Glenys has won a civic award for her life-time work with the Girl Guides and women's institutes. She holds office in numerous other organisations, including as an executive member of Probus.
Probus is an offshoot of the Rotary club for retired business people where - you guessed it - she was president for two years.
A short-hand typist in her hey dey, Riddell and her husband, Jim, settled in Hastings seven years ago after livestock farming in the outback of Central Hawke's Bay for more than 30 years.
Asked why she gravitates towards positions Glenys Riddell ponders before replying: "I just enjoy helping the community."
That act of selflessness extends to helping out at her church, St Andrew's Presbyterian.
She suspects the public's view of her leadership potential perhaps stems from her organisational skills in helping train Girl Guides leaders.
The inspiration for the fours tourney came because not enough teams from outside the Bay were coming here to compete in bowls.
"We travelled to Rotorua, Tauranga, Ohope to get outside competition so I thought why not bring them in to advertise our beautiful building," she says of the tourney that breaks the shackles by allowing composite teams to make up the field of 16 fours playing indoors during winter.
Liffy Law's Havelock North team breaks that mould but generally others find traction in making up fours with friends and relatives.
All games will allow for 1h 40m to enable seven games to be played over two days for $2000 in prizes.
"But the ladies aren't there to win money. They come to enjoy bowls and good company."
It has lured sides from as far north as Whangarei and south as Kapiti Coast in one of the strongest fields staged in the Bay for years.
Individuals include former Bowls NZ president Ann Muir, of Whangarei, and Gwenda Smith; Counties Manukau representatives Forrest, Pedley and Nancy Wilson.
Manawatu rep Chris Quinn's Northern team of Carol Davidson, Viv Lozell and Noelene Elston are a proven combination akin to recent BHB Champion-of-Champion singles champion Mere Nepia and her Bay View Gisborne/East Coast unit.
2016 National Fours champions Robyn Wallace and Dot Palmer's team includes unbeaten 1-8 years duo of Chris Telford and Michelle Robinson, of Napier, plus Jeannette Drieberg, of Omarunui.
HB rep Lillian Tukiri (Taradale) teams up with Wilson, Alison Lott and Helen Bentley (Heretaunga). Factor in 2016 national pairs champions Louise Fitness and Jo Hayes with top Bay junior Sheryl Viggers and Bay rep Barbara Exeter and you get the picture.
Riddell is a former Bay rep but had no inclination to go beyond.'
"I couldn't be bothered practising more than that."
She followed her husband from indoor bowls to the outdoor code after he would leave home with their five children for the night's competitions.
"I had to join in with them if I wanted to see the family. It was either that or stay home to fill up cake tins," says Riddell with a laugh.
