Myron and Connie Umerski, at their Sartell home, have been name Sartell’s Citizens of the Year.
They plan to accept the award on behalf of the Sartell Senior Connection.
Jason Wachter - St Cloud Times
SARTELL, Minnesotta / St Cloud Times / April 30, 2009
By Jane Laskey
The Sartell Chamber of Commerce will honor Connie and Myron Umerski as its 2009 Citizens of the Year tonight.
"We're very humbled but very pleased to even have been nominated, let alone selected," Myron Umerski said. "It's a great honor."
The Umerskis met at the Newman Center at St. Cloud State University more than 45 years ago.
They married and settled in St. Cloud, where they raised two daughters, Ann Marie Rassman and Mary Beth Fahrenkamp, both of Waconia. They also have four grandchildren.
Myron Umerski worked at St. Cloud State for 33 years, retiring in 2001. Connie worked at J.C. Penney for 27 years, retiring in 2000. When health issues made living in their split-level home difficult, they moved to Sartell in 2004.
In 2008 they logged more than 730 volunteer hours together.
"Volunteering is important for us," Connie Umerski said. "From my perspective, it was important even before I retired."
Myron Umerski serves on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program advisory board and the SCSU Alumni board. He volunteers with Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, the Community Emergency Response Team, and at the Whitney Senior Center where he facilitates the Tuesday humanities discussion and leads monthly tours.
Connie Umerski is co-facilitator of the Tuesday humanities discussions. She organized the annual J.C. Penney reunion luncheon. And she serves on the United Way of Central Minnesota's Community Investment team.
"It's funny. It turns out when you help other people, you help yourself in the process," Connie Umerski said. "You just kind of get a kick out of doing something that makes a difference."
Senior Connection
As impressive as their other volunteer efforts appear, they pale in comparison with hours the couple spent launching the Sartell Senior Connection.
When the group formed in 2007, there was very little programming for Sartell senior citizens. The Umerskis were part of a group of about 40 residents who attended a senior forum that year at Sartell City Hall.
"Sartell didn't have an official senior program and we thought it could use it," Myron Umerski said. They listened as city and community organizations asked seniors what was on their minds. The answer? A lot. They wanted walking trails. They wanted to get the word out to other seniors. And they wanted a place to connect.
Myron and Connie Umerski were a driving force in the Sartell Senior Connection. Umerski worked with the city, Sartell-St. Stephen Community Education and area businesses to forge a partnership that would serve the senior community.
"The Umerskis are two of the finest leaders with whom I have ever worked," Jan Sorrell wrote in her nomination. "They strive to include and respect the opinions of all. They do their homework and keep us excited and motivated ..."
When SSC events started popping up everywhere, the Umerskis were there to support them. Myron served as the group's chair and also chaired the steering committee. Connie served as recording secretary and program director for the group's monthly meetings.
"They have really worked tirelessly to get the Senior Connection off the ground," Ron Scarbro said.
Soon the group had more than 100 names on its mailing list. SSC members worked with the city and school district to open new trails and find indoor walking opportunities. And the SSC's monthly calendar was brimming with events.
Sartell's seniors had found their connection.
"Connie and Myron epitomize what this group is all about," Ann Doyscher-Domres said. "They want to give back to the group. They want to give back to their community. They just give of themselves so much."
Myron Umerski's eyes sparkle as he talks about the road ahead. He hopes to build the organization's structure and create bylaws so they can pursue grants and other funding opportunities.
"Now that we've had some success in meeting our goals, we want to be able to show them we're a mature organization," Umerski said.
It was through a surprise announcement at an SSC meeting that Connie and Myron learned of their award.
"When they said our names, I was shocked. I'm red-faced and I'm looking at Connie and she's in a state of shock, too," Myron Umerski said.
They decided they would feel better if they shared the glory, so they announced at an SSC coffee that they planned to accept the award on behalf of the Sartell Senior Connection.
"We both talked about it after we came down off the clouds," Myron Umerski said. "We can't take this Citizen of the Year honor onto ourselves. We are really representing the whole Sartell Senior Connection, and we want to share it with that wonderful group of people."
The Sartell couple will receive a $100 savings bond and $100 in Sartell Chamber Bucks. They will also see their names added to the Citizen of the Year plaque in Sartell City Hall.
Source: SCTimes.com
April 30, 2009
USA: Senior Couple Named Citizens of the Year for Volunteer Work
Myron and Connie Umerski, at their Sartell home, have been name Sartell’s Citizens of the Year.
They plan to accept the award on behalf of the Sartell Senior Connection.
Jason Wachter - St Cloud Times
SARTELL, Minnesotta / St Cloud Times / April 30, 2009
By Jane Laskey
The Sartell Chamber of Commerce will honor Connie and Myron Umerski as its 2009 Citizens of the Year tonight.
"We're very humbled but very pleased to even have been nominated, let alone selected," Myron Umerski said. "It's a great honor."
The Umerskis met at the Newman Center at St. Cloud State University more than 45 years ago.
They married and settled in St. Cloud, where they raised two daughters, Ann Marie Rassman and Mary Beth Fahrenkamp, both of Waconia. They also have four grandchildren.
Myron Umerski worked at St. Cloud State for 33 years, retiring in 2001. Connie worked at J.C. Penney for 27 years, retiring in 2000. When health issues made living in their split-level home difficult, they moved to Sartell in 2004.
In 2008 they logged more than 730 volunteer hours together.
"Volunteering is important for us," Connie Umerski said. "From my perspective, it was important even before I retired."
Myron Umerski serves on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program advisory board and the SCSU Alumni board. He volunteers with Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, the Community Emergency Response Team, and at the Whitney Senior Center where he facilitates the Tuesday humanities discussion and leads monthly tours.
Connie Umerski is co-facilitator of the Tuesday humanities discussions. She organized the annual J.C. Penney reunion luncheon. And she serves on the United Way of Central Minnesota's Community Investment team.
"It's funny. It turns out when you help other people, you help yourself in the process," Connie Umerski said. "You just kind of get a kick out of doing something that makes a difference."
Senior Connection
As impressive as their other volunteer efforts appear, they pale in comparison with hours the couple spent launching the Sartell Senior Connection.
When the group formed in 2007, there was very little programming for Sartell senior citizens. The Umerskis were part of a group of about 40 residents who attended a senior forum that year at Sartell City Hall.
"Sartell didn't have an official senior program and we thought it could use it," Myron Umerski said. They listened as city and community organizations asked seniors what was on their minds. The answer? A lot. They wanted walking trails. They wanted to get the word out to other seniors. And they wanted a place to connect.
Myron and Connie Umerski were a driving force in the Sartell Senior Connection. Umerski worked with the city, Sartell-St. Stephen Community Education and area businesses to forge a partnership that would serve the senior community.
"The Umerskis are two of the finest leaders with whom I have ever worked," Jan Sorrell wrote in her nomination. "They strive to include and respect the opinions of all. They do their homework and keep us excited and motivated ..."
When SSC events started popping up everywhere, the Umerskis were there to support them. Myron served as the group's chair and also chaired the steering committee. Connie served as recording secretary and program director for the group's monthly meetings.
"They have really worked tirelessly to get the Senior Connection off the ground," Ron Scarbro said.
Soon the group had more than 100 names on its mailing list. SSC members worked with the city and school district to open new trails and find indoor walking opportunities. And the SSC's monthly calendar was brimming with events.
Sartell's seniors had found their connection.
"Connie and Myron epitomize what this group is all about," Ann Doyscher-Domres said. "They want to give back to the group. They want to give back to their community. They just give of themselves so much."
Myron Umerski's eyes sparkle as he talks about the road ahead. He hopes to build the organization's structure and create bylaws so they can pursue grants and other funding opportunities.
"Now that we've had some success in meeting our goals, we want to be able to show them we're a mature organization," Umerski said.
It was through a surprise announcement at an SSC meeting that Connie and Myron learned of their award.
"When they said our names, I was shocked. I'm red-faced and I'm looking at Connie and she's in a state of shock, too," Myron Umerski said.
They decided they would feel better if they shared the glory, so they announced at an SSC coffee that they planned to accept the award on behalf of the Sartell Senior Connection.
"We both talked about it after we came down off the clouds," Myron Umerski said. "We can't take this Citizen of the Year honor onto ourselves. We are really representing the whole Sartell Senior Connection, and we want to share it with that wonderful group of people."
The Sartell couple will receive a $100 savings bond and $100 in Sartell Chamber Bucks. They will also see their names added to the Citizen of the Year plaque in Sartell City Hall.
Source: SCTimes.com
