Danville AMBUCS member Donna Carlton-Vish was elected to be National AMBUCS President-Elect at the annual convention held in Louisville, Kentucky. The position is a three year commitment of President-Elect, President, and lastly Past President.
Donna joined Danville AMBUCS in 1995 when the chapter allowed women to be members. Only one other Danville AMBUC, Russell Guin, a charter member from 1925, has held the position. He was President for two terms in 1934 and 1935, the only person to preside for two terms.
Donna’s next three years will involve a lot of traveling, visiting as many of the over 150 chapters in 37 states, helping to spread the mission of AMBUCS to help people of all ages, but especially children and Veterans, to become more mobile and independent. Nationally, the organization has almost 4,500 members.
This is not the first National office to which she was elected. In 2014-2015, she was President of the Big Hat Club, a club within the club whose mission increasing membership and raising money to start new chapters, provide scholarships for therapist, and help fund our continuing quest to provide therapeutic tricycles, Amtrykes, to people who could benefit from riding a bike.
Again, she was only the second Danville AMBUC to hold the position; the other member was the late Taylor (Steve) Funk in 1980-1981.
Carlton-Vish introduced herself at her first National convention in 1997 saying, “Hi, I’m Donna from Danville”. She was intent on making friends with other members from all over the country that and she did. Her enthusiasm for everything AMBUCS does is contagious and she shares it with everyone she meets. Besides being a busy AMBUC, she enjoys her many “families” including those related by blood and marriage, Hot Air Ballooning and extensive traveling.
Donna is a Danville native, a partner in the family business of Heritage Development Enterprises and Carlton Farms/Quad D.