Bluebills at 787 Rollout Show Qwest Field

Here is an e-mail letter sent to Bluebills Chairman Merv Shetler by Bob Watt, Boeing Vice President of Government Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship. (Note: Sandee Baker and Susan Bradley are on Bob's staff, and did a great job working with us and coordinating the event, including the Bluebill participation.)

Dear Merv,

We could not have done the event without you and all the Bluebills who were able to be there to help.

I thought that the Qwest field event was more fun than Everett!

It was indeed the amazing Sandee Baker aided and abetted by Susan Bradley who had the vision and also sweated all the details that made it such a good day.

We know that we would not be doing what we are doing today without the hard work, creativity and a just plain stubborn belief in the future that all the retirees showed while working at Boeing.

It was truly a privilege to be there with so many folks who helped build this company.

I hope that we can do it again!

Best.

Bob

Bluebills had a chance to show Boeing that there’s still plenty of vim and vigor in its retirees when 30 Bluebill volunteers helped welcome guests to Qwest Field July 8 for the company’s 787 rollout extravaganza. Their job was to pass out Dreamliner models to each of the 15,000 guests as they entered the giant stadium. The crowd was headed for an afternoon of entertainment, videos, live television speeches broadcast from around the world and the concluding dramatic moment with the 787 unveiling. The surging masses made for some hectic moments, but everyone was in fine spirits, and we provided an extra element of welcome with our greetings and gifts. Renting Qwest Field was an effort to accommodate Boeing employees who don’t work at the Everett site with the opportunity to witness this historic event. And it was the first time that Boeing retirees had been sent invitations to a major Boeing event.
	The scene on Sunday 07-08-07 for the 787 Dreamliner rollout ceremonies at Qwest Field in Seattle.

		Using Bluebill volunteers to help with the event was also a milestone. "We’ve been working with our Boeing contacts to encourage the company to think about us when they need volunteer help. This event was a first step in that direction," said Merv Shetler, Central Leadership Chair. The Bluebill participation was organized by Margaret Stone. For our "trouble," we got plenty of good food, plus VIP parking and a reception afterwards where Bob Watt, vice president, Global Corporate Citizenship, thanked us again. "When we first thought of doing this event at Qwest Field, we wondered would anybody come, would anyone be willing to help," Watt wrote in a thank you letter. "Could we do it in a way that would make all the participants feel welcomed and appreciated? Could we get permission to invite our retirees? Well, with your help, we answered those doubts and nearly 25,000 people connected with Boeing got invitations and had a marvelous time celebrating the birth of the remarkable new 787." Making an appearance at the volunteers’ reception, Watt said, "Your work today made a huge difference. Together, we made a wonderful event even better by allowing so many people to participate. I can’t image how this event would have gone without your time and talents being on full display!"
Bluebill Margaret Stone (left) was the organizer of our participation at the rollout event. Here she is seen giving out the gate assignments for the Bluebills who would greet guests and hand out model 787's.

Here is an e-mail letter sent to Bluebills Chairman Merv Shetler by Bob Watt, Boeing Vice President of Government Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship. (Note: Sandee Baker and Susan Bradley are on Bob's staff, and did a great job working with us and coordinating the event, including the Bluebill participation.) Dear Merv, We could not have done the event without you and all the Bluebills who were able to be there to help. I thought that the Qwest field event was more fun than Everett! It was indeed the amazing Sandee Baker aided and abetted by Susan Bradley who had the vision and also sweated all the details that made it such a good day. We know that we would not be doing what we are doing today without the hard work, creativity and a just plain stubborn belief in the future that all the retirees showed while working at Boeing. It was truly a privilege to be there with so many folks who helped build this company. I hope that we can do it again! Best. Bob
		Bluebill Joanna Mercado (right) greets guests at the Qwest Field South gate. She is handing out some of the 15,000 models of the new 787