WNET Honors Gloria Deucher,
Director of Volunteer Resources
After 20 years as Director of Volunteer Resources, Gloria Deucher retired from WNET on July 6th, 2018. She was honored by her colleagues and volunteer family and gave the following remarks.
On my retirement as Director of Volunteer Resources at WNET:
Since I announced my retirement from WNET, a common greeting in the hallways has been “Are you excited?” Honestly, I feel the way I felt 20 years ago when I walked into the offices at the old Henry Hudson building on West 58th Street. Just this side of terrified, nervous and excited about walking into the unknown.
I considered myself one of the most fortunate people in the world to have been offered my dream job at Thirteen (back then it was just Thirteen) an organization whose mission I had whole heartedly supported for so many years.
And for 20 years I’ve had the honor and the privilege to work with a remarkable staff and, most importantly, extraordinary volunteers whose presence reminds me every day of just how important WNET is to our community. There are not many nonprofit organizations that have volunteers lining up at their door to support them the way public television does.
So here it is, 20 years later
-Countless pledge nights later,
- scores of community outreach events later,
-Almost 4 MILLION mailing pieces later
-330,000 volunteer hours later (translating into a donation of volunteer time worth $6.3 million),
- And so many priceless memories.
It is our volunteers who have given me the courage to take this step. Most are retirees who are leading full, busy and productive lives. Over the years I’ve counted on their wisdom and been buoyed by their friendship. They are my role models and my inspiration. After 20 years I still consider myself one of the most fortunate people in the world.
Gloria Deucher
Since I announced my retirement from WNET, a common greeting in the hallways has been “Are you excited?” Honestly, I feel the way I felt 20 years ago when I walked into the offices at the old Henry Hudson building on West 58th Street. Just this side of terrified, nervous and excited about walking into the unknown.
I considered myself one of the most fortunate people in the world to have been offered my dream job at Thirteen (back then it was just Thirteen) an organization whose mission I had whole heartedly supported for so many years.
And for 20 years I’ve had the honor and the privilege to work with a remarkable staff and, most importantly, extraordinary volunteers whose presence reminds me every day of just how important WNET is to our community. There are not many nonprofit organizations that have volunteers lining up at their door to support them the way public television does.
So here it is, 20 years later
-Countless pledge nights later,
- scores of community outreach events later,
-Almost 4 MILLION mailing pieces later
-330,000 volunteer hours later (translating into a donation of volunteer time worth $6.3 million),
- And so many priceless memories.
It is our volunteers who have given me the courage to take this step. Most are retirees who are leading full, busy and productive lives. Over the years I’ve counted on their wisdom and been buoyed by their friendship. They are my role models and my inspiration. After 20 years I still consider myself one of the most fortunate people in the world.
Gloria Deucher