Board Profile

Jim McMillan

Success both in selling and raising funds requires many of the same qualities: hard work, honesty and integrity…and not being afraid to ask for the money.

And Stratford General Hospital Foundation Board Chairman Jim McMillan should know. In helping to spearhead the Foundation’s $20 million fundraising campaign, Jim is continually drawing on his 50 years experience in sales.

Those years brought him considerable accolades. For example, in his second year with Toronto Elevator/Master Feeds, he was named Canadian salesman of the year. But his true worth in sales was recognized after moving to Mutual Life where he is a qualifying life member of the million dollar round table — an accomplishment shared by only a fraction of his fellow insurance salesmen.

“There are similarities in sales and raising funds. In both, you have to be able to find a person’s hot button—to figure out what’s important to them and what makes them tick,” he explains.

While officially retired, Jim stays active advising friends and acquaintances on various aspects of financial planning—life insurance, annuities, estate planning.

“So in a sense I’m not retired, I just don’t receive payment for what I do,” he laughs “I’ve now arrived at the point where I have the worst, toughest, boneheaded boss I’ve ever had—myself.”

Jim has been Chairman of “umpteen different organizations”, including secretary treasurer of the Mitchell Golf and Country Club for 23 years. He’s motivated simply to “give back” to others, expecting nothing in return. But as often happens, the act of giving—whether it’s been training other salesmen, volunteering for community groups and charities, or teaching others to play golf—has been tremendously rewarding.

 “I just find when you’re willing to give of yourself, the rest looks after itself,” he says.

He became involved with the Stratford General Hospital Foundation eight years ago subsequent to a term spent on the Hospital Board. “I do have a soft spot in my heart for health…and that’s not just because they’ve saved my life two or three times,” he explains. “In fact I’m like a cat—I must have used up about 8 of my lives.”

He enjoys representing the Foundation and promoting its needs, enjoying face-to-face encounters where his selling background and people skills come into play. Underlining the importance of the Foundation’s Heart & Soul Campaign in support of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s Stratford site, he asks people to picture what their lives would be like without a Hospital.

“The Stratford General site can be an outstanding regional hospital. We already have outstanding surgeons, internal medicine people, technicians, and nurses. We’re second to none really,” he says. “We need to give them the facilities and the equipment to work with. We’ve got to come up with that money, and that won’t happen just talking about it—it takes work.”

But Jim McMillan isn’t all work and no play. While his interest in golf has diminished somewhat over the years, he still says the ability to control a ball on the golf course, is one of his greatest pleasures. It’s a pursuit that has been known to send him “over the fence” at his condo with a short set of clubs to enjoy the magic of the game, the solitude, and the connection with the outdoors.

Besides his well known love for golfing, Jim has interests and talents that most people don’t know about. While having hunted in his past, Jim has a deep appreciation for wildlife. “I love nature. I’ve actually brought animals and birds home and nurtured them back to health and I’ll go out of my way to make sure they’re not hurt,” he explains.

He also has an artistic side, with a focus on photography—particularly taking snaps of sunsets at his cottage east of Peterborough. He’s also had an enduring interest in music that started early when a music teacher told him he had perfect pitch. He plays the keyboard—just for his own enjoyment and is thinking seriously of purchasing a Grand piano. “The sound of a Grand Piano is something else…I just love them,” he says.

Harmony in his own life is also important. He’s learned to truly appreciate his life and the blessings he’s received—keeping family relationships strong, pursuing the things that make life enjoyable, and staying connected.

“Being on the Stratford General Hospital Foundation is one of the greatest blessings going because it keeps me involved and keeps my brain active,” he says.

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