By Mandy Feder
I know this lady, and when I say “lady,” I mean it.
She is the epitome of the word, displaying characteristics of decorum, kindness, stewardship, promptness, empathy, smarts, tact, family values, humor, honesty, loyalty and above all, she is humble.
She may be slightly miffed that I wrote about her because she “doesn”t like attention,” as she often tells me, matter-of-factly.
She says she does what she does for the sake of the county, education, the environment, to preserve history and for the citizens.
However, it is about time that this dynamo gets some public recognition.
It is truly shocking to realize the full scope of how much one petite person can accomplish.
Take a good, long, deep breath before reading this laundry list of Wilda Shock”s current volunteer activities … California Women for Agriculture, Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee Chair, Lakeport Main Street Association, Soper-Reese Community Theatre, Lake County Land Trust, Lake County Wine Alliance, Lucerne Hotel Education Task Force, Lake County Sesquicentennial, Mendocino College Foundation, Friends of Mendocino College Library, Mendocino College Culinary Arts, Westside Community Park and Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.
She is a member of Lake County Arts Council, Lake County Historical Society, Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association, Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, Friends of the Lake County Museum, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Kelseyville Business Association and the California Preservation Foundation.
Previously she held memberships in the American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, California Travel Industry Association, California Association for Local Economic Development and Redwood Empire Association, just to name a few.
She has been an administrator in higher education, local government, nonprofit organizations, associated with tourism and the hospitality industry. She holds a B.A. in government (international relations) and business administration.
Wilda is also a fifth-generation resident of Lakeport, with her roots firmly planted in the Lake County landscape.
Recently a reader asked that I honor some of the volunteers who work tirelessly, without pay and too often without recognition.
All I could think was, Wilda.
Every county should be lucky enough to have someone like Wilda, but the truth is, I have not met anyone like her, anywhere else.
I was talking to my friend Susan Mesick, who has been in Lake County about as long as I have.
She said, “Wilda always brings to mind the word amazing ? an amazing marketing professional, editor and supporter of Lake County. She has an amazing amount of energy. She is amazingly well-organized. She”s an amazingly generous and thoughtful individual.”
Well said, Susan.
Wilda does not blow her own horn. She is happy to observe from the background, often giving credit to everyone but herself.
She gently tutors as a living example of what it means to be a real lady.
Thank you, Wilda, for all you do.
“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren”t.” — Margaret Thatcher
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee managing editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 ext. 32.
