This is a series of articles to recognize and honor Guild members who have devoted the many hours that make the Guild run smoothly as well as to make the various Guild activities so successful. In turn, these hours make Hancher Auditorium the wonderful institution it is, known around the state and beyond as a prime promoter of the arts, bringing both entertainment and education to thousands of people each year.
These members have worked hard in many ways, often receiving little or no recognition other than the annual STAR awards for a special activity that year. We want you to know who they are and what they have done. We would also welcome any nominations you may have to honor such members.
Jean Hood
You might think you are on Fifth Avenue in New York City or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, when you stop by the Hancher Showcase at the west side of the Hancher lobby because there are so many beautiful and unusual things to see and buy. Like any fine shop, this one takes a lot of effort by a lot of people to make it work. Originally opened in 1982, created from a coat check area on the east side of the lobby, it was moved to its present location in 1995, increasing its size, the scope of its merchandise, and the number of volunteers it takes to staff it.
From relatively few people at the beginning, to the hundreds who have worked over the years toting up thousands of volunteer hours, today's staff devotes many hours to the Showcase, a labor of love, most say. The operation of the Showcase has grown so complex that a reorganization has taken place with new job descriptions for each member of the Board. Directing the entire production is the new General Manager, Jean Hood, who learned the job from the bottom up. You might see her occasionally as a sales clerk but most of her time is spent "back stage," earning her the Unsung Hero honor. The Showcase Board members form a very strong team and providing support and coordination to them is one of the great rewards of the manager position.
Jean grew up in Hamburg, N.Y., attended a teacher's college in Buffalo
(now the State University of N.Y. at Buffalo) and later received
her master's
degree in
Home Economics Education from the College of Human Ecology at Cornell
University, where she served as an Administrative Assistant in
the Admissions Office.
She met her husband, Al at Cornell. Jean has taught in high schools
in Orchard Park, N.Y. and Princeton, N.J., and came to Iowa City
in 1965 after eight
years
in
Minneapolis where Al taught at the U of Minn. She has had a varied career
here in Iowa City. She was the international classroom coordinator at
the Center
for World Order, did substitute teaching and then in 1975 worked with
the Iowa State
University Extension Service as a human development specialist. She retired
after 21 years in 1996.
She turned to the Hancher Guild Showcase in 2004 to help support the Arts and make use of her many talents as well as having the opportunity to meet new friends. She always wanted to open a shop of her own but never did. The Showcase is the next best thing! In short order she learned to stock, price, pack and unpack merchandise. She works with the Showcase board, coordinates many jobs such as training new volunteers and supporting the Showcase board members. She tries to come in at least once a week to check jewelry boxes and bags and to do whatever needs to be done. She is grateful for the Hancher staff support, without which her job would be impossible. Her main hope for the Showcase is to expand the market and encourage people to come in on Wednesdays when it is not crowded and, of course, to shop the sales.
Jean does so much to keep the Showcase in good working order and we
hope she will stay on the job for a long time to come. She is,
obviously a
true Hancher
Unsung Hero.
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