HERVOICE MARCH/APRIL 2009 ■ 13

COMMUNITY

For once, Pauline Rhoades was the centerof attention.

It was standing room only at the YanktonElks Lodge in Yankton Sunday when localgroups and citizens got together to honorRhoades, a tireless volunteer involved innumerous civic activities, as Yankton’s 2008Citizen of the Year.

“It’s a very humbling experience to be sin-gled out,” a visibly moved Rhoades told thecrowd. “I really prefer doing things with agroup and with a team. However, I’ll take thehit for everybody today.”

Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan publisherGary Wood presented Rhoades with theCitizen of the Year plaque, which read,“Yankton’s Citizen of the Year, PaulineRhoades, in recognition of her high standardof leadership, honor and patriotism, and serv-ice to the community and people of Yankton.”

“There’s not really much more that can besaid,” Wood said.

Sunday was also proclaimed “PaulineRhoades Day” by both Gov. Mike Roundsand Mayor Dan Specht.

Specht thanked Rhoades for her work inliterally dozens of organizations, includingthe Yankton School District Foundation, forwhich she serves as executive director; TrinityLutheran Church; Sons of Norway; Relay forLife; the Yankton Chamber of CommerceBoard of Directors; and the Riverboat DaysCommittee, for which she has served as chair-woman.

To the delight of those in attendance,Rhoades also received two whips to go withher reputation as being able to whip organi-zations and boards into shape.

Numerous family members, friends andcolleagues were on hand Sunday to discusstheir experiences working with Rhoades andto wish her the best.

Paraphrasing Peanuts creator CharlesSchulz, Joanne Christensen, coordinator ofvolunteers and outreach ministries at TrinityLutheran, said, “The people who make a dif-ference in our lives are not the ones with themost credentials, or the most money, or themost awards. They simply are the ones who

care the most. Thankyou, Pauline, for mak-ing a difference in peo-ple’s lives by caring,sharing and giving ofyourself in so many dif-ferent ways.”

Rhoades’ daughter,Melanie Ryken, said sheknew her mother hadbeen nominated for theaward several times, and was glad she wasfinally being honored.

Ryken said that when her mother was toldabout the award in December, “I could see allof the emotion she was feeling. She was veryexcited, overwhelmed, humbled, probably alittle embarrassed, but mostly, she wasspeechless. And for those of you who knowPauline as well as I do, that doesn’t happen.”

Also in attendance were members of theBriest family. Charley Battery’s Sgt. CoreyBriest, who was severely wounded in Iraq,became a direct beneficiary of Rhoades’ workwhen she spearheaded a drive to raise fundsto build a handicapped-accessible house forhim and his family.

“She is always there,” said Corey’s wife,Jenny Briest. “She islike a second motherand grandmother tous.”

Upon receiving theaward, Rhoadesinvited members ofher family and theBriests — who shesaid were family toher — to stand andbe recognized.

“We all encounterpeople in our livesthat show up at justthe right times to pro-pel us to be better ver-sions of ourselves,”Rhoades said. “Theyaccept us for who weare and encourage us

to act on our lives. I have been blessed to havemany such individuals in my life: My family,pastors, teachers, neighbors, people in mychurch, Charley Battery soldiers, people Ihave served on boards and committees with,and yes, many, many children.

“I believe we are all called to serve,” shesaid. “We need to be aware of opportunitiesthat may present themselves and take advan-tage of them. Make it something you are pas-sionate about, for you can make a differ-ence.”

The Yankton Citizen of the Year Award issponsored by numerous organizations,including the Yankton Daily Press &Dakotan.

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Rhoades honored as Yankton’s

Citizen of the Year

■ Story by Travis Gulbrandson

Kelly Hertz/P&DPauline Rhoades, right, was honored recently as Yankton’s 2008Citizen of the Year. She is shown with Matt Michels, who served asmaster of ceremonies during the program at the Yankton Elks Lodge,after Michels read a proclamation from Gov. Mike Rounds declaring theday “Pauline Rhoades Day” in South Dakota.