2016-2017 Pilot International Director
Upon graduating from Airline School in Kansas City, Merrily was offered a job with National Airlines in New York City. National Airlines handed her an airline ticket and this small town girl suddenly found herself in the Big Apple living in Manhattan and working in a reservation office above Grand Central Station. Within three months she moved to Pan American Airways and embarked on a 10 year career that took her from a Reservation Agent to a Management Supervisor. The training with Pan American satisfied her desire to always be learning and provided her with the business development, decision making and people management skills she would use later as an entrepreneur.
In 1972, while a military wife at Robins AFB in Georgia, Merrily was invited to become a Charter member of the Pilot Club of Houston County in Warner Robins. Once she read the Code of Ethics she was convinced this was an organization she would be proud to join. Subsequent moves to Columbus, Ms and Honolulu, Hi allowed her to continue her Pilot membership. Seeing the need to find a means of support for the Clubs far from the mainland US, Merrily worked to find a way they would have input equal to the Districts. The Clubs of Evolving Districts, now made up of Clubs in Pretoria, South Africa, Niagara Falls, Canada, Hawaii(Honolulu and Leeward) and as of April 29, 2016, Newcastle, Australia, is delighted to be in the forefront of Pilot’s International expansion efforts.
Merrily is a member of the Pilot Club of Honolulu. She splits her time between Minnesota and Honolulu. Thanks to the internet and Skype she can continue to attend meetings and help with projects from anywhere her Travel Company and Training Company take her.
Pilots have been amazing wherever I go! Pilot Friendship and Service is an unbeatable duo.