WAI Recognizes Two Devoted Contributors

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

Volunteers keep the show running; without them, there would be no show. The very term volunteer says there’s no pay involved but that doesn’t matter when you love what you do.

I’ve written an article on Oshkosh volunteers and now Women in Aviation and one thing I’ve found is that they’re a shy, humble bunch who tries to stay well below the radar. Their contributions are much too important to let them get away with anonymity for too long.

Women in Aviation International recognizes their volunteers annually, but in 2005 they gave a Volunteer of the Decade award to two individuals. The winners are a surprise, and were announced at the banquet Saturday night.

Verne Wiese was announced first. He truly did not expect the honor; he had relaxed and taken his shoes off after the long conference -- and ended up going on stage in his stocking feet.

When Betty Huck’s name was called she said "They called my name I just about fell off the chair." But she did have her shoes on.

Huck started her volunteerism about a decade ago by helping out at the WAI headquarters. "One time we even painted the basement," Huck said. She moved up to the silent auction and for the past six years has been working on exhibits.

Huck’s first conference was Dallas in 1997; she accompanied some friends, one of whom was already a volunteer. She managed to attend a couple of conferences purely as an attendee.

Once the Dayton WAI chapter was founded, Huck’s volunteering started, with that basement. At one of the Morningstar (Airport) picnics, Huck made the "mistake" of mentioning her retirement to Dr. Peggy Chabrian. Huck’s retirement wasn’t for another several months but the month following the picnic had Dr. Chabrian on the phone with Huck asking if she wanted to volunteer to handle exhibits. Huck accepted and handled Exhibits at the Nashville Conference in 2002.

Huck’s thrill has been seeing the exhibit hall come together. "Two days into the conference they’re (the exhibitors) already talking about coming back next year. That’s a real positive point to hear." Huck says that’s her high point.

Huck has been given a new role at WAI, this one as paid staff, as Chapter Relations Manager. Gerri Schultz is retiring after six years in the position. Huck will continue, for now, to volunteer on exhibits as well. Huck’s sister Barb has started to pick up Huck’s former exhibit duties, such as walking the floor during the conference. Huck’s niece has also been lending a hand.

Wiese did not intentionally become a volunteer; he was drafted when someone came up to him and asked him to help out at the 1998 Denver conference, placing price stickers on merchandise. "I’ve slowly been adding more and more all the time." Wiese said proudly.

To think, Wiese was not even a willing attendee to his first WAI conference in Minneapolis. Wiese and his wife Lewie had been attending the 99 conferences for many years. The 1996 WAI conference was coming up in Minneapolis and Wiese was quite reluctant to join his wife but eventually relented. He returned after the conference and said to the Mrs. "I don’t care if you go next year or not, I’m going." Wiese was impressed with WAI.

Wiese enjoys meeting the aviation people he would not normally have a chance to meet. Chuck Yeager and Moya Lear are some of the notables. In 2005, Wiese’s "job" was to watch out for Eileen Collins. Wiese laughs as he recalls "I got to carry her purse from one place to another." Another high point Wiese enjoys is "watching people get scholarships and be so excited about it."

When a conference goes on seamlessly or near so, chances are you can thank the selfless volunteers.

FMI: www.wai.org