UNITED WAY PAYS TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEERS

Attorney Ben Lewis encouraged volunteers to continue building the walls of the community during the Volunteer Recognition Awards program sponsored by the Area Wide United Way and Ameritech Wednesday.

Lewis was the keynote speaker for the event, which is held annually to recognize community workers for their volunteer efforts. He likened local volunteerism to the biblical figure Nehemiah, whom he called the first community activist for Nehemiah's work in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

"He was a builder of his community because he had a clear goal, recruited volunteers, led by example and wasn't discouraged," said Lewis. "Today, you are the builders of your communities, and without the walls you maintain, we have no community. It takes people who have made the notable achievements you have made to keep the walls safe."

Three people and one organization were selected from more than 40 nominations to receive special recognition during the program. Recipients of the 1999 awards for the volunteer work they do were Lillian Dean, outstanding youth volunteer; Vicki Rhew, outstanding adult volunteer; Irene Eaker, outstanding senior volunteer; and CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, outstanding volunteer organization.

Dean has provided service with Girl Scouts, Vision 2000 community board and flag committee, Vision 2020, church youth group, Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army. She was nominated by Millie Turner with the Ohtaki Girl Scout Council.

In her nomination letter, Turner said Dean has developed strong leadership skills through her volunteerism and has a desire to help improve society.

"It would be difficult to tally her total hours of service and the many ways she has contributed to the community as well as to the Girl Scout organization," wrote Turner. "Being involved in many aspects of the community has helped her develop leadership skills beyond her years."

Rhew of Kennett was nominated by Linda Biggs for her work with the Visiting Nurses Association. Rhew has worked with the organization's hospice program two years and volunteered over 189 hours in 1998. She is also an active member of Faith Methodist Church and the Zeta Xi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

She is especially helpful in working with bereaved families and continues her service beyond a patient's death, said Biggs.

"She is the kind of person who does not need to be told what to do," said Biggs. "She pitches right in cooking, cleaning, attending to children's needs, whatever her keen sense of observation detects needs to be done," Biggs said. "As a result families adopt her, and their reports to VNA show that she is dearly loved and appreciated by her unobtrusive way of seeing and attending to needs."

Eaker, 92, was nominated by Pat Miller for the exceptional 33,160 hours of service she has provided at St. Francis Medical Center since 1977. She also gives service to St. Mary Cathedral Church, the St. Mary's Council of Catholic Women and the Friends of St. Francis.

Eaker is affectionately known as the "bad weather friend" at the hospital because of her dedication to her work, said Miller.

"When the snow and ice keep many of the volunteers at home, Miss Irene can be counted on to arrive by taxi or borrowed ride at the front door, smiling her "Hellos, I'm here," said Miller.

Volunteers with CASA were nominated by director Pam Jenkins for their efforts to represent children as officers of the court. Volunteers often go out of their way to ensure the best interests of children are represented in court without bias from family members or government agencies, said Jenkins.

"Often the natural homes are in some state of turmoil or instability, and the parents have already been dealing with so many agencies and people that they do not always welcome us with open arms," wrote Jenkins in her nomination letter. "They make visits day or night, when it's convenient or inconvenient, with cooperation or without cooperation. They persist."

Other nominees:

Youths under 25 -- Karl Honaas, Nikki Moore, Marcus Renauld, Nick Roberts.

Adults 26 to 59 -- Glenna Ervin, Charles Gudermuth, Tammy Gwaltney, Paul Keys, Charlotte Lanpher, Tonia Lane, John Mitchell, Denis Rigdon, Pam Roche, Lyn Stoecker.

Senior adults -- Ginny Cates, Loreen Gladish, Lucille Grojean, Robert Harper, Gilbert Leimer, Leroy Mier, Peggy Pruett, Joseph Rose, J.L. Sparkman, Dortha Strack, Rosalind Justus Vogel, Charles Woodford.

Group or organization -- CHADD Support Group executive committee; Community Service Unit Managers, Otahki Girl Scout Council; Delta Delta Delta Sorority; Excelsior Optimist Club, Project Charlie; FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau; Kage Family Community Education Club; Oak Ridge Homemaker Family and Education Club; Pi Kappa Alpha -- Epsilon Iota Chapter; St. Vincent's Christian Justice and Service Committee; SEMO Network Against Sexual Violence.