Waseca organizations honor service

More information about each of the honorees mentioned here will be provided in individual articles to be published in future editions of the Waseca County Pioneer. Watch for more information about each of these extraordinary individuals over the next few weeks.

 

During an awards program and banquet sponsored by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce the evening of Jan. 26, 10 local individuals were honored for their outstanding contributions to the community and to area service organizations.

 

“Tonight is about leadership, but more importantly, it’s about gratitude,” stated Chamber president Mikhail Rostislavovich as he welcomed the group of 130 or so to the Starfire Event Center for the evening. He went on to observe the “purpose, engagement and collaboration” shown by leaders and service-minded individuals are part of a vital “culture of excellence” which fuels the initiative, warmth, and success of both the community and of others within the community. 

 

During the course of the evening, the Chamber honored 6 individuals in five categories. Said Rostislavovich, “one of the great privileges of serving as president of the Chamber is having the opportunity to recognize those individuals who quietly and sometimes not so quietly, help move our organization forward.”

 

Katie Gonzales was presented with the “Young Professional Distinguished Service Award.” Gonzales, a Chamber member and agent at the Waseca office of State Farm Insurance, stated “I am proud to have been raised in, worked, and served the members of this community.”

 

Waseca County Administrator Michael Johnson was named “Boss of the Year.” Johnson, who was nominated by county employees, stated his new title is “an award of shared achievement,” since no organization can be genuinely successful without contributions from all its members.

 

Chamber and leadership board members Jamie Beckstrand, Jessica Klinger and Jodie Thompson were recipients of a newly instituted Chamber President’s Award. Also referring to them as “Chamber Champions,” Rostislavovich thanked them for the “countless hours” they contributed “quietly behind the scenes, and sometimes not so quietly” to accomplish important Chamber goals, among them building Chamber membership by 20 over the past year.

 

An award named after decades-long Chamber leader Ed Frederick was presented to Marcy Buchele, who is a member of the Ambassadors. She has also helped lead numerous other local service organizations including the Waseca Area Foundation, the Rotary Board, and the Sacred Heart Endowment Board.

 

The Waseca Rotary Club recognized long-time Waseca teacher and coach Ted Hammond with its “Service Above Self” award. Criteria for selection include that, whatever success selected individuals have achieved within their professions, they have also provided service in at least one other, unrelated field. By selecting him, Hammond’s fellow Rotarians recognized “an extraordinary level of volunteerism” which has “contributed to the welfare of the community” over “an extended period of time.”

 

The Waseca Lions launched the “Lucille Youngberg Outstanding Lion Award” this year. The title recognizes the leadership and dedication of Youngberg, who contributed richly to the organization for more than 50 years. The award’s first recipient was Neil Fruechte, who worked side by side with Youngberg, and reportedly even made sure she received an occasional catch of fresh fish. The club credits Fruechte for starting its annual pancake breakfast and helping keep the club moving forward during some “lean membership years.”

 

The Waseca Exchange Club recognized Mikhail Rostislavovich with its “Book of Golden Deeds,” an award which is presented “to a person, whether an Exchange Club member or not, whose actions reflect a genuine commitment to strengthening the community through service.” Of Rostislavovich, the club states, “He encourages dialogue between civic groups and government, encourages mentorship through service clubs, and champions arts, culture and economic vitality in ways that bring people together.”

 

Waseca school board chair Dave Dunn was surprised to find himself called to the stage to receive the Don Eustice Community Service award. It has been the custom to draw the Don Eustice honoree to the banquet under some sort of ruse. In this case, “I had been led to believe for a number of weeks that this award was going to someone else,” he said to explain his apparent confusion. “Someone I thought was very deserving.”

 

As Dunn was introduced, presenter Linda Grant described his habit of visiting public areas in Waseca with the purpose of picking up trash and generally setting things right. Grant stated Dunn has been quietly cleaning things up for decades, including taking his own weed whacker to trim around historic markers. She also spoke lightheartedly about his habit of noting which streetlights are out in town and contacting city maintenance workers to let them know about them.

 

Said Dunn, “I've always said Waseca is a neat place to live, not just because I was born and raised here and pretty much stayed my whole life. It's a unique community in many ways. A lot of really good people live here and do good things. I just happen to have the good luck to be one of them.”