Member-at-large
Memberatlarge2@rappahannockpops.org
Deborah Bolas originated from upstate Western New York in a small town of Albion, NY, the first of three daughters of Edward and Jean Smith. Raised in a family with historic educational and musical talents, she continued educational pursuits in languages and science. Married in 1972 she joined the military family and served her country as a spouse and volunteer for over 32 years, raising three children and enjoying 9 grandchildren and one spoiled cat.
32 Years of Volunteer Service
Deborah Bolas is the personification of worldwide volunteer service, especially in support of U.S. Army communities. From 1976 to 2008, she has made major contributions to improving the quality of life of numerous children, spouses, Soldiers and communities both military and civilian, within the United States and Overseas. She has also been a great Ambassador for the United States to show the world what Americans are really about….compassion, good cooking and great traditions.
Accomplishments and recognitions:
Most recently, as the President of the Fort Lewis Officer Spouses Club (OSC), taking charge when no other would, working with a small board of residual officers to support her, she reestablished a viable club, recruiting a solid board of officers and the planning and execution of numerous events, for both club and community, generated over $25,000 for philanthropy. She served as Treasurer and consultant for the Association of U.S. Army (AUSA) sponsored 17th Annual Women's Conference using her vast experience to help guide the program to success and ensuring the viability of next year's program. Her vast experience improved the business operations and ensured regulatory guidance on nonprofit organizations was strictly followed. Not only a leader in volunteer organizations, she can also be found volunteering whenever help is needed in places like Santa's Castle, Stellacom Cider festival and wherever she is can contribute.
She volunteers numerous hours for the Catholic community to include the Catholic Women of the Chapel, Eucharistic minister and most important a senior member of the Parish Council to ensure the numerous Priest that are rotating through OIF/OEF deployments have a solid parish program when at home at Fort Lewis. She even volunteered to sing with the choir for the Midnight Mass program, which was very well received, because they needed singers. Highly involved in the Catholic community wherever the Army sends her, she is an active member of the Parish, serving in various board positions in the Parish Council, performing various ministries to include Eucharistic Minister for the sick and infirmed. As volunteer Director of the Catholic Religious Education Program for four years in Japan, she recruited over 30 teachers, numerous teacher aides and increased the number of students to over 200. In Germany, she expanded participation of the Confirmation classes in Neu Ulm and Augsburg that they were rewarded with a trip to Italy, escorting two buses of teenagers to see Pope John Paul II on Palm Sunday on the steps of the Vatican and an opportunity to visit numerous cathedrals, churches and many Italian cities.
Over the past 29 years, as an Officer spouse, she has served as President and in other official positions of many Officer and Civilian spouses clubs to generate scholarship funds and promote activities to bring spouse together, especially in OCONUS and deployment situations. As an example, in Japan, while serving as buyer for the club's Camp Zama East meets West shop, she drove off-base throughout Japan to find antiques and other unique items to sell to generate scholarship funds. She also served two years as the Zama Officer and Civilian Spouses Association (ZOCSA) President to rebuild the club due to high personnel turnover and no one would take the position. Her volunteer work with this club and other activities was recognized with the presentation of the Dr. Mary Walker award for volunteer service and the Commander's Award for Public Service.
She made an immediate impact on the Army when her husband enlisted by joining various Enlisted spouses organizations and volunteered in both elementary schools and churches. She often baked cookies for the Soldiers of the unit and invited them home for the holidays to give them a taste of home cooked meals and family time with the children.
Also while in Japan, Deb served as volunteer board member for two years and was selected to serve as volunteer Chairperson for the Girl Scouts USA – Overseas, for the entire Western Pacific, for one year. For many years in CONUS and OCONUS, Deb was actively involved with numerous Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops and programs. In Germany, for the two years 1989-89, when the US Army was at it's largest presence, she ran the entire Southern West Germany Girl Scout cookie sales involving many troops, millions of dollars of cookies and cash accountability. For many years, CONUS and OCONUS, she volunteered to train new Girl Scout leaders and service members.
Deb many times ran Girl Scout cookie sales and calendar sales for the military base and local communities, but she also helped recover programs that suffered from mismanagement, to include theft of sale proceeds. At Fort Benjamin Harrison, her work and dedication was recognized by Major General Daniel French, the Commanding General, in nomination for Presidential Volunteer of the Year (received a personal note signed by President Reagan), reception of the Volunteer Family of the Year from the post, the Caroline Scott Harrison Award for public service and the Girl Scout's "Thanks Award", the highest adult award from Girl Scouting Programs.
At Fort Benjamin Harrison, besides her work with Girl Scouts, Deb help organize the original local Army Family Action Plans and developed the "Latch Key Program" for children before and after school when parent had to leave home with her volunteer work with the Army Community Services, both programs became models for the Army.
She continued her support of Army Community Services activities and programs by being a volunteer instructor for Army Family Team Building and facilitator for numerous Army Family Action Plan Symposiums. In 1990/1991, during Desert Shield/Desert Storm (DS/DS), while assigned to VII Corps in Neu Ulm, Germany, she helped organize the original Family Readiness Groups for the entire community when senior ranking spouses could not step forward. She was recognized by General Crosby Saint, then CINCEUR with a special coin and award for outstanding Family Support during DS/DS, Intermediate Nuclear Range missile (Pershing - INF Treaty), Conventional Force Europe (CFE) treaty and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) activities. These were very stressful times for Soldiers and families.
In Indiana, Deb worked with the Indianapolis Board of Education to select English books to be used in the school system. She was also Secretary to the Cub Scout Board. She acted as the trainer for survival skills for the Boy Scouts because she could not officially be designated, because she was a woman. The Boy Scouts were so impressed; they gave her the "Golden Spike Award" a great service honor in Boy Scouts for Indiana.
In Japan, she also served in a large number and various Japanese-American friendship groups to enhance the reputation of Americans, American Military in Japan and to share the culture of America. As an Ambassador, she would decorate here home in traditional holiday style, baking numerous treats that are not normally found in Japan and explained in detail the historical significance of traditions of American holidays, decorations and the religious significance, meanings and history of holidays like Christmas and Easter in respect to their religions of Buddhism and Shinto, with great respect and understanding.
Deb would also volunteer to participate in numerous international events in order to engage the spouses of other country civilian and military participants, learning Japanese and German, spending personal funds to attend the local universities and schools to learn the language. Her participation and contributions were immediately felt as the spouses would gravitate towards her, comfortable in her understanding of their language and culture. This action would then increase their participation in international events with the US Army due their comfort to know her.
While assigned to Washington, D.C./Pentagon for 10 years, participation in local military communities was limited. Deb engaged the local civilian communities to become active in the local schools and communities. She was an avid supporter of the North Stafford Marching Band Boosters as Secretary, Fredericksburg Museum Boosters and Richmond Symphony Boosters.
The greatest contribution and honor: As a renowned avid and quality baker, she provided vast amounts of cookies and cakes throughout the Army for a number of volunteer organizations, Family Readiness Groups, and units (many times just to give Soldiers a "taste of home baked goodness"), she is honored by being called "Mom" by Soldiers around the world, both US and internationally.
In summary, for over 32 years associated with the U.S. Army, Deborah Bolas (Deb or Debbie to her friends and family), has shown great leadership in taking charge, when no one else could or would; leaving the organizations better than she found them; giving 150% to everything she did; taught the young and old the right way to make it happen; encouraged volunteerism in that there is no "I" in "teamwork"; could follow as well as lead; that when there was something that had to be done she did not say "no", but "what is needed" and "what can I do to help?" Deborah was recognized with the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for her 32 years of service. She is the personification of volunteerism!
The Rappahannock POPS Orchestra is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. In the event you received tickets or other goods and services in exchange for your generous financial donation, we are required to inform you that your federal income tax deduction may be limited to the amount of your contribution less the value of goods received. Please consult a tax advisor should you have any questions regarding this matter.
©Rappahannock POPS Orchestra | PO Box 1662 | Fredericksburg, VA 22402