Chuck Voelker David Oakley CAD Chassis Supervisor April Volunteer of the Month

Dave Oakley’s love of children and the environment are readily apparent when one looks at his volunteer activities.

Ford Motor Company's April Volunteer of the Month combines both in projects so numerous one wonders where he finds time to fit them all in. But he does it with an eye to the future and a look at the past. “I volunteer to help make the environment a better place for future children and to give back to the scouting program, which taught me so much.”

One of his favorite nature projects, the annual Ford Rouge River Cleanup, brought him in contact with Executive Chairman, Bill Ford, who was planting trees. Oakley says, 'their discussion was informal and focused on the environment'. Oakley will volunteer, once again, this year on Thursday, May 22 at the 10th Ford Rouge River Cleanup.

The annual cleanup helps make the water more welcoming to various species of fish, a particular interest of Oakley, an avid fisherman who shows 1,600 fifth-graders the ins and outs of tying fishing flies, while explaining entomology during the annual Rouge River Water Festival. “The kids are at a good age where they can grasp it. It’s a busy day, but its fun. I wear a ball cap with a fish sticking out the front and back.”

Oakley is a product designer, who began scouting at 7 and his work with Boy Scout Troop 1052 is an ongoing endeavor.

In addition to working with his troop, Oakley co-authored merit badge books on fly fishing, wood carving and drafting. In the later one, he drew on his professional skills in computer-aided design to update the book, so it would reflect today’s computer-driven procedures. And he’s passed along that knowledge to interested scouts. Per David Wendl (14), 'it was pretty cool when he invited me to go to his office at Ford. He showed me some ways you can design things on computers'.

In nominating Oakley for Volunteer of the Month, Jay Degenkolb notes that Oakley organized a racing event at the Detroit Science Center, bringing in displays of suspension systems, pinewood derby car tracks and a cutaway Ford Fusion-NASCAR display. Oakley says, 'he did it with an eye toward the future. It was intended for high school students who might be considering a career in engineering at Ford, and was a good way to tie in automotive, racing and science engineering careers'. Degenkolb says, 'the science center project is but one example of Oakley’s leadership abilities, which were apparent during departmental projects when the two worked together. He was traditionally, the one who always stood up to take control, to make sure supplies were there and that the event went as planned'.

Oakley continues to be active in his community and with projects such as building a nature trail on Belle Isle, departmental volunteer events, the Rouge cleanups and work on the Henry Ford Estate. All are an outgrowth of his work at Ford. Dave shares, 'I’m thankful that Ford Motor Company allows us to do community service'.

Given the extent of his volunteer efforts, Oakley should not have been surprised to receive VOM honors, but he was. “It was a shock. I was honored to be picked as a recipient . . . you don’t get honored by your peers every day.”

Hourly and salaried Ford employees and retirees across the globe are candidates to receive the global Volunteer of the Month award. The award recognizes the efforts of individuals and groups who go to extraordinary lengths to help improve the lives of others and make the world a better place.

Previous winners include an individual who delivered food to elderly shut-ins, a woman who served as a foster mother to 22 children, and the man who led rebuilding efforts on behalf of Ford after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.

The award was established by Executive Chairman Bill Ford, who founded the Ford Volunteer Corps in February 2005 and signs each award, writing a personal message to each honoree.

The Volunteer Corps named its first Volunteer of the Month in August 2005.