Georgia Magazine - January 2021 - 22C

" The role of Washington Youth Tour senior director is not for the faint of heart. Housing, moving
and feeding this crowd in the nation's capital is a noble task. As impressive as handling all the
logistics is, more than anything I sincerely appreciate Gale and the GEMC staff 's genuine interest and tireless efforts to continually improve the quality of the trip and make it a one-of-a-kind
experience for the students. "

BYRON McCOMBS
Longtime WYT coordinator, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Blairsville
Chaperone/photographer on 10 tours

BYRON MCCOMBS

" I began calling Gale Cutler 'Mama Gale' because she exhibited many character traits that were
just that: motherly. She was gentle and personable with each delegate, knowing essentially every
single one of our names when we checked in. She was lively and fun, participating in many of our
karaoke sessions on the bus. She was compassionate and gracious, thinking about and caring for
all of those whose first plane ride it was. "

TRENT TAYLOR
2014 WYT delegate, Carroll EMC, Carrollton

" Gale's expert planning gave the Georgia delegation a week of learning about their government
through the WYT. Gale was an inspiration to the students in her manner of presenting the future
sights and events that they would see and experience in the nation's capital. Barely a day elapsed
after the Georgia delegation's departure in June before Gale would contact me with the next year's
date and plans. Her enthusiasm was contagious! "

POLLY DEBUTTS
Washington, D.C., tour guide

were able to get to our meeting space, even though the general public was kept out of the Capitol.
" It was actually pretty incredible. Our group felt that we
had backstage passes to what was going on, especially when
U.S. Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Doug Collins (R-Ga.)
came in together to update us and then proceeded to stand
together and answer questions. Their main message to our
students was that, while there were obviously issues that they
and their parties disagreed on, there were more that they
agreed about and worked on together. "
Hill Day is always one of Cutler's favorite stops on the
tour. " As another state's tour director once said, our delegates
go into those congressional meetings as teenagers on a field
trip and come out as constituents. "
Her other favorite is George Washington's Mount Vernon, which is usually the first iconic site the delegates visit
and where history starts to feel real and touchable to them.
Over the years, Cutler has developed lasting friendships
with bus drivers, tour guides, state directors, photographers
and others she regularly sees on the trip. She stays in touch
" Gale's organizational skills made our jobs easier, which
allowed us to enjoy the trip too. Each time I found chaperoning the trip to be stress-free mainly because of Gale's love for
the Washington Youth Tour and her transforming that love
into making sure everyone-students and adults alike-benefited. Gale Cutler is the person that every tour director aspires
to be! I feel privileged to call Gale my friend. "

LOGAN PORTER
Youth Tour chaperone in 2007, 2010 and 2014

with many former delegates, mostly through the Facebook
alumni group. It's easy to see how much pride she has in the
group.
" I've been able to keep track of many as they finish high
school, go to college, start their careers, marry and have
children, " she says. " They end up as valedictorians for their
schools, state FFA or 4-H officers and college roommates. So
many turn into adults who continue to use their passion for
service leadership through community involvement or youth
development. It is also neat to have some of them go to work
for one of Georgia's EMCs, where we become colleagues. "
Cutler and her husband, Chuck, plan to move to the
Blairsville area after she retires. They have two sons: Zac, of
Jasper, and Eric, of Portland, Ore.
Even after two decades of annual trips to Washington,
D.C., Cutler hasn't had her fill of the nation's capital. She's
already looking forward to future visits-but just with her
husband, not with a group that takes three buses (or two
planes) to accommodate.
Kevin Braun is an associate editor at Georgia Magazine.
" Out of the 20 years I have been driving motor coaches,
I have never met a person so organized. Gale is the best!
She spoils me from Day One all the way to Day Seven. Gale is
amazing, from getting all the kids to Washington; making all
the meetings, dinners, tours, shows and parades; and setting
all the times for each day and events and getting back to
Georgia. WOW! "

TONY LAYNE
Lead motor coach operator, Memory Layne Tours & Travel
www.georgiamagazine.org

22C

http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2021