Over the years, Sam Louke has been one of the NFA’s most loyal convention volunteers. Sam is a chemical engineer, now retired from Intel Corporation. He lives in Beaverton, Oregon, with his wife, NFA member Phyllis Louke, and enjoys playing the trombone in his spare time.

How did you start volunteering at the NFA convention, and how long have you been doing it?

I was looking for something to do since I am not a flutist. Usually I meet up with some of the other “flute husbands” and go to a local Major League Baseball game one night of the convention. But my mornings are free, and since I volunteer a lot at home for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland and various musical groups in which I play trombone, I found it rewarding to help the NFA convention run smoothly. I’ve been volunteering since the 2007 Albuquerque convention.

What are your most memorable convention experiences?

Being a door monitor and helping the guest artist set up the room for their next event. I’ve done everything from helping flute choirs set up to helping Peter Sheridan organize his reading session music, to monitoring the door at the gala concert and having to turn away famous people for not having a badge.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering at the convention?

I enjoy meeting the leaders and world class musicians in the flute world. Oh, and earning a free lunch.

How much have you earned in rebates over the years?

I usually earn $30/day over about 3-4 days, or about $100-120/convention. I’ve been to seven conventions since 2007, so I’ve made about $800.

What would you say to encourage flutists – or non-flutists, like yourself – to volunteer at the convention?

It’s a great way to give back to an organization that you already support. You’re going to the convention, why not spend a couple of hours to help a worthy organization? And if you are the partner of a flutist, why not spend some of your free time at the convention in support of your partner’s passion?