WKAR Honors Volunteers at Gala Recognition Event

Good friends.

Not just good friends but our very good friends is the best way to describe WKAR’s faithful 500-plus volunteer corps.

To honor their continuing efforts at WKAR Radio, Radio Talking Book (RTB), and WKAR-TV, the stations held a gala event in their honor at the Eagle Eye Golf Club at Hawk Hollow on May 1 during National Volunteer Week.

Matt Ottinger, host of WKAR-TV’s QuizBusters and QB JR., served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, and opened the evening by introducing DeAnne Hamilton, WKAR general Manager. Hamilton thanked station volunteers and applauded their dedication to WKAR on behalf of station staff members.

Diana Rodriguez Algra, Volunteer Centers of Michigan executive director, was this year’s guest speaker. Algra’s “rallying” speech emphasized that without volunteers the goals accomplished by many organizations would fall short and that volunteerism is an important legacy that must be handed down from one generation to the next. She also paraphrased the late President Kennedy’s famous “Ask Not” speech, explaining that we should not wait for organizations to ask “us” to volunteer, but that we should all seek out volunteer opportunities and lend our support.

Longtime radio and television volunteer and station Community Advisory Board member Rich Weingartner was honored with the WKAR Volunteer of the Year Award. Roberta Dugan, who volunteers for RTB, received the WKAR Leadership Award.

Entertainment was provided by the Big Band section of the Lansing Concert Band much to the delight of many of our volunteers who took the dance floor and provided us with our very own evening of “dancing with the stars.” Rhonda Coon, former station staff member and current volunteer, performed with the band for several outstanding vocal presentations.

If you are interested in volunteering for WKAR Radio, Radio Talking Book, or WKAR-TV, please contact Mary Wright at (517) 432-3120, ext. 361, or e-mail her at: maryw@wkar.org.