Still Walking the Walk: 20 Years of Volunteering at CLT
This year marks the 20th anniversary of CLT’s Volunteer Program – a milestone made possible by the incredible humans in blue vests who greet and guide travelers every day. A lot has changed at the Airport over the past two decades, but one thing remains the same: the dedication of our volunteers.
They’ve seen it all – construction detours, traveler upgrades and even celebrity sightings (sort of). Meet an original trio of volunteers – Liz S., George F. and Sandy B. – as they share their stories, memories and why they still love showing up in those iconic vests.
So, what’s changed?
Sandy B.
“There is so much construction. We have to pay attention to what’s going on at all times because a couple of times they move the exit and we have to think, ‘how do we leave?’ There’s a lot of changes. You just have to pay attention so that you will be helpful to travelers and yourself too.”
George F.
“Travelers have changed. “When I started, they didn’t have the electronic devices that they have today. The Airport is also changing tremendously. The departure and arrival boards are now more prevalent, and there have been many, many, major improvements with the recent Terminal Lobby Expansion.”
Liz S.
“We have more clubs now. It used to be just the Admirals Club. The Airport is also getting larger.”
Why did you join the Volunteer Program, and what made you stay 20 years?
Sandy B.
“Probably because I love to travel, and I was looking into doing more. I had done some other volunteer work and that sounded interesting so when I saw that they were looking for people, I called.”
“You never know what the day will bring. You know, it could be very boring, or it could be very interesting. It’s always a positive experience. The people we meet are mostly happy to be traveling and friendly.”
George F.
“My background is in the railroad. When I retired, I volunteered at Amtrak for five years and rode the trains. I grew tired of the trains often not running on schedule when coming back to Charlotte, and I saw an ad in the Charlotte Observer about the Airport Volunteer Program. So, I went out to interview, did the training and I have been there ever since.”
“What has kept me at the Airport all that time? Just being around people who I’m not normally around. I have a nature of helping people, and all you have to do is stand at your location in the Airport and people will ask you questions. You give them the answers, and sometimes they just want to stay and chat.”
Liz S.
“What got me into it? I am a retired schoolteacher, but I was still teaching at the time. I got back from Spain one year and it was so, so hot here. I was like, ‘what was I going to do, this heat is just unbearable.’ I was opening up bills, and when I opened up a water bill, I saw an advertisement for the Volunteer Program. I taught Spanish and since I like to travel and I speak Spanish, I thought that it might be helpful. So, I went and did the training and the orientation and liked it. I also thought, why not because I would be walking around in the Airport getting a little bit of exercise, and it was air conditioned.”
“What kept me there? I just really enjoyed it. The program was started initially I think to try to be a face for Charlotte and the area for southern hospitality and just to be nice and helpful to passengers. It was fun. I got to meet other volunteers, and I was able to use my Spanish language skills.”
What are some fun Airport moments or memories you have from volunteering the last 20 years?
Sandy B.
“I remember the only time I really had an upset person. This man was very upset, and I asked where he was from. It turns out that he was from the same area in Pennsylvania where my mother-in-law lived. I found out his daughter went out to smoke a cigarette, and he was angry she wouldn’t get back in time to make the flight. Just talking with him calmed him down and by the time his daughter appeared, everything was fine. It was satisfying to know that this man who was so frustrated and angry was now calm and comfortable.”
George F.
“It was probably 15 years ago. I had served in the Air Force many years before and had been stationed in Canada. While there, we lived near this couple who was from Slovenia. The husband worked in a nearby coal mine. We became close, but lost touch over the years. While I was in the Airport one day, this person came up to me and asked about finding a currency exchange to convert Canadian money. I told her where to find it, and I mentioned I had lived in Canada and told her the town we lived near. The woman said she lived close to the area, so I mentioned the couple from Slovenia I knew there. She said she knew them, that she was also Slovenian and had immigrated there with Julia, which was the name of the wife in the couple. She then named the couple’s children, so I knew we were talking about the same people. It was unbelievable that she knew them too, and she happened to just come up to me at the Airport all those years later.”
Liz S.
“None in particular stand out, but a lot of times on Sundays you can tell if there is a Panthers’ game or some other sporting event in town because you see people, and they’re all sporting their T-shirts for particular teams.”
Have you seen any celebrities while working in the Airport?
Sandy B.
“No, not really. A few years ago, we used to see Steve Smith a lot from the Panthers. Other than that no.”
George F.
“The only one that really stood out was Bill Cosby’s wife on the Cosby show (Phylicia Rashad, aka Clair Huxtable). I got to meet her. I’ve also seen a few local politicians.”
Liz S.
“If I had, I wouldn’t have known. There’s a lot of people who I see who I thought looked familiar, but I wouldn’t go up to them. But having taught at Charlotte Country Day, I often run into parents of some of my students, and I’ve seen some of my actual students traveling through over the years. So, that’s fun.”
What are some common and unusual questions people have asked you?
Sandy B.
“’Where’s my gate?’ is a common one. Most of the time it is not on the ticket, and it depends on how far ahead they are of their departure time because it may not be on the boards either. The most unusual was when someone told me they had to find their gate because they couldn’t eat without doing so. I was like, OK?... but I think most people can figure out how to eat somewhere.
George F.
“Well, I tell you what, times have changed and there are different vendors in the Airport, and they are constantly changing and probably the number one question is where a particular food vendor is. I also get asked where to find the different Airport clubs.”
Liz S.
“They want to know where they can go smoke. They want to know food options. Especially a lot of our international travelers want to know if they have to go pick up their suitcase in order to check-in for their next flight.”
So, that’s a tad of their experience over the last 20 years. If you see Sandy B., George F. Liz S. or any of the many other Airport volunteers in blue vests say hi! A big thank you goes out to all CLT’s volunteers for all the work they do.