EXCEL president a busy volunteer

As president of the EXCEL Foundation, Heather Bowlby’s job is unique.

“I am here to pick up the moose droppings,” she says with a chuckle.

Bowlby’s term began on the tail end of the successful, very popular EXCEL public art project, “No Moose Left Behind,” which has raised more than $415,000 so far. The cash is still rolling in.

Moose droppings, indeed.

But all kidding aside, Bowlby has been a driving force and contributing EXCEL board member since 2001. She has served on various committees, and she officially took over the presidential reins from outgoing president, Stephanie Power, last September. Bowlby describes herself as a transitional president.

According to their literature, the “EXCEL Foundation is a broadly-based nonprofit community organization whose purpose is exclusively educational and charitable, and is to secure and distribute contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations for the benefit of the students in the Coeur d’Alene School District 271.”

Nancy Sue Wallace and Wanda Quinn got the idea for the EXCEL Foundation when their own kids were in school. EXCEL stands for Extras to Create Excellence in Learning.

They started the foundation with an idea that they would raise money to support teacher creativity and innovative ways that would motivate students to develop higher-level thinking skills and depth of knowledge.

Bowlby’s involvement started when her sister-in-law, Konni Leichner, called her and invited her to an EXCEL meeting. The timing was perfect.

“I had retired from work and had seen all the great things EXCEL had done for the schools,” Bowlby says. “I felt it would be a perfect fit and a way I could utilize some of my talents in a volunteer capacity.”

The fact that the EXCEL Foundation continually strives for professionalism in all its activities, was also appealing to her.

“We always want to make sure that we continue to operate at a very high level of integrity,” Bowlby says.

Dave Rodriguez, Coeur d’Alene High School biology teacher, is appreciative of the foundation’s efforts.

“This kind of support is what keeps this teacher enthusiastic and always on the hunt for new or better ways to educate my students. I want to give my students every advantage that I can so they can be successful as they move into the future.”

Whether a black-tie dinner extravaganza or a rummage sale, EXCEL has staged many community fund-raisers.

In 2002, the board decided to develop an annual fall event, which they label EXCEL’s BIG EVENT. The first BIG EVENT was the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” The second BIG EVENT was “No Moose Left Behind.”

The board is planning their next BIG EVENT, “The Hula Happening,” which will be held Sept. 24.

“This will be our way of thanking the entire community for their continual generosity,” Bowlby says.

Bowlby also has been a Hospice of North Idaho and Coeur d’Alene Triathlon board member, and is currently serving her ninth year on the Coeur d’Alene City Planning Commission.

There appears to be no rest for Bowlby in the future as she has already begun spearheading her next BIG fund-raising campaign – money for Coeur d’Alene Homes new Alzheimer’s Unit.