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Home My WebLink About2005 volunteer reception4-05 more FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE City thanks volunteers at 26th-annual reception Edina, Minn., April 18, 2005 – To recognize some of the community’s volunteers, Edina Mayor Jim Hovland presented six commendations at Edina’s All-Volunteer Recognition Reception April 14 at Edinborough Park. Nearly 200 people attended the evening reception inside the park’s Great Hall. Mayor’s Service Club Commendation Awarded to a club or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the community through its regular activities or through special projects. Thanks to the generosity of the Edina Rotary Club and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, the Edina Senior Center is now equipped with a commercial kitchen. When the Senior Center opened in 2002, money was not available to equip the kitchen for commercial use. The Morningside Club developed the initial plan for donating money to renovate the kitchen at the Senior Center. The Morningside Club asked the Edina Rotary Club to help with the project. The Edina Morningside Club went on to raise $9,700 at its winter fundraiser, and the Edina Noon Club matched that amount. The City and a handful of private donors covered the rest of the cost. The renovation allows the kitchen to meet commercial codes so that the Senior Center can use it for “express” lunches featuring soup and sandwiches. Caterers are also able to serve food out of the kitchen. Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation Awarded to an individual for outstanding and exceptional volunteer service to the community at-large. City of Edina City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte Communications Director Phone 952-833-9520 Fax 952-826-0390 www.cityofedina.com  PRESS RELEASE • Page 2 Community organizations recognize their volunteers more Dianne Plunkett Latham, president of the Edina Garden Council, has applied her considerable enthusiasm and communication skills to inform Edina’s public officials and residents of the need for buckthorn abatement in City parks and neighborhoods. Her personal efforts have included appearances before public bodies, volunteer coordination and extensive phone and e-mail communication. She played a major leadership role in distributing informational door hangers throughout the community and in obtaining funds for buckthorn abatement in public areas, including the grounds around the Edina Art Center. Plunkett Latham has also led the Garden Council in its efforts to replace the fountain at Arneson Acres Park. Another of her projects can be seen just outside the Edina Community Library. As the Regent of her Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, she helped coordinate the donation of a flagpole there. Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Commendation Awarded to a senior citizen for outstanding volunteer service within the community. Since 1981, Jean Hedberg has been an active member of the Edina Federated Women’s Club. She has served as club president and this year served as co-chairwoman of the very successful club fundraiser known as the Feds Fest. Hedberg just finished a six-year board term with the Braemar Golf Association, having been president for the past three years. She has maintained a loyalty to the mission of the Southdale YMCA, joining the board and helping with their fundraising campaign. Hedberg continues to support the work of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, serving on the board for six years. With the Hedberg Foundation, she endowed a chair to pediatric brain tumor research at the University of Minnesota. In addition, she remains a faithful supporter of the Edina Community Foundation. Mayor’s Youth Commendation Awarded to an outstanding young person who has demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life in the community. • Page 3 Community organizations recognize their volunteers more Catherine Elliott, a ninth-grader at South View Middle School, comes from a family where community service and volunteering are a big part of their lives. Catherine is the Student Leadership Council President at South View, focusing on community and school service projects with a peer group. She is also the President of Builders Club, with the club members working their way toward raising $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In this endeavor, they are sponsoring a boy so that he and his family can go on a Disney Cruise. Currently, Catherine is working on her Girl Scout Silver Award Project, which is a 30-hour commitment toward making and collecting blankets for donation to the Harriet Tubman Family Alliance. Catherine has put in more than 100 hours of community service in the past year, doing such things as working at Feed My Starving Children, sorting clothes for Sabathani Community Center, scooping ice cream for Concord Elementary School, and working as a hostess at the Mayor’s house during the Edina Community Foundation’s Holiday Home Tour. Mayor’s Connecting With Kids Commendation Awarded to an individual or organization making a positive impact in the lives of youth. A self-described “recovering attorney” who spent much of his career in criminal defense, Mark Peterson now focuses his efforts principally on issues involving youth and families. Peterson became involved in youth asset-building initiatives after seeing enough of the “aftermath” of underage alcohol use. He now serves as a member of Edina Chemical Health Partners, Alcohol Action Group of Tri-City Partners and the Connecting With Kids positional leaders group. In addition, he has collaborated on forums for the parents of Edina athletes focusing on Minnesota State High School League rules relating to substance use. Mayor’s Community Involvement Commendation Awarded to a City employee for outstanding volunteer service to the community, above and beyond his or her position with the City. Since beginning work for the City of Edina in 2000, Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte has steadily grown the City’s communications program. Despite her workload, Bennerotte has been an • Page 4 Community organizations recognize their volunteers active volunteer in Edina. She is an avid supporter of the Edina Chamber of Commerce, regularly volunteering to help with the group’s golf tournament and Gala fund-raisers. In 2003, the Chamber recognized her as its “Volunteer of the Year.” Bennerotte is a new member of the Edina Rotary Club and will head up its public relations campaign later this year. In addition, Bennerotte has been an active member of the National Association of Government Communicators, City-County Communicators and Marketing Association and Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, of which she currently serves on the Board of Directors. Many service organizations also recognized their own exemplary volunteers at the reception. Awards were presented to: Marce Daehn, Edina Garden Council; Kathy Borg, Edina Girls Athletic Association; Linda Kieffer, Edina Art Center; Skip Thomas, Edina Chamber of Commerce; Pacy Erck and Matt Nilsen, Edina Chemical Health Partners; Cindy Bingham and Patricia Tucker, Edina Community Foundation; Cheryl Gunness, Edina Family Center; Jan Johnson and Mavis Klefsaas, Edina Federated Women’s Club; Jim Anderson and John Heinz, Edina Golden K Kiwanis Club; Linda Shirk, Edina Historical Society; Alan Thiel, Edina Lions Club; Lisa Kochiras, Edina Morningside Rotary Club; Chaplains Chaim Goldberger, Tony Jones, Kurt Kalland and Rich Phenow, Edina Police Department; Barbara Elder, Edina Recycling and Solid Waste Commission; Joan Lee, Edina Woman’s Club; Delores Randby, Fairview Southdale Hospital; Harold Liljenquist, Fourth of July Parade Committee; Marie Goblirsch, Friends of the Edina Community Library; Suzanne Kerwin, League of Women Voters of Edina; Paul Crockett, Southdale Y’s Men Club; Matt Briggs, Nicole Slomiany and Jean Thomas, Youth Development – Youth Service. For more information on the All-Volunteer Awards Reception or the mayor’s commendations, contact Human Services Coordinator Susan Heiberg, 952-826-0403. -30-