Volunteer Spotlight
Given the number of volunteers that OPALGA counts on annually to do the amazing work that we do, we decided that everyone should get to know each other a little better. This month, we are highlighting volunteer member and 2008 Gala Co-Chair Rick Whitehead.
Empower: How long have you been a member of OPALGA?
Rick: I have been a member of OPALGA for about four years.
Empower: How long have you volunteered with OPALGA?
Rick: The first year, I attended a few potlucks and the Gala with my partner, Mike Cochran. I began volunteering my second year as a member.
Empower: In what capacity do you volunteer with OPALGA?
Rick: I’ve volunteered each year at A Day (A Gay) in Our Village. I did the 3:30 a.m. shift one year for the Donut Days fundraiser at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market. I’ve participated in the last three Independence Day (4th of July) parades in Oak Park. I co-hosted an OPALGA house walk with Mike in 2005. I was a co-chair for Table Captains for the 2006 Gala. I’m Co-Chair for the upcoming “Twelfth Night” Gala on April 5 with Lee Latham.
Empower: What first inspired you to become active and involved with OPALGA; that is, how did you first become a volunteer?
Rick: Mike and I were both volunteers on Oak Park Village commissions. Joanne Trapani, then the Village President, who was a Table Captain, first invited us to a Gala. Mike first became active in OPALGA, and then I followed suit shortly thereafter.
Empower: How would you encourage others to become active volunteers with OPALGA?
Rick: To become more active, I would suggest that members read Empower to see what the upcoming events are and where they need assistance. Then, call The OPALGA Center to volunteer. It’s that easy. With the variety of events and programs that OPALGA offers, it is usually easy to match up your interests with the group’s needs.
Empower: There are so many organizations with volunteer opportunities in the Oak Park area; what made you choose OPALGA as the organization with which to volunteer?
Rick: As I mentioned, I had been on one of the Village’s commissions—the Farmers’ Market commission. In fact, for six years, I chaired the commission, which kept me pretty busy, especially all summer. As a member of the LGBT community, however, I wanted to actively support and give back to the community, so I got more active in OPALGA as my workload eased with the Farmers’ Market.
Empower: Are you involved with other LGBT organizations?
Rick: No, OPALGA is the only LGBT organization with which I am actively involved.
Empower: What do you find most satisfying, rewarding, or inspirational about being an OPALGA volunteer?
Rick: For myself, I enjoy meeting other new LGBT people in our community. The monthly potlucks, for example, are just amazing places to meet new people and to see friends on an ongoing basis. The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is being able to support the great programs that OPALGA offers for the LGBT community. Growing up, to have the youth programs available that OPALGA now offers would have been so beneficial.
Empower: What is your professional background?
Rick: I am a transplant from the Lancaster, PA, area, but my career brought me to Chicago about 29 years ago. I’ve worked in various roles at the corporate offices of a corrugated container company—Packaging Corporation of America—in Lake Forest. PCA has four paper mills and 68 corrugated plants in the U.S. Most of my career has been on the operational side of the business. My last three years, I’ve been in our Sales and Marketing group, managing Sales Compensation, a fleet of 600+ vehicles and providing training to our 68 plants.
Empower: Is there any other personal information you would like to share with our readers? (Where you live, what your hobbies are, etc.)
Rick: For the past eight years, I have lived on South Harvey Avenue in Oak Park with my beloved partner Mike and our yellow Labrador Jordan. Our home is on a fairly large lot, which allows me to spend much of my time with one of my true loves—gardening. I also have other interests, such as playing tennis and scuba diving. In fact, recently in Hawaii I fulfilled a long-time desire to do an evening dive with manta rays, which was amazing. I recently started a part-time job at a dive shop in Oak Park called H2 Go Scuba, located on Chicago Avenue. I’m working with H2 Go Scuba toward obtaining Master Diver certification. And, living with Mike, I have become quite familiar with the music of Madonna and Barbra.
Thank you, Rick, and thank you to all of our volunteers! You may be next in the spotlight!
