From The Monitor, Fall 2018, Page 2
BY GARY JOHNSON
How do you say “thank you” when thank you is not enough? Don Medley founded the VCCCD Retirees Association in 1994 to facilitate an opportunity for community college district retirees to get together socially at least once a year.
His periodic organization and publication of the yellow-covered Membership Roster has made it possible for retirees to maintain contact with one another as well as to be contacted.
Since then, Don’s service has included singlehandedly maintaining and updating a log of names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for nearly 1,050 members, including those who are now deceased. His service has also included keeping track of dues and payments, chairing the Membership Committee, and mailing the quarterly newsletter, The Monitor.
For most retirees, Don is rightfully the face of the Association, the first go-to person for questions, answers, and information. Many of us have come and gone in leadership roles within the Association, but Don has been the indispensable mainstay person –the glue that has kept us together!
Without Don’s foundational and continuing effort, there would have been no organized response to the District’s challenge to retiree health care coverage in 2005; no ongoing opportunity for retirees to have a voice in District decisions that may affect them; no vehicle for retirees to draw on their District history and experience to con-tinue to serve the District as valuable resources. We are not alone as fortunate recipients of Don’s tremendous generosity of spirit, wisdom, care, guidance, irrepressible energy, and organizational expertise.
Throughout his career as an instructor at Moorpark College and as chair of the Information Systems Department at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, Don supplied his leadership skills to the Data Processing Management Association, where he established several new chapters.
Since retiring as the District’s associate vice chancellor of in-formation systems and research, Don has served the Camarillo Kiwanis Club as president and lieutenant governor, championing many local community projects, including a handicap-accessible playground at Community Center Park. He served regionally as secretary and key fundraiser, always supporting the annual Kiwanis Rose Parade float.
In March 2016 Don and nine others were honored at the Top 10 Community Awards banquet, where Don was given the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award by the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce.
Underlying Don’s great civic-mindedness is a profoundly religious faith and the loving heart of a great family man. Don is a deacon and longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Camarillo.
Obviously, the world needs and does not have enough Don Medleys, and that certainly extends to Don’s wife Louise who, after nearly 62 years of marriage, is always engaged as a partner with him and, like him, contributes more than her share.
Don and Louise are blessed with three wonderful adult children –Brian, Sherrie, and Tony –as well as two granddaughters, and one grandson who is deceased.
Due to significant health issues, Don has asked to be relieved of his membership management responsibilities. With considerable gratitude to Don, we thank Joy Kobayashi for volunteering to take on the vital role he has played on behalf of the Association.
THANK YOU, Don Medley (and you too, Louise!) for a lifetime of service to all of us.
(Editors note: Don Medley passed away late Sunday evening, August 26, 2018. His memorial service will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at the First Baptist Church of Camarillo. Please see the Membership Report for details.)