis, Mo.; Dayton, Oh.; and Columbus Oh., to name a few. A National Twig Conference was held in St. Louis in 1984. Seminars on all topics concerning the Twigs were featured.

Each Twig is comprised of a group of friends who enjoy meeting together while they work for the hospital. The Twigs have indeed grown to be a "power for good."

*Mrs. J. Van Wyck Wickes came to Rye from Rochester in 1911.