HUMBOLDT Humboldts unique way of celebrating success created a night of fellowship at the 20th annual Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday night.
Collectively, individual clubs and organizations honored their volunteers of the year, capped off by a special award named for longtime physician Edward E. Long.
GALS FCE was this years winner of the Dr. Long award.
About 20 members strong, the 48-year old club stands for Go and Learn Something.
Without these GALS, Humboldt would be lesser of a community, said Chris Bauer, president of the Humboldt Chamber. Included among their service projects, the women provide the story hour at the Humboldt Public Library, help coordinate the Halloween parade each year for elementary school students, sponsor the holiday gift market each December featuring local craftsmen and entrepreneurs, collect loose change that goes toward the purchase of milk for distribution at the local food pantry and coordinate the gift-giving Adopt-a-Kid program each Christmas. What tipped the scales this year, Bauer said, was their campaign to raise funds to purchase a digital sign on the downtown square.
Bauer appreciatively noted how the GALS work hand-in-hand with the Chamber on various ventures, making each effort twice as successful.
Other volunteers noted for their contributions were:
Lions Club Ashleigh Dooley. Ashleigh started volunteering for our club before she was a member, working the food booth at Farm-City Days, said club president Cole Herder. We knew we had a winner when she volunteered with the Christmas dinner, he noted.
Humboldt Historical Society Zachary Mc-Down and Debbie Robinson. McDown is the clubs volunteer for 2017 and Robinson is this years, noted Ed Henderson, HHS president. McDowns efforts were hands on, Henderson said, including various cleanup projects and engaging the efforts of local Boy Scouts. Robinson was noted for her efforts in cataloguing the museums thousands of artifacts into its computer database. Now we know exactly where each artifact is among the rooms of the museums complex, Henderson said. Its made a world of difference. Henderson noted the clubs annual Appreciation Day has been moved from June to Sept. 22.
South Logan FCE – Mary Frances White. White was honored for her longtime service. She has a long history of leadership in FCE, 4-H, county fair, church and community events, said Jeanice Cress. Shes taught youth to sew for more than 50 years, as evidenced by many award-winning entries at the county fair.
PRIDE organization – Pastor Timothy Roth and Amanda Robertson. They have brought new life to this old group, noted Bauer of Roth and Robertson, both newcomers to Humboldt. Roth, pastor of St. Peters Lutheran Church, was noted for remaking the groups website and serving as webmaster. Robertson, who works at Playscapes in Yates Center, manages PRIDEs Face-book page.
Faith Assembly of God Jack and Marilyn Ellis
Anyone who works with a church knows its their volunteers who keep the wheels turning, noted Pastor Lew Griffith. Jack and Marilyn are fixtures in the community as well as at Faith Assembly, Griffith said. Jack was recognized for his volunteer work with the churchs Sunday school program as well as serving as church treasurer. As for Marilyn, shes the mastermind behind our Biblesta float every year, and we know this years will be great. No pressure.
Thrive Allen County Amanda Robertson
Alan Weber, who serves on Thrives board of directors, noted Robertsons dedication to working on the Lehigh Trails on Saturday mornings as well as helping launch the social media platform of the Allen County Together campaign.
