Volunteer of the Month September 2011

Our Volunteer of the Month for September was Jim Wagenlander, espcially for all his work for the Diplomats Ball. Thanks Jim!

In his own words:

“I was first introduced to IIE and its terrific work years ago by my good friend Chick Alexander.  Then, for a number of years my wife Mary Lee Chin and I, as Honorary Consul of Mongolia, participated in the Diplomats Ball.  When Karen DeBartholme and Frieda Sanidas Lesson showed me that IIE was looking to foster a new approach and a fun experience for this year’s Ball, I wanted to get involved.  As one of the key international organizations in this region, I too believed a new format for the Ball could help IIE continue as a relevant, contemporary and exciting organization.  So I and many others invested, or some would say inflicted, our energy, time and creativity in this year’s Ball and its ping pong diplomacy theme.

I am proud to see in 2011 Consular Corps involvement return to the Ball as well as the resumption of raising funds for student scholarships.  I was certainly pleased to see the event garner good financial support for those scholarships and for the IIE program.  I was also glad the event pleased both long-term IIE patrons and new, younger supporters.  I additionally hope that the University of Denver will continue its partnership with the event in future years.  However, most importantly, I think all of the fun and attention garnered by the Ball and IIE’s worthwhile activities will bode well for IIE’s continued success.”