Safety Pin Saves Chamber Staffer from Humiliation

The staff at the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce enjoy volunteering as instructors in local classrooms for Junior Achievement of Wisconsin Inc - Northcentral District.

Last month, one of those staff members encountered a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction just minutes before he was scheduled to speak to a classroom full of fifth graders at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Wausau.

Marketing Director Brian Otten was preparing to leave his office to speak to students when the zipper on his trousers failed. Otten immediately recognized the seriousness of his situation. He understood that a classroom full of fifth graders wouldn't miss this malfunction and their reaction would be merciless.

With just minutes remaining before he was scheduled to speak and with no time for a change of clothes, Otten frantically canvased his co-workers for a safety pin. Each query was met with a no, until Sue Wokatsch, Finance Director at the Chamber, dug into her desk drawer and produced the lone safety pin available in the building.

With some contorting, Otten was able to rig up a zipper fix with the pin and appear before the class on time and with his customary easy candor.

This pin and its role in preserving the dignity of Otten is now commemorated in a gilded frame in the organization's Wausau Group Lounge. Wokatsch is also recognized for her mastery over the contents of her desk.

The Chamber encourages its members and the entire community to volunteer with any number of great local non-profit organizations. And if you need a pin to fix an article of clothing, we have one set aside for you.