See article below.
The staff at the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC) know the value of their volunteers. More than 300 people put in 16,984 volunteers hours at the VASC in 1996 alone.
The "top ten" volunteers for 1996 - those with the most hours accumulated during that year - were among the 71 people honored Feb. 12 at the VASC's annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony. Kim Maher, executive director for the VASC, presented awards.
The "top ten" volunteers named were Wally Carter, 653.75 hours; Scott Wood, 591 hours; Dottie Elwell, 422.25 hours, John "Jay" Shatzer, 397 hours, Kevin McNamara, 364.25 hours; Meghan Knowlton, 307.75 hours; John Whistler, 289.25 hours; Richard Stetson, 268.5 hours; Ira Davis 255.5 hours; and Langley retiree Kenneth Pierpont, 236.25 hours.
Other volunteers received pins for their comulative volunteer hours. Nineteen people received pins for 500 hours of volunteer time, 19 received pins for volunteering 250 hours and 18 were awarded for 100 hours of volunteer time.
Five volunteers receied special name tags for reaching 1,000 hours of service. William A. Conner, Ira L. Davis, Dottie Elwell, Herbert S. Johnston and Scott B. Wood will also see their names added to a plaque located in the VASC for those volunteers accumulating 1,000 hours.
Fourty-nine volunteers on the VASC rolls are NASA Langely employees or retirees. Bert Smith, volunteer coordinator for the VASC, recognizes the importance of Langley's helping hand. "The Langley employees and retirees are invaluable to our program," Smith said. "They always have a specific technical or scientific knowledge which helps to pull things together. "We are always looking for people," Smith added.
Volunteers for the VASC participate as tour guides, or docents, as the summer van tour guides, greeters, amateur radio operators, Teacher Resource Center assistants, librarians, administrative assistants and exhibit consultants. Some volunteers also help with the multitude of special events held at the VASC.
Others aid in the restoration fo display aircraft. Anyone older thatn 14 yeas old can volunteer. For more information, call Smith at 727-0900, ext. 735.
James E. Byrd WB5POJ
Added note - Congratulations Wally and Ken for your outstanding effort!