Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series featuring the Michigan Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. The second story will preview an alumni mixer and pep rally scheduled for Sept. 23 and 24, respectively, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
If you’re a Penn Stater who’s ever attended an alumni event in Michigan, chances are you know Gary Wade.
The 1977 Penn State graduate serves as the president of the Michigan Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, having lived in Wolverine territory for nearly 40 years.
But don’t worry — he’s still a Nittany Lion. He’ll always be a Nittany Lion.
The Alumni Association caught up with Wade ahead of this week’s alumni mixer and pep rally that’s scheduled to energize alumni before the Penn State-Michigan football game on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Penn State Alumni Association: How did you initially become involved with your alumni chapter, and what inspired you to accept a leadership position within the group?
Gary Wade: When I was hired at Chrysler in 1977, the Chrysler executive leading the recruiting activity at Penn State was George Miller, who is still on the board today. He would hold breakfast meetings to get all the Penn State alumni at Chrysler together, and he kept us aware of local chapter activities. He asked me if I would be interested in joining the board. I had been to a number of club activities and enjoyed them all, so I was eager to join. I was on the board from the early 1980s through 1998. During that time, we had a president, Sandy MacDonald, who started and ran the club. Eventually, we decided to bring our club more in line with other clubs and have elections. There were a number of new people eager to get involved. So I rotated off the board, always intending to come back to it someday. Well, my family and career and other activities kept me busy for many years, and I attended only club functions as a chapter member. In 2011, Chapter President Kelly McCabe Hoffman noticed I was coming to all the functions and asked if I want to join the board. Again, I was eager to help out. After a short time on the board, Kelly again asked if I was interested in becoming president, and I said, “Whatever you need, I’ll do it.” I became president in June 2012.
Penn State Alumni Association: Were you involved with any Alumni Association-related activities as a student, and following up on the first question, how did you learn about joining an Alumni Association chapter? Was joining an alumni chapter something you knew about even as a student?
Gary Wade: I didn’t learn about the Alumni Association or participate until I graduated in 1977. I was eager to continue my Penn State experience as an alumnus and joined. After paying dues for a few years, I knew I was going to be a member for life, so I paid for a lifetime membership. I didn’t know about the Michigan Chapter until George Miller mentioned it to me at one of his Penn State breakfast meetings. They had a lot of fun activities, dinner meetings, theater, Detroit Institute of Art tours, whirly ball, and of course, Penn State football game watches. But most importantly, it gave me a chance to meet with a lot of friends who all shared my Pennsylvania background.
Penn State Alumni Association: Having a leadership position within your alumni chapter, did you have any prior experience that helped prepare you for this leadership position, and what have you learned during your time that's helped you grow, personally and professionally?
Gary Wade: By the time I was asked to be president, I was already involved in a number of different activities. I was the lead recruiter for Chrysler at Penn State, I had been president of Northwood Toastmasters (I’m still their treasurer), and I’d been president of the Chrysler Management Club (now secretary). So I was confident I was up for the job. What I’ve learned is an appreciation for those that help run the club. While I may be the president, the club depends on the volunteer efforts of others to run smoothly. I’ve been fortunate to have some very talented people helping me.
Penn State Alumni Association: Do you have any members who've belonged to the chapter for a long time, perhaps decades? If so, how special is it to bridge those generational gaps and have shared Penn State experiences with alumni who might've graduated decades earlier?
Gary Wade: Yes, the chapter is lucky to have at its core, some board members that have been involved for 40 years. George Miller, who led the recruiting team that hired me at Chrysler, has been on the board for as long as I can remember. He’s still in charge of managing our club finances. Bob Veres, who has been on the board almost as long, is our club treasurer, as well as being our “sports director,” an unofficial title for handling football tickets and our Lionsight contest for football and basketball. Ron Waxmonsky, a past president from 1999, is not on the board but handles numerous activities, including our welcome pizza parties for new alumni hires to the area as well as summer interns. Doug Ledger has been on the board for the last decade; and even though he is not a Penn State graduate, he still bleeds blue and white. Doug is always well connected and he puts together our pregame mixer when Penn State is coming to town. It’s great having these seasoned chapter veterans around to provide support and insight for our newer members and recent alumni.
Penn State Alumni Association: In what ways does belonging to an alumni chapter help you stay connected to Penn State, and why is it important to keep that connection?
Gary Wade: As president of the chapter, I have connections through the alumni office that feed me information. While I pass that information to others through various club activities and email, I’m always surprised at how much information other people have about Penn State. When we’re together, we share this information and we all stay informed. After we graduate and start on our career paths, we have the common ground of having attended Penn State. There was a lot of hard work in those college years, but it was fun, too. We all enjoy looking back and hearing the stories, no matter when you graduated. There is always the common theme. We are Penn State proud.