Bill Clinton has a reputation for remembering names. The library that bears his name has almost 300 volunteers; he can’t be expected to remember them all. But on Dec. 19, most got together for the center’s volunteer awards, and one of those names - Betty Valachovic - he surely remembered. For one, Valachovic (val-uh-CHO-vik) is just a darn memorable name. For another, she worked in his first administration - not in Washington, his first gubernatorial administration, in the late ’70s. For yet another, Valachovic was last year’s Clinton Presidential Center Volunteer of the Year, and she died about a week before the awards ceremony.
“We went to her funeral Monday, and the celebration [took place] Thursday,” said Anne Kamps, manager of Volunteer and Visitor Services. “I just can’t tell you how upsetting it was to all of us, not just because we loved her, but because we gave her this award and she didn’t even know it.”
The Valachovic family accepted the award, a James Hayes glass sculpture, on her behalf. A lifetime achievement award for volunteering more than 10,000 hours was bestowed upon Joy Broach, who’s only the second person to pull off such a milestone (George Campbell was the first). Elizabeth Smith and Horace Springer each received Spirit of the Center awards and engraved glass bowls.
Almost four dozen volunteers, whose combined service hours surpassed 26,000 hours (an average of about 600 hours each), were 42Award winners. Some are docents, but not all. Some volunteer to drive the shuttles or work in the museum store, some work in the foundation offices or the National Archives and Records Administration.
Why do they do it?
“They are proud of the fact that there’s a presidential library in Little Rock - there’s only 13 in the world!” Kamps said.
After Christmas but before the new year, the center welcomed its three-millionth visitor, who came from Ireland, and, Kamps added, “They get to talk about our favorite son, and they’re very proud to be there. The volunteer corps is very close.”
“These are all former professional people. These are people who know what their value is - architects and lawyers and teachers and military. They know they’re appreciated. Every day they’re there, they’re representing the 42nd president of the United States.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at the center may call (501) 748-0419.
High Profile, Pages 44 on 01/05/2014