SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW: Dick and Vickie Haas

Published online on Monday, Sep. 29, 2008

Where they live: Near Barstow and Fruit avenues

Occupation, age: Dick is professor emeritus of biology at Fresno State, 79; Vickie is retired director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Fresno County, 77

Family: They have been married for 56 years and have two daughters, Tracy and Dani, a daughter-in-law, Caryl, and a granddaughter, Emmali, 7.

Why should we know them? They are active volunteers for the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. Dick has been involved in developing the major fundraising activity, Parties for the Parkway, for 15 years; he serves on two committees and takes photos for the party book. Vickie is on the volunteer committee.

Dick is part of a small group of emeriti at Fresno State that picks the best graduate thesis for the Graduate Dean's medal. He also serves on ad-hoc committees of the School of Math and Science to evaluate science presentations of local high school students competing in state and national competitions. He annually teaches a program to prepare docents at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and chairs a discussion table at the annual Fresno County Library dinner.

Vickie serves on the membership committee and chairs the pastoral care committee at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. She now is involved in producing the new church roster. She also served on the board of directors of the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall.

Both support the Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defensive Council, Southern Poverty Law Center, Fresno Art Museum, Fresno Metropolitan Museum and San Joaquin Valley Town Hall.

What are some organizations they belong to? Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. Dick belongs to the church's green sanctuary committee, sings in the choir and occasionally teaches biology lessons in the church school. He is an active member of the Spectrum Art Gallery, where he's had several photography shows. Vickie is a member of the League of Women Voters.

What are their hobbies? Dick sculpts in clay. Vickie enjoys reading.

What would they like to share with others? "We humans are social creatures. It gives both of us pleasure to be involved in community affairs and to be aware of the serious problems we all face with the global environment," Dick says. "Everyone we know is engaged one way or another in the community; our friends are great role models. What we do we pretty much do as a partnership where one has strengths the other may not. We feel fortunate to be citizens of this great land and feel strongly that it is our responsibility to, as Vickie says, walk the talk as best we are capable and able."