April Myers – a lesson in citizenship

by Dave DeMars

news@thenewsleaders.com

April 25, Sauk Rapids Government Center. 70 or so friends and neighbors gather to pay tribute to the newest Citizen of the Year, April Myers. The history of the Citizen of the Year stretches back some 30 years to 1986. Art Daniels, a recipient of the honor in 1994, was in attendance. And Myers herself will tell you this is something that honors not only the recipient of the award, but the whole city as well.

The gathering of citizens to pay tribute to one of their own who best exemplifies some of the attributes of citizenship is a good and worthy thing, and there are more among us who contribute to making the world and the city we live in a better place to live. Other nominees for the honor of Citizen of the Year this year included Tim Carlson, Barbara Bloomer, Kathy Schleuter, Madelyn Adamski and Jeremy Walsh. Each, in his or her own way, has helped to make Sauk Rapids a better place to live; a place with a little more compassion for the underdog and a helping hand for those not so swift of foot or mind. The gathering makes a virtue of being “Minnesota Nice.”

Lisa J. Braun played the role of master of ceremonies. She is herself a previous honoree of the Citizen of the Year, and she is still doing her part. The Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year Program also presented two scholarships to young citizens, seniors at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. This year’s scholarship winners were Patricia Cazalvilla Torres and McKinley Lain, each receiving a $500 award based on their volunteerism, leadership and involvement in Sauk Rapids events.

In addition, 16 business sponsors played a role in the sponsoring the reception and award. More sponsorship would surely be welcome.

Mayor Brad Gunderson took the microphone and began his remarks by saying if he ever needed something or to know what his daughter might be doing, he could always depend on Myers. He said she is a recognizable face throughout the city.

He relayed how he often saw Myers at Coborn’s and he would find out things his daughter had done of which he was unaware. Then he would call his daughter to ask about the incident and occasionally she would play the role of the innocent.

“’What do you mean you didn’t’ I would say, April just told me you did this,” Gunderson recounted.

The story drew a big laugh from the audience before the mayor intoned the multitude of whereas, whyfores and therefores of the official proclamation. Myers took the lectern and after thanking everyone, regaled the audience with several stories delineating what she gained from volunteering.

“Everyone has a story, and every story starts at the beginning and usually has an ending. But I hope those of you who know me know how much I love to tell stories,” Myers began.

Her story – and all those who she shared in the next 20 minutes – described the amount of pleasure she got from her volunteer work and what pleasure others could expect if they too volunteer.

Her story started in Crosby-Ironton, Minn. where she learned the value of volunteering from her parents.

“One day it might be cleaning dishes or selling pop at the concession stand,” Myers said. “My favorite was serving lutefisk at the church supper, mowing yards for the elderly and helping to put up American flags on light posts for special holidays – the list goes on and on, but my parents taught me that ‘giving back’ was the very best gift you could give to others.”

The process of helping, she said, not only improved the city, but it garnered the lifelong memories and friends to treasure. Moving to Sauk Rapids, Myers and her husband, Scott, quickly determined such memories were gifts to their daughter Megan, and so the habit of volunteerism continued.

Her work as housing director at Good Shepherd Community makes finding opportunities to serve others an easy task.

“It’s an awesome place to be and we are always in need of volunteers,” she said, drawing a big laugh.

Myers said she learned much from her work, and one elderly woman who was approaching 100 and seemed to have a good deal of energy gave her advice on how to accomplish much in life.

“Just keep moving,” Myers quoted her as saying. Another laugh from the audience.

Myers stories were many, but always with a purpose of inspiring others to do good and share talents to make the community around her a better place to live.

She told the story of serving turkey drumsticks at the Benton County Fair, and how she was once approached by a very dour man who demanded a turkey drumstick. She determined she would make him smile before he left with his drumstick. And so she tried extra hard to be solicitous, offering drink with the drumstick, or perhaps a cob of corn.

“Noo! Just the turkey leg,” he growled. “The biggest one you got.”

“I yelled back to give me one turkey leg, and then gave it to the man.”

“Where’d you get that from?” he grumped.

“Well, let me tell you,” I said. “You asked for the biggest one and the cook went back to the turkey barn – and this is the grand champion.”

The audience erupted with laughter at the story. Myers said the man grinned from ear to ear, and it’s a memory she’ll never forget. Mission accomplished.

It is this kind of reaction that inspires Myers to keep volunteering and trying to make a difference. It’s what keeps her involved and puts a smile on her face.

“When you help others out, when you give back to others in the community – you make the difference,” she said. “And you will never know who has seen you and when you have made that difference.”