News : Family, friends honor Connie Ogier as VWC Woman of the Year

Connie Ogier's son, Kirk, recalls lessons he learned while growing up with Connie as his mom.

2011 VWC Woman of the Year: Connie Ogier

Tami Stark speaks during the dinner honoring her mom, Connie Ogier.

The previous VWC Women of the Year join Connie for a photo Tuesday.

Connie and other VWC Past Presidents pose for a photo.

The grandson who chose to attend college in Iowa so he could live near his grandmother joined his grandmother's friends in honoring her as the Vinton Women's Club 2011 Woman of the Year: Connie Ogier.

Connie's children, Kirk and Tami, and Connie's grandson, Derek, were among the speakers during the annual dinner at the Vinton County Club on Tuesday evening.

Rev. Karen Larson of the Wesley United Methodist Church also spoke, praising Connie for the many things she does at the church, and for the people there.

"Connie is one you can count on to make your day a little bit brighter," said Rev. Larson. At Wesley UMC, Connie has been involved in many activities, including the Befrienders. She still has people she contacts regularly through that ministry.

Connie's boss, Dave Wessling of the Vinton Iowa Land Management office, said that Connie handles $5 million worth of transactions for customers and clients each year, and does so with carefulness that earns the trust of the company's clients.

Nancy Good read several letters from Connie's friends and relatives. "Thank you Vinton," wrote one woman, "for recognizing the way Connie uses her big heart."

Kathie Ervin told the audience that the VWC had a difficult time keeping the honor a secret from Connie because she has been the President the past four years and as such has helped organize the spring dinner and the Woman of the Year event. This year, the VWC leaders had to get Connie off of that committee so they could honor her.

"Many people have said, 'It's about time,'" said Ervin. "This honor is long overdue."

Most of the tributes, however, came from Connie's family.

"Your Woman of the Year was one of the biggest reasons I came here," said Connie's oldest grandchild, Derek in an emotional speech. As he cried, he pointed to his eyes and said "I would always do this across Iowa" every time his family left Vinton to return to Virginia.

The longest speech was by Kirk, who spoke of several memories he still has of growing up, and what those memories mean. He said he still has his mom's love of plants, and learned financial responsibility from the example his mom set while he was young. Also, he recalls vacations to Iowa, to see the family relatives here. Kirk said that he learned from his mother the importance of family, and of letting each person in the family express themselves.