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Nov. 13, 2008 For more information, contact: MRPC Honors Volunteers Meramec Regional Planning Commission presented its highest award for community service to the Honorable Judge Ralph Haslag during its 2008 Annual Dinner, held Nov. 12, 2008, at St. Robert Community Center in St. Robert. MRPC also recognized 13 other volunteers for their community service work across the region. Each year, MRPC honors residents from Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties who have exhibited outstanding voluntarism and community service. MRPC also presents its highest honor, its annual Eugene E. Northern Award, to volunteers who have demonstrated lifelong community service. Northern, a former Rolla mayor, was a Missouri Circuit judge that was dedicated to his community and went beyond the call of duty. Judge Haslag of the 25 th Judicial Circuit, nominated by MRPC Chairman Laura Antolak, was honored primarily for his work on behalf of the less fortunate, especially children victimized by abuse, neglect and disabilities. Judge Haslag chaired the committee that developed the parent mediation process now used in 11 of Missouri’s judicial circuits. He was a founding board member of the Russell House, a home for abused women and children, the Gingerbread House, a home for severely disabled children, and the Robert Kyle Semi-Independent Living Center for the developmentally disabled. He has worked closely with the Mid-Ozark Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and was instrumental in the development of a pilot project that includes a new CASA mentoring program that focuses on foster children who are aging out of the state system. Judge Haslag has also been active in his community over the years, serving in leadership roles in Kiwanis, the chamber and his church as well as heading up a successful election effort to build a new Phelps County Courthouse. Others honored included:
The guest speaker for the evening was Joe Driskill, executive director of the Leonard Wood Institute at Fort Leonard Wood. Driskill was a former state representative and head of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. He offered recommendations to Missouri’s leaders for making the state more attractive to companies. He challenged the state to become a technology magnet by investing in university research, to do a better job of preparing workers for new job markets, to invest in public infrastructure to support new industry, to nurture entrepreneurs, to make communities more attractive and to treat citizens like customers by being accountable for services. Six MRPC staff members were honored with years of service awards: Lesley Bennish, Cheryl Dupes and Larry Blevins were recognized for five years of service; Chuck Cantrell was recognized for 10 years of service, and Elaine Cloyde and Behshid Marcellus was honored for 20 years of services. Dupes was also honored as Employee of the Year for 2008, a selection made by MRPC staff. Meramec Regional Development Corp., the loan board that works in partnership with MRPC, presented its Lender of the Year award, to Town and Country Bank. MRDC Chairman Tom Klebba presented the award to Robin Allen of Town and Country Bank. Some 165 people attended the dinner, which was hosted by the city of St. Robert. Sponsors for the event were the city of St. Robert, CM Archer Group, Ehrhardt Properties, Sellers-Sexton: Ford—Lincoln—Mercury, Auto Financial, Practically Enchanted Cake Decorating, Grellner Sales and Service and the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. MRPC Chairman Laura Antolak served as master of ceremonies and was assisted by Vice Chairman Russell Scheulen of Osage County and MRPC Executive Director Richard Cavender. MRPC is a voluntary council of local governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, transportation planning, housing assistance, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans, strategic planning and other services to member communities upon request. |