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 t was with a heavy heart and great reluctance
that those of us at San Diego EarthWorks accepted the resignation of Kari
Gray last month. For the past four years, Kari has been our sole full-time
staff. What she did was just about everything, with excellence.
 My first recollection of Kari was
during the weeks before EarthFair '93, when she came into the office as
a volunteer. She and her husband James, a Scottish national, had just returned
from Scotland to San Diego where James had a new job waiting. Kari was interested
in doing some volunteer work for the environment, and found us. We were
impressed by her volunteer work, and asked her to go on staff, which she
did in March '94.
Then, as now, the EarthFair in April
was our primary event. Produced entirely by volunteers that changed from
year to year, the event organization depended primarily on Carolyn Chase
and myself for continuity. Essentially, we were full time volunteers from
January through May. And personally, after 4 years, I was starting to wear
a little thin.
In the weeks before EarthFair '94,
Kari helped lighten the burden, but more importantly she paid close attention
to just how we put the event together. By the time EarthFair '95 rolled
around, she had it seemed magically off-loaded about 80 percent of the job:
volunteer coordinator, exhibitor interface, logistics planning and scheduling.
It seemed she was doing the work of about 3 people. By EarthFair '96, I
probably could have gone on vacation and the event would have come off just
fine.
But more than just duplicating what
had been done before, she helped take the event to a new level. Problems
that had vexed us for years were solved. Costs were cut and the event became
solidly profitable. New features, like theme pavilions and additional entertainment
venues, were added. A dedicated vegetarian, she made our Food Court meatless;
this move was so successful, the park concessionaire started selling veggie-burgers.
She seemed to have memorized details about hundreds of exhibitors volunteers.
All this, of course, speaks only
about the EarthFair. Other EarthWorks projects, like the VIP Reception,
Silent Auction and restoration projectsalso benefited from her fine hand.
But, alas, all good things come to
an end. In March, her husband James accepted a full-time job in Mill Valley,
CA. He started the job in May, and Kari joins him this month.
I don't expect that we will find
anyone to replace Kari, although we will find someone to do the work.
I'm left with the image of Kari,
6 months pregnant with their first child, riding around in an electric golf
cart while managing EarthFair '96. When asked about their child-to-be, she
would carefully explain that they planned the pregnancy so that she would
be able to manage the fair, and then have as much time with her new son
as possible before the next year's event.
Knowing Kari, it figures. We wish
her the best of luck in her new life in the Bay Area.  |
