Jim Black volunteers for the Shawano Optimist Club and the Civil Air Patrol.
He was born in Rochester, Minn., and graduated from Lourdes High School. He earned a degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He is employed at Cooperative Resources International as associate vice president of IT services.
His wife, April, is employed at St. James Lutheran School. For the church’s Sunday contemporary service, April is the director, and Jim runs the sound board. They have a daughter, Kahri Hajos, who is in dance and cheer competitions and is a cheerleader at Shawano Community High School. Many weekends are spent going to her competitions.
The family lives in the town of Wescott, where they like to boat and enjoy camping.
Q How long have you been a member of the Shawano Optimist Club?
A “It’s been 15 years. Al Kuck was my boss at the time and he invited me to check it out.”
Q How do you help?
A “I have been on the board and secretary for seven years. I was vice president and president, and now I am just a board member. We have a girls tournament Feb. 1 and a boys tournament March 1. I coordinate the registration of the teams, send communication to them to tell them where they can take entry fees. I have been doing that for several years, and it’s nice for the coaches because they can contact me. There are 40 teams each of boys and girls fourth through eighth grade. I am probably considered the coordinator, and when the tournaments start most of my work is already done. I try to participate in any events we have: the scholastic awards banquet, bike rodeo, the Christmas movie, and Tri-Star football and basketball.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I like what the club is about, supporting youth and giving them the opportunity to grow. I like what that does for kids. It gives them a chance to do something that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do. As far as the basketball tournament, I was in an Optimist tournament every year, and for me to be part of that was something that seemed to fit for me.”
Q Where else do you volunteer?
A “I’m the commander of the Civil Air Patrol. It’s a civilian branch of the Air Force. We need more members. The CAP does emergency services, aerial photography and takes pictures of damage. The CAP has a branch that is aerospace education to teach about flight, space and anything in the air. I was interested in becoming a pilot and I took classes at NWTC and flew solo. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. (He did not go on to get his pilot’s license.) I like what they do as far as service and education. The CAP also has a cadet program, which allows them to be part of something bigger.”
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