Kay Viebrock: Doing what it takes to make her community go

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

Growing up with 14 siblings in a small Kansas farmhouse, “doing your part” was instilled in Kay Viebrock at an early age.

"I always remember my dad (Cecil Phillips) saying, 'If you have time to sit, you have time for more chores,'" Viebrock said. "We got up at the crack of dawn and worked."

That mindset remains a part of Viebrock, branch manager for Mountain West Bank in Post Falls, to this day.

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce recently honored Viebrock as its Volunteer of the Year.

Kerri Thoreson, who presented the award, said Viebrock rose to the top for the consistency and scope of her volunteerism.

"Whenever a project or committee needs a hand, she’s there and has usually recruited others to the cause," Thoreson said.

Through the chamber of commerce, Viebrock is a River City Leadership board member and ambassador that welcomes new businesses to the nonprofit. She formerly served on the board.

"As an ambassador, you get to go out and visit businesses," she said. "You learn something every time you go out."

Viebrock is treasurer of the Post Falls Rotary and Kootenai County Small Animal Council. She's a Panhandle Pioneer 4-H project leader for sewing and rabbits. She also volunteers with helping sell tickets or checking out attendees of fundraisers for Hospice, the Post Falls Education Foundation and the Post Falls High graduation party.

"I'm a great salesperson, they tell me," Viebrock said. "I enjoy speaking to people. It's not work for me; it's fun."

In the past, she served as director of United Way's Spring Dash fundraiser and volunteered for Soroptimist, Women's Center, Real Life Ministries' children's ministry, Lakes Middle School's Choices program, Lakeland Nighthawks girls' soccer and Betty Kiefer Elementary parent teacher organization.

"Something that I have a hard time saying is, 'No,'" Viebrock said.

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What was it like growing up in a large family?

I felt like I needed to be doing something all the time. We learned great values as people as well as the land we cared for. It was all about community. As siblings, we all got along well and there were no arguments. Relationships were far more important than financial or material things and we had strong faith. We shared a lot. Our parents always said that if they couldn't afford children they wouldn't have had them.

Why are you so steadfast about volunteering?

Volunteers are the fabric of our community. Most people don't realize that when they go to school or community events that there are a ton of volunteers putting it together. If you don't have volunteers, a lot of events couldn't happen. It takes a village; it truly does. People need to be plugged into an organization that gives back to their community. It's not an obligation, per se, but what you get out of it far surpasses the time that you put into it. If it gets repetitious and is not fresh, you need to step away.

Why is volunteering so rewarding to you?

I'm a good boss, my husband tells me (laughing). The people in the community here are much like they were in Kansas. They're welcoming and care about each other, especially in the Post Falls community.

Many of your volunteer efforts have centered around your 16-year-old daughter Cecilia. What has that been like?

I grew up in 4-H and my daughter loves it. It helps kids develop whether they are learning about life in general or public speaking. I am a Panhandle Pioneer 4-H project leader for sewing and rabbits. We live on a farm (outside Rathdrum) and have sheep, cattle, rabbits, chickens, a goat, goose, three dogs, a cat and canaries. My daughter is an animal lover. It all started when we went to a feed and farm store and saw some chickens. We came home with the chickens without a coop. I get plugged in to wherever I'm needed (with volunteering), but my daughter takes precedence. My volunteer focus encompasses the people who are most important to me.

Post Falls Rotary is among many ways you volunteer in the community. What attracts you to that nonprofit?

Rotary is an international organization. Its biggest mission is to eradicate polio and we're very close to doing that. But we've also built a shed for the Boys and Girls Club, installed bike racks at the parks and built a playground for St. Vincent de Paul. It's a way I can do my part locally as well as internationally.

How did you get involved in banking?

I started it by accident. I started as a teller in Germany when I lived there. It's something I enjoy and what I've done most of my life. Most of my siblings went into social work, but I got into banking. I loved it and it stuck. I have been the branch manager for more than seven years at Mountain West Bank. Every day is a challenge, but I love working with people whether it's helping develop staff or customers achieve their financial dreams.

Your company must be very understanding about your volunteer efforts.

Mountain West is very community-minded. They help at a lot of events checking people in and out.

What's something that most people don't know about you?

In college (at Kansas State) I was on the nationally-ranked orienteering team. They are timed events in which you navigate a course using a compass and map.

Snapshot

Age: 57

College: Attended Kansas State University, Barstow College in California

Family: Husband Jim, daughter Cecilia, stepson Phillip

Number of hours on average you work in a week: 50

Hobbies: Volunteering, being outdoors, gardening

Favorite book: People skills books, mysteries

Favorite spectator sport: Whatever my daughter is doing.

Favorite type of music: Variety, soft rock, easy listening or when my daughter sings

Quality you admire most in a person: Honesty

Best advice you ever received: Be true to yourself.

Any one thing you consider your greatest accomplishment: My daughter

Historical figure you most admire: Eleanor Roosevelt

Any one person who most influenced your life and why: My parents, Cecil and Dorothy Phillips