Home    Views   May 2006

		Points of View Posted May 30, 2006  Updated June 1, 2006 Guest Column © 2006 Suzanne Van Dam, President, Heart and Hands Society

Nominations sought for 2006 Heart and Hands Award 

By Suzanne Van Dam

HOUGHTON -- Do you know anyone who has given of themselves, of their Heart and Hands in the service of peace, justice or the environment? Please consider nominating this person (or couple) for this year’s Heart and Hands of the Keweenaw Award. The nomination form only takes a moment to fill out, and the recognition may mean a lot to a deserving individual!

In 1998 the Martha and Floyd Heart and Hands Society was founded with a small endowment from the estate of Martha and Floyd Kinzel. The task of the Board of Directors is to solicit nominations annually for the Heart and Hands of the Keweenaw Award. The intent is to recognize a person who has given of his or her heart and hands in the service of peace, justice or the environment who might otherwise not be recognized. There is also a youth award available for a young person age 18 or under.

As the endowment has grown, we have been able to offer an accompanying monetary award which is given to a local, nonprofit organization designated by the recipient of the award. This year the monetary award will be $1000 for the general award and $250 for the youth award. The award winners will be announced on July 4 at the Horsetail Scramble at Churning Rapids.

Past awardees have included Dana Richter, Bob and Vi Brown, Chuck Harris, Linda Rulison, Candy Peterson, Bob Linn and Vern Simula.

Over the past seven years 35 outstanding individuals have been nominated. And although only seven have been selected to receive the award, hearing the stories of how these 35 individuals have enriched our community has been a wonderful experience. Won’t you help us find and recognize additional individuals deserving on nomination? Please consider nominating someone yourself, before the June 23rd deadline, by filling out the  nomination form on page 2. Click here or below. For more information, please call Terry Kinzel at 482-6827 or e-mail him at: tkinzel@pasty.com. 

Click here for the nomination form on page 2.

Editor's Note: The author of this article, Suzanne Van Dam, is the President of the Heart and Hands Society.