Book of Golden Deeds
The purpose of the Book of Golden Deeds Award is to honor a living person who has given unselfishly for the betterment of his/her friends and neighbors without thought of acclaim or recognition. It is the objective of Exchange Club to seek out, solicit information and honor this individual. Without this type of award many "golden deeds" would go unnoticed and the individual would not be recognized. It is to the examples shown by recipients of this award that the Rochester Exchange club dedicates this effort.
Nominations are now closed for the 2024 BOGD.
Book of Golden Deeds form (Word document format)
Book of Golden Deeds form (PDF format - Opens in most computers)
See below at the bottom of the page for photos of our new Book of Golden Deeds monument, constructed in the fall of 2013.
Nominations are now closed for the 2024 BOGD.
Book of Golden Deeds form (Word document format)
Book of Golden Deeds form (PDF format - Opens in most computers)
See below at the bottom of the page for photos of our new Book of Golden Deeds monument, constructed in the fall of 2013.
68th Annual winner - Kathleen Harrington
(pictured) Exchange Book of Golden Deeds Chair David Gibson, Guest Speaker Sylwia Bujak Oliver, Winner Kathleen Harrington, Member/Nominator Sherry Irvin, Exchange President Jim Oeltjenbruns.
November 6, 2024The Rochester, Minnesota Exchange Club hosted its annual Book of Golden Deeds banquet at the Empire Event Center in Rochester. At the 68th annual ceremony, we were proud to honor Kathleen Harrington for her selfless contributions to improving the lives of her friends, neighbors, and the community—efforts made without any expectation of recognition.
Kathleen moved to Rochester from Washington, D.C., in 2011 to work at the Mayo Clinic. After her time at Mayo, she went on to serve as the president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, a role from which she later retired. However, she came out of retirement to take on the role of interim executive director for the Rochester Downtown Alliance, where she helped organize popular events like Social Ice and Thursdays Downtown.
Harrington in a KIMT TV interview says, “it's very touching, it's very humbling, I think what I have tried to do throughout my life is work with people to help bring out the best in others. And to have that said and recognized is a great joy.”
Harrington was invited to the event without any knowledge that she would be receiving the award. She came thinking she was to talk about a friend who she thought was winning. Kathleen was nominated by her good friend, Sherry Irvin who went around collecting information about her to help present the award. Harrington also received a paver that will has been put in the ground at the Freedom Shrine monument at Soldiers Field park .
Also, during the event. Exchange Club member Beverly Simpson was awarded the Exchange Club Member of the year.
Kathleen moved to Rochester from Washington, D.C., in 2011 to work at the Mayo Clinic. After her time at Mayo, she went on to serve as the president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, a role from which she later retired. However, she came out of retirement to take on the role of interim executive director for the Rochester Downtown Alliance, where she helped organize popular events like Social Ice and Thursdays Downtown.
Harrington in a KIMT TV interview says, “it's very touching, it's very humbling, I think what I have tried to do throughout my life is work with people to help bring out the best in others. And to have that said and recognized is a great joy.”
Harrington was invited to the event without any knowledge that she would be receiving the award. She came thinking she was to talk about a friend who she thought was winning. Kathleen was nominated by her good friend, Sherry Irvin who went around collecting information about her to help present the award. Harrington also received a paver that will has been put in the ground at the Freedom Shrine monument at Soldiers Field park .
Also, during the event. Exchange Club member Beverly Simpson was awarded the Exchange Club Member of the year.
67th Annual winner - Bill Adamson, I.J. Lewiston, Gene Harnack
November 1, 2023
The Rochester, Minnesota Exchange Club held it’s annual Book of Golden Deeds banquet on November 1 st . This banquet has been held every year since 1955, except for 2020 (covid) to honor a community member that gives unselfishly to their volunteer work.
This year there were 3 recipients. Two former club members and a current member. Ugene(Gene) Harnack was a recipient that was awarded posthumously for his dedication and hard work on our permanent outdoor Freedom Shrine as well as other club work. Gene joined our club in March of 1959 and was president in 1963.
William(Bill)Adamson joined in February of 1957 and was president in 1991 and had to resign this year due to poor health. Accepting the award for him was his daughter and son-in-law. He was recognized for volunteerism on various projects as well as helping us obtain a van from his car dealership at his cost that was used for may years by Meals on Wheels program.
The 3 rd award went to I. J. Lewison who had joined our club in April of 1959, was President in 1968 and remains an active club member. He was at the banquet and had told the crowd of the things he had worked on over the years as he was interviewed from the dais by current President Gibson
The Rochester, Minnesota Exchange Club held it’s annual Book of Golden Deeds banquet on November 1 st . This banquet has been held every year since 1955, except for 2020 (covid) to honor a community member that gives unselfishly to their volunteer work.
This year there were 3 recipients. Two former club members and a current member. Ugene(Gene) Harnack was a recipient that was awarded posthumously for his dedication and hard work on our permanent outdoor Freedom Shrine as well as other club work. Gene joined our club in March of 1959 and was president in 1963.
William(Bill)Adamson joined in February of 1957 and was president in 1991 and had to resign this year due to poor health. Accepting the award for him was his daughter and son-in-law. He was recognized for volunteerism on various projects as well as helping us obtain a van from his car dealership at his cost that was used for may years by Meals on Wheels program.
The 3 rd award went to I. J. Lewison who had joined our club in April of 1959, was President in 1968 and remains an active club member. He was at the banquet and had told the crowd of the things he had worked on over the years as he was interviewed from the dais by current President Gibson
66th Annual winner - David Oeth
November 2, 2022
David Oeth was the winner at the annual Book of Golden Deeds banquet held in Rochester. Introducing this year's winner was Club President Wayne Linander. David Oeth has volunteered regularly in a big way with at least 4 different non-profit organizations as well as numerous othes. The first was the Rochester Area Foundatio as a board member. The second was the VITA tax assistance program. This organization provides volunteers to help prepare tax returns for low to moderate income folks at no charge. The third was with the United Way of Olmsted County where he served as the Annual Campaign Chair in 2015. The fourth is the Salvation Army in which he has volunteered since 2011.
Other services includ RAEDI, Ronald MecDonals House, Channel One, The Rotary Club of Rochester, Rochester Estate Planning Council, and on the Chamber of Commerce Board.
His dedicatin fo service was not only civic, but also to his church at St. Francis of Assisi.
David Oeth was the winner at the annual Book of Golden Deeds banquet held in Rochester. Introducing this year's winner was Club President Wayne Linander. David Oeth has volunteered regularly in a big way with at least 4 different non-profit organizations as well as numerous othes. The first was the Rochester Area Foundatio as a board member. The second was the VITA tax assistance program. This organization provides volunteers to help prepare tax returns for low to moderate income folks at no charge. The third was with the United Way of Olmsted County where he served as the Annual Campaign Chair in 2015. The fourth is the Salvation Army in which he has volunteered since 2011.
Other services includ RAEDI, Ronald MecDonals House, Channel One, The Rotary Club of Rochester, Rochester Estate Planning Council, and on the Chamber of Commerce Board.
His dedicatin fo service was not only civic, but also to his church at St. Francis of Assisi.
65th Annual winner - Kathy Maegerlein
November 3, 2021 - Presentation by Exchange President Cathy Swessel..
It is incredible to think about the many volunteer hours given each year to so many organizations in our community. This year's award winner has been volunteering for many years with a wide variety of organizations.
She has been a volunteer at Mayo Clinic working with patients and donating over 450 hours since 2013. She has worked at the Welcome Desk and in the computer room.
She works with the AARP Tax-Aide Program preparing free tax returns for low-to-moderate income people and has done this since 2008. She has served as the District Coordinator overseeing 60 – 80 volunteers.
She has coordinated recruitment, training and organizing volunteers. She assumed a volunteer leadership role at the state level but has continued to help with technological issues and tax return preparation locally.
Our award winner has been a volunteer with State Services for the Blind since 2013 reading the newspaper via its Radio Talking Book service that broadcasts newspapers for anyone with a print disability. As did other readers, she read once a week for 2 hours plus she was quick to volunteer to help the local coordinator. The program has operated out of Charter House but had to shut down in March 2020 because of COVID 19.
She also has been a volunteer tutor with Rochester Reading Champions through the Rochester Public Library. She is a volunteer tutor with this innovative community program, facilitated through the Rochester Public Library, that matches highly-trained volunteers with underserved youth and adults who struggle to read and write. When she started on 2016, she completed 120 hours of training given by The Reading Center. Since then, she has helped give free literacy instruction to 3 low income students. She has met with her students twice a week for 45 – 60 minutes a session. There is no set curriculum so she plans and delivers each lesson which is specifically designed for that student. The coordinator of the program wrote she “has not only helped unlock potential in underserved youth she has also become a wonderful support to their families. Her kindness, dedication and efforts have ensured our students have gained critical reading skills, developed confidence and found an additional trusted person in their lives”.
Our winner also serves her community in other ways. She is an active members of the American Association of University Women. She previously was involved in the Area Council PTA and the League of Women Voters. I can only imagine the number of hours she has logged as a community volunteer.
It is my honor to present the Book of Golden Deeds award to Kathy Maegerlein. Kathy, Please come forward to accept your plaque.
It is incredible to think about the many volunteer hours given each year to so many organizations in our community. This year's award winner has been volunteering for many years with a wide variety of organizations.
She has been a volunteer at Mayo Clinic working with patients and donating over 450 hours since 2013. She has worked at the Welcome Desk and in the computer room.
She works with the AARP Tax-Aide Program preparing free tax returns for low-to-moderate income people and has done this since 2008. She has served as the District Coordinator overseeing 60 – 80 volunteers.
She has coordinated recruitment, training and organizing volunteers. She assumed a volunteer leadership role at the state level but has continued to help with technological issues and tax return preparation locally.
Our award winner has been a volunteer with State Services for the Blind since 2013 reading the newspaper via its Radio Talking Book service that broadcasts newspapers for anyone with a print disability. As did other readers, she read once a week for 2 hours plus she was quick to volunteer to help the local coordinator. The program has operated out of Charter House but had to shut down in March 2020 because of COVID 19.
She also has been a volunteer tutor with Rochester Reading Champions through the Rochester Public Library. She is a volunteer tutor with this innovative community program, facilitated through the Rochester Public Library, that matches highly-trained volunteers with underserved youth and adults who struggle to read and write. When she started on 2016, she completed 120 hours of training given by The Reading Center. Since then, she has helped give free literacy instruction to 3 low income students. She has met with her students twice a week for 45 – 60 minutes a session. There is no set curriculum so she plans and delivers each lesson which is specifically designed for that student. The coordinator of the program wrote she “has not only helped unlock potential in underserved youth she has also become a wonderful support to their families. Her kindness, dedication and efforts have ensured our students have gained critical reading skills, developed confidence and found an additional trusted person in their lives”.
Our winner also serves her community in other ways. She is an active members of the American Association of University Women. She previously was involved in the Area Council PTA and the League of Women Voters. I can only imagine the number of hours she has logged as a community volunteer.
It is my honor to present the Book of Golden Deeds award to Kathy Maegerlein. Kathy, Please come forward to accept your plaque.
Program
|
Presenting of the award
|
Rochester City Council President Brooke Carlson with congratulatory remarks.
|
64th Annual 2019 Winner - Gwen and Larry Scilley
Just some of the community groups they have helped...
Reading Oasis Reading Buddies Reading Project Christmas Anonymous Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home |
|
