Community Service Awards handed out, volunteers honored

By Julie Jonas and Chuck Hinson
Special to the Turnagain Times

Photo Courtesy of Chuck Hinson Carolyn Brodin and Jim Doepken, Girdwood’s Volunteers of the Year, hold their awards at the Four Valleys Community School Board annual volunteer BBQ.

On June 7, the Four Valleys Community School Board hosted the annual Volunteer BBQ at the Marlow Pavilion. It was a beautiful sunny day and there was a huge crowd! Grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, salmon burgers and halibut were served up with all the fixings, including some great- tasting watermelon.
It was a perfect opportunity for local organizations to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to their respective groups. Following a brief business FVCS annual meeting led by Rebecca Reichlin, where board members were recognized and approved, Chief Chadwick took the stage to recognize all the hard working volunteers for the Girdwood Fire Department. He announced Capt. Steve Brunk as the outstanding member this year.
Next, Kris Malecha, president of the Girdwood School PTA made presentations to Sue Kennedy and Pat Preis for their superb contributions to the organization’s efforts, including the Halloween carnival and volunteering in the classrooms.
Sue also received one of the two FVCS Volunteers of the year awards for her extraordinary can-do ability in coordinating the Artist-in-Residency program. It was a really fun event with circus artist Meghan Holtan packing the gym with smiling faces. Julie Jonas also recognized Ross Silkman for the second award as a volunteer who never turns away a kid who wants to play sports. He has served as coach for baseball, T-Ball, and soccer and has assisted at every FVCS registration for the last four years.
The overall Community Service Awards went to Carolyn Brodin and Jim Doepken. Carolyn is a dedicated advocate for Girdwood valley trails, having served on the Trails Committee since its inception. She currently chairs that committee and her passion for the quality of life our backyard has to offer is contagious!
Jim is tireless when it comes to service to the community. In addition to being the pastor for Girdwood Chapel and chaplain for the GVFD, he considers himself Girdwood’s pastor. He recently organized a day of service for the community. This was a huge effort of many designed by one and Jim was the driving force behind this amazing day. He serves in the PTA and was quite a hit as the lead in “Music Man,” the school’s musical this spring.
Other nominees for the award were: Joan Lower, a teacher at Girdwood School and a member of the Little Bears Playhouse Board of Directors since 1981; Lori Sears, who ran the polls for all the state and municipal elections in Girdwood and is active with the Girdwood Center for Visual Arts and the Girdwood Beautification program; Tom Yeager, a longtime Girdwood mover and shaker who started the Trails committee, helped build the hand tram at Four Corners, served on the GBOS and actively led the Girdwood Area plan process; Erin Wells, the music teacher at Girdwood School who made our community theater a reality; Sean Stash, who single-handedly designed, built and maintains the Disc Golf course in Forest Fair Park; Barbara Crews, who coached First Lego League and “Math Counts,” leading Girdwood to three district Math Derby victories; and Bob and Carol Maker, who have helped mentor many Girdwood kids on their way through first jobs with care and professionalism.