This year's honored honoree is Dick Girvin, a nearly 30 year member of the Far Western District who may be remembered as the WESTUNES editor for more than ten years, as well as a past District President.
Dick first became aware of barbershopping in the Pomona area in the late 60's after attending a number of the local Pomona Valley Chapter shows. However, his official acceptance into the society came after only a number of fruitless attempts finally finding where the chapter met through an AFA in the Montclair Plaza. His early Pomona activities included bulletin editor, secretary, show chairman and two years as chapter president.
His district endeavors included his stint as the district bulletin editor, taking over from the former editor Bob Roberts. He was subsequently appointed Area Counselor for the SoCal East area and was elected, in 1990, as District Vice President. The following year he was elected Executive Vice President and in 1992 was elected district President for two terms.
Following his terms as district president, Dick was elected International Board Member (Now Society Board Member) for two years and was a part of the administration that approved and endorsed the current Society management reorganization. He was asked then to chair the Society Operations Manual Task Force which produced the current Society Operations Manual which was adopted by the Society Board in 1966.
He has also been active at the International arena as a member of PROBE (Public Relations and Bulletin Editor's association) serving as Vice President, Bulletin Editor and then as president for three terms. He was inducted into the PROBE hall Of Honor in 1993.
In 1996, he was elected to the FWD district vice president office of Chapter Support and Leadership Training, heading the new cadre of Chapter Coaches (senior management consultants) in FWD. The program is currently serving nearly half of the chapters in the district with more being added as coaches become available. He is also a certified Contest Administrator and is involved throughout the district and Society in the annual contest circuit.
Currently (1997) Dick and his wife Mary reside in Hemet with their two Boston Terriers (Pat and Mike) and his time is filled with chapter duties (now with Inland Cities) as Secretary/Treasurer, district activities as indicated above, plus planning and conducting the annual COTS activities in both NorCal and SoCal.
In Hemet in their "spare time", Dick and Mary are docents for the new massive reservoir being constructed in their area by the Metropolitan Water District and spend a number of days each month at the Visitors Center explaining the construction project to visitors.
The entire membership of the Far Western District sincerely thank Dick for his many contributions to the Society and wishes him and Mary continued good health and happiness in the future.
This page created by Keith Eckhardt. All comments and corrections to webmaster@spebsqsafwd.org