Setting a Foundation

After nearly four decades at LBCC, assisting the Nursing Program and being part of the Foundation on campus, Paulette Myers will be retiring at the end of November.

Paulette Myers, is the Coordinator of the LBCC foundation at Linn-Benton Community College. She has been a working staff member for 37 year.

The Foundation is an organization that coordinates donations to the college that include money, property, instructional equipment and materials that in turn provides more for the students. It has been a working establishment since 1972.

The Foundation also manages student scholarships, grants and loans, it has also helped with new installments on campus and remodeling of buildings such as White Oak hall.

"It really is like a full circle," says Myers, "you put the event on, raise the money and then give it out to the students and the college."

After graduating high school, Myers had been a secretary work study at LBCC for one year where she got a glance at what she wanted for a future career.

Myers worked for about 6 months before finding an open position available at the college and in 1974 Myers became Secretary for Nursing which then evolved into being the Health Occupations Program Assistant for which she had been for 27 years.

In 2000, Myers was referred to a job opening at the Foundation by the former president of Administration at LBCC, Jon Carnahan. Her job at the foundation now is planning events, parties, dinners and fundraising events.

"I was sort of known as the party giver" says Myers, "it was just the perfect job to move to, I love to put on parties.

Ann Adams, the Director for Information services has been working with Myers for quite some time now.

"She is an excellent employee," says Adams, "She is the heart and soul of the foundation, and she's always positive."

Adams says that Myers always knows who to check with for information, and always follows through with what she says she's going to do. Adams says that they call her the "party planner."

Adams has been a working staff member for 24 years, she started working at Linn-Benton Community College in 1974.

Myers received the Mario Pastega Outstanding Classified Employee Award in 2007. An award that is given out every year in the fall to one outstanding faculty member and one classified staff member. She had received the award which was a check for $1,000. Myers says that it was quite an honor.

Myers said that the best way to help out with the Foundation and to get involved is to participate in the Annual Fund Drive on campus for the staff and students to get involved. There is also an off-campus Fund Drive as well.

"Just from the staff we get over $60,000 a year towards the Foundation," says Myers. "It’s one of the best ways to get involved."

At the end of November of 2011, Myers will be retiring. She says that she plans to work part time for the college until they can find a new person to fill her spot in the Foundation.

"This really is a great place to be," says Myers, "it’s like one big family."

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At a glance:

Paulette Myers

Coordinator for the Foundation

Worked at LBCC for 37 years

Email: myersp@linnbenton.edu

Want to make a donation? Contact the Foundation:

The Foundation

6500 Pacific Boulevard SW

Albany, OR 97321

Phone: 541.917.4209

Website links:

www.linnbenton.edu/go/foundation
http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/foundation/paver-project

Related articles:
http://po.linnbenton.edu/communicator/0510Insider.pdf