Good evening.  I am Dianne Muscarello, co-chair of the Glide First Citizen committee.  Debbie was nominated this year for Glide First Citizen. We found out that she won’t be able to attend the celebration, and we didn’t think it fair that she not be recognized and acknowledged for her nomination. So we decided to do it here tonight.

I first met Debbie in 2002 when she volunteered at the elementary school’s Read Across America Day. Wearing her firefighter’s turnouts and helmet, she was a big hit with the kids.

Later I learned that she doesn’t just read to kids –
– she works at the Student Day of the Wildflower Show,
– coordinates the volunteers for the annual School Forestry Tour,
– works with the school’s nature trail,
– and other environmental education activities.

She’s not just a firefighter.
– She’s an EMT
– and the fire department’s public information officer and webmaster.

And when Glide lost its clinic in 2000,
– she spearheaded the effort to get it reopened, dramatically affecting the lives of hundreds of people in our community.
– As president of the board of the Umpqua Valley Health Clinic since 2005, her leadership has now affected the entire county.

These are highlights of the many reasons that Debbie was nominated for Glide First Citizen not just this year, but also in 2009, 2008, and 1999.

When we thought it was just the Forest Service keeping her from attending the celebration, we figured we could pull some strings and get her there. But last night we found out it was one of the loves of her life, gymnastics, keeping her away, and we gave up. Instead, we decided to throw tradition out the window and crash this party.

The celebration in a couple weeks will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Glide First Citizen. Our theme is "50 Years of Making a Difference." Debbie has definitely made a difference in the Glide community for about one-third of those 50 years.

So please join me in congratulating and honoring her. I am proud to announce that Debbie Anderson has been named Glide First Citizen for 2010.

Debbie, the people of Glide won’t let you go without thanking you for everything you have done for us. The hole you’re going to leave will be very hard to fill. With your name on that plaque in the community center, you’ll always be remembered here, and always be one of our own.

Our next honoree had not lived in Glide very long when he started finding ways to make a difference in our community. He’s lived here 12 years, and he’s been on the water association board for 10 of them.

For 9 years he’s been a volunteer with the sheriff’s department, riding patrol for 5 hours twice a week, and keeping us informed by distributing the sheriff’s newsletter at locations throughout our community and county. If there’s an incident and the department needs someone to stand guard all night, he’ll be there in his uniform.

He was also appointed by the county commissioners to the Senior Advisory Board, where at monthly meetings he advocates for the needs of Glide seniors.

He’s always at Glide Community Club events. He’s the one who puts out and takes down the Bingo signs every Friday night, in rain, sleet, or snow. He’s always around to help with the current project, like removing the old flooring when this room was redone. The chairs you are sitting on take a lot of abuse, and he’s the one who repairs them.

Many people respond to requests for assistance and participate in local organizations. But it’s rare to find someone who looks around, sees how his unique talents and interests might be of use, and makes a difference that no one has ever thought of before.

Who else thought of driving a pick-up load of easels to the Senior Center and setting up displays? He’s shown us movie posters, community club history, presidential portraits and biographies on President’s Day, and the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July.

Who else would bring his collection of golden oldy vinyls every Friday to entertain the seniors with toe-tapping music?

Who else would think of turning his love for history and long hours in the library reading old News Reviews, into an entertaining column in the North Umpqua News? He teaches the rest of us about our local history – including those of us who have lived here more than 50 years!

He does research for anyone who needs information and doesn’t know where to find it. The First Citizen scrapbook contains the newspaper articles about every single Glide First Citizen, thanks to his library research.

He has been described as always available, always going, always doing for someone in the community. A gentle soul, a good neighbor, an incredible friend. If he knows someone likes Duck memorabilia, he’ll show up at the front door with a yard sale Duck find. If he knows someone needs a walker, he’ll find one and buy it. Somehow he finds out what interest or need exists, then he steps in and does it.

He has lived here only since 1998, but he has embraced this community and given himself to it wholeheartedly. Tonight is our opportunity to embrace him as first among us and to thank him for his generosity of spirit. Please join me in honoring Don Good, 2010 First Citizen!!