Last week KOCT joined scores of non-profits in honoring
valued volunteers. The event was the 27th Annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon hosted by the North County Philanthropy Council at the
Sheraton Resort. On Thursday November 6th when KOCT’s volunteer Gwen Price went to the podium to be acknowledged by the
hundreds of participants in attendance the Master of Ceremonies said: "Gwen
Price has the record for serving the most terms as a volunteer
KOCT Board of Director. She is an active supporter and cheerleader for
her community television channel and is also the only KOCT Board member to park
her Harley-Davidson motorcycle in front of a KOCT fundraising event."
Of course there is more to Gwens story of service and
commitment she is a great example of the diversity and community
involvement that has characterized KOCT volunteer board of directors. Let’s learn a little more about Gwen:
Gwen came to Oceanside as so many residents have when her
husband Rick received orders to go from Okinawa, Japan to Camp Pendleton where,
coincidently, Gwen’s parents had recently moved to Oceanside.
Gwen, who received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in
Communication from California State University in Los Angeles, has taught in
many places because of her husbands 21 years in the Marine Corps. She taught
Public Speaking aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Peleliu and was an English and
Writing Instructor at the Staff NCO Academy on Camp Pendleton as well as at
local colleges in the area.
Gwen served a 4-year term on the Oceanside Planning
Commission because "I was watching Oceanside heading towards a sole
existence as a bedroom community and realized that was not a financially viable
way to go…my desire to see controlled growth was what compelled me to throw my
hat in the ring." It was this same motivation that later inspired her to run
for Mayor in 1996 "A city needs to run as a business and for the benefits of
residents" it should never be a "kingdom".
When Gwen was asked "Why do you volunteer at KOCT?" she
replied "I think we are so fortunate that the station provides our residents access to local news, events, people and places." Gwen has helped
greatly in KOCT’s success most recently in working closely with our Fundraising
Chair, Michelle Bray-Davis at our Outback Steakhouse fundraiser.
As mentioned in the opening Gwen is the only board member to
show up at events on her Harley Davidson motorcycle. She and her husband both
ride the big bikes and Gwen also rides with a group of women called ‘The
Graveyard Gamblers Motorcycle Club’. Gwen and Rick have one son a
daughter-in-law and ‘two adorable twin granddaughters who turned 5 in
September’.
One of Gwen’s (and KOCT’s staff) favorite memories is volunteering
to be an actress in a humorous video promo for KOCT where she and former
KOCT board member Kevin Stotemeister (shown in photo above) appeared to stumble out of the famous Red
Rooster drinking establishment and drive the KOCT Mobile Studio.
KOCT is so grateful for Gwen’s many years of service not
only to KOCT but to our community. Her recognition at the Volunteer Awards
luncheon was long overdue. Thanks Gwen!!