OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2026
SERVING COACHELLA VALLEY FOR OVER 25 YEARS!
*** PRESIDENT – BILL STARK
PRESIDENTS CORNER
In March 2026, Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley® Chapter 281 celebrated our 25 th year, providing HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT and EDUCATION to heart patients and their families. This was a significant milestone that started at Eisenhower Medical Center and in 2011 expanded to Desert Regional Medical Center. It has been and continues to be an honor and privilege for our accredited visitors, our board and members. We invite you to attend our educational meetings, holiday celebrations and support group sessions. Our thanks for the partnership we have with Eisenhower Health, bringing you wonderful lectures and education October-June.
The year was also highlighted by a strong visiting program, the prospect of new people joining the accredited visitor programs, and our strongest cardiac nurses scholarship program at both hospitals supported by some generous contributions.
EXTREMELY SPECIAL: Mended Hearts, Inc.® national Accredited Visitor of 2026 awarded to our own WERNER BOETCHER. This award, preceded by Regional and Divisional awards in July, will be presented to WERNER at our October 8, 2026 meeting. Please come and help us celebrate this first time highest award given by our parent organization to an Accredited Visitor in Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley.
STEPPING DOWN – We are still looking for a replacement for our Secretary FAYE CHOW. Please consider volunteering for this rewarding position. Secondly, our Newsletter editor since July 2012, CAROLE STARK, is stepping down as we transition to inclusion in our website. Our sincerest thanks and appreciation to CAROLE for her wonderful work over these past sixteen years. Welcome to ARTHUR SHAPIRO who will be editing the newsletter.
Last quarter’s newsletter outlined that we are no longer printing a hard copy and that future editions will be included only on our Website (https://bit.ly/MendedHeartsofCoachellaValley). Please refer to it for new information and schedule of events, most of which we are in partnership with Eisenhower Health.
It is our hope that this newsletter will get into your hands via our new website:
https://bit.ly/MendedHeartsofCoachellaValley
Check it out as this is our new medium and the newsletter will no longer be printed in hard copy. We hope that you will embrace this new approach and give Carl Rushing your ideas to improve content.
*** CARL RUSHING – VICE PRESIDENT/PROGRAMS
All of our programs, unless otherwise noted, take place in the Annenberg Health Sciences Building on the second Thursday of each month, October through June. To learn more about current and upcoming chapter EVENTS visit our chapter web page (https://bit.ly/MendedHeartsCoachellaValley).
Join us from 6:00–8:00 p.m. for a lecture—attend in person or via Zoom—followed by our Chapter support discussion. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect personally with the speaker, meet with fellow heart patients, caregivers, and supporters, and share experiences in a safe and encouraging environment.
In partnership with Eisenhower Health, we are proud to bring you engaging topics, inspiring speakers and meaningful conversations designed to provide HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT and EDUCATION as you continue your heart journey.
Everyone is welcome—members, family, friends, and the public. Light refreshments will be served. Registration for each lecture is kindly requested. We encourage you to mark your calendars and join us for these uplifting and informative evenings.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Eisenhower Cardiovascular Institute and the Future of Cardiac Care
Join Philip Patel, MD, Board Certified Cardiologist, for an overview of the Eisenhower Cardiovascular Institute expansion at Eisenhower Health. Learn about Eisenhower’s cardiac care and rehabilitation programs and how they work closely with Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley to support and serve patients throughout their heart-health journey – from hospital care to ongoing support and recovery.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Topic To Be Determined
When the newsletter went to print, speaker and topic were not yet confirmed. Please refer to our chapter web page (https://www.bit.ly/MendedHeartsofCoachellaValley), Eisenhower Health calendar (Eisenhower Health Calendar (https://eisenhowerhealth.org/news/calendar/), and Desert Sun for the latest scheduling.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2026, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Holiday Potluck Dinner & Celebration
Join Your Mended Hearts Family for an Evening of Food, Fellowship & Holiday Cheer!
Celebrate the season with your Mended Hearts family at our annual Holiday Potluck Dinner! Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy an evening filled with good food, friendship, laughter, and festive cheer.
RSVP by December 7
When you RSVP, please include:
- Your name
- Your guest’s name, if applicable
- The dish you plan to bring
RSVP to Faye Chow:
JaimeAndFaye@Verizon.net
✨ Holiday attire is encouraged! ✨
We look forward to celebrating the season together and sharing another wonderful evening with our Mended Hearts family!
***FUNDRAISING – DNA & INGRID TWOHEY
Fundraising Did Not Take the Summer Off!
Mended Hearts of Coachella Valley had luncheons this summer in July at PF Chang’s, in August at Stuft Pizza in Palm Desert, and in September at Red Robin in Rancho Mirage. The luncheons were a great opportunity to get together with each other and we were able to raise nearly $1,500 for the Mended Hearts Scholarship Fund.
***VISITING CHAIR – BILL STARK
URGENT NOTICE – VISITORS NEEDED!!!
It’s always exciting to welcome new people in our visiting program. So pleased that MARK GREEN and PATRICK TIDMORE are new volunteers and are in their walk-a-round training sessions to become additions to the afternoon visiting program at Eisenhower.
REQUIRED ANNUAL ORIENTATION – All accredited visitors, trainees and potential candidates are required to attend our annual orientation session November 5, 1:30-3:00 PM, Annenberg Health Sciences Building, Annenberg Classroom. Please confirm via email.
Desert Regional needs at least four more visitors. What a great way to give back as a heart patient. You will find the experience to be extremely rewarding. Please call Bill Stark, 760-777-3062 with your interest and questions.
***MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN – DICK FREIMAN
Greetings members, here’s hoping you all had a great Holiday and Happy New Year.
Upon examining our current membership, many of the members’ dues have lapsed. Please review your membership status and bring yours up-to-date. National also sends reminders to every member. If you’re not receiving these reminders, please let me know. To submit your national dues, go to www.mendedhearts.org. Click on join button and follow instructions. If you choose one of the paid levels which are indicated on the membership form attached on the last page of our Newsletter, our chapter receives a 25% share from National.
Please consider making an additional donation to our chapter 281. We have operational expenses such as office supplies, etc. and depend on your donations to provide scholarships for our cardiac nurses at Eisenhower Health and Desert Regional. Many scholarships have been awarded throughout the years by our chapter. Please make checks payable to: Mended Hearts of
Coachella Valley® Chapter #281. Donations will be deposited by our chapter Treasurer, Liz Young, 78310 Willowrich Dr. Palm Desert, CA. 92211.
Prior to our meetings, we have a phone committee who contacts our members to remind them of the date and time. I’m so appreciative that Margaret Manson and Sandy Sladen have joined the calling group which is now five in total. Also, if you have any questions regarding membership dues, please call or e-mail me. Dick Freiman (760) 501-5096 / dickfreiman@gmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT
BILL STARK
760-777-3062
bstarkdest@verizon.net
CARL RUSHING
VICE PRESIDENT/PROGRAMS
404-610-8922
carl.w.rushing@gmail.com
SECRETARY
FAYE CHOW
760-341-5706
jaimeandfaye@verizon.net
TREASURER
LIZ YOUNG
760-409-8181
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN
DICK FREIMAN
760-501-5096
dickfreiman@gmail.com
VISITING CHAIRMAN
BILL STARK
760-777-3062
bstarkdest@verizon.net
EMAIL COORDINATOR
DAVID DIBLEY
650-452-8844
dibleyda@hotmail.com
FUND RAISING
DAN & INGRID TWOHEY
925-348-3295
510-703-5495
twohey1@hotmail.com
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
CAROLE STARK
760-772-1461
bstarkdest@verizon.net