A Time for Every Season
August 14, 2020
By the time you read this, I will have entered a new season in my life – I am retired! Wow, does that feel good to say out loud! Yet, I will miss working with health care teams. Truly, I have experienced many miracles performed by caring health care professionals in my career. I have always believed in and witnessed God’s many blessings given to keep health care locally accessible in rural areas.
I grew up in Nisland, South Dakota, a small rural community about 16 miles from Belle Fourche. Rural living has instilled in me what would become my life’s mission – to help rural citizens have greater opportunities. Greater opportunities mean rural citizens not only have an opportunity, but also have a choice in opportunities that are valuable to them.
Though I didn’t start out working in health care administration, the role has fit perfectly with that mission. Health care organizations provide stable, rewarding jobs for rural community members. Hospitals, nursing homes, treatment centers and clinics also help rural citizens return to being productive community helpers. A rural health care system is a leader in technology and brings a high level of knowledge into our rural communities. As an administrator, I’ve also had the great opportunity and honor to serve on many boards and in civic leadership roles, allowing me to roll up my sleeves alongside many influential, community-minded leaders. They are amazing.
A CEO friend once told me that he doubted I would ever retire, saying, “David, you just can’t say no to a good project.” That scared me when he said it, because I feared he was right. Certainly, not all the worthy projects are done. Yet, I realize that they are worthy projects not because they are mine, but because they are ours for our community. This is especially true of having a local nursing school, as well as other health care workforce development initiatives in Huron.
I am extremely grateful for the role of the nursing task force and HRMC Foundation teams for making this project successful. All of us must continue to financially support our Foundation’s efforts because of the extreme importance of career awareness and scholarships. This gives all of us an opportunity of
having choices in receiving health care services locally. I know I will continue to support the important work, even though I am retired.
Now, Cheryl, my wife, has a long list of projects for me, as I will finally not have an excuse to put them off. I’m looking forward to those, Cheryl. I also look
David and Cheryl Dick plan to spend more time golfing.
forward to the many miracles I have yet to experience. I have faith they will complement the many blessings of this lifelong career and the communities I have worked within. This is maybe not goodbye as much as it is hello to David Dick in a new role as neighbor, community volunteer and, of course, temporary golf course resident.
Sincerely,
David Dick
Meet HRMC's new CEO, Erick Larson.
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