20 Plymouth Volunteers Recognized With Service Awards

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the city of Plymouth's volunteer program, the city recognized 20 of its top volunteers at a recognition event June 27 at the Hilde Performance Center.

Volunteers past and present were invited to enjoy free ice cream before a performance of the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers. Then 20 volunteers chosen by a committee for their significant impact during the past 20 years were honored and brought up on stage.

Plymouth's Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Maas spoke about each volunteer or volunteer group and introduced them during the event.

Check out the video with this post that includes four of the 20 volunteers being introduced at the June 27 event. The following volunteers recognized included (blurbs quote Maas):

Barney and Judy Barnaal

"The Barnaals have contributed nearly 2,800 hours over 11 years of volunteering along Sunset Trail and other trails. Their nominator wrote that they set an example for the children at Sunset Hills Elementary School as they are seen walking with their water softener bags to fill. Apparently the pond at that school is named after Barney."

Dr. Roy Beacham

"Roy has contributed more than 900 hours as a member of the Police Chaplain Corps in nine years of service. He is available 24/7 to assist victims of emergency events and other family tragedies, counsel police officers and their family members, make death notifications, visit sick and injured officers and more. I also know that Roy has played the 'bad guy' on more than one occasion during role-playing simulations and had the paint ball bruises to show for it!"

Kersten Beckstrom

"Kersten has contributed nearly 5,000 hours in nine years of service in the Police Senior Corps. Along with administrative support, she is instrumental in producing the Police Department’s informational community television show, Along for the Ride, spending approximately 40 hours for each program. Her nominator wrote that 'Kersten said she enjoyed volunteering with the Police Department so much she had to retire from her 'retirement job' so she could volunteer even more time!'"

Dick Burkhardt 

"Dick has contributed nearly 300 hours in three short years with us. He assists with the Farmer’s Market, takes tickets at high school hockey games, supervises the kitchen crew during senior special events and has taken on additional responsibilities during various special events. More to the point, Dick has a special place in Mayor Slavik’s heart because he paints the hearts every 1/10 of a mile along designated trails, which allows her to track the distance of her runs!"

(Some information provided by the city of Plymouth.)