By: Philip Bernard
Congratulations Merrilee and Ken Jacobson on receiving the Tom Oglesby Dan Sears Community Builder Award. I can think of no two people who deserve this award more as they exemplify exactly what Tom Oglesby and Dan Sears did as they tirelessly worked together, (and I emphasize WORK TOGETHER) to make our Mordecai neighborhoods a better place to live.
When I first moved to Mordecai in 2002 and came to my first Mordecai CAC meeting, I distinctly remember looking around the meeting room at the Tucker House and seeing a very attractive couple sitting on the first row. As I observed them it was obvious that Merrilee was listening intently to the various speakers and taking notes so I deduced she was the secretary. An although he was not taking notes, Ken was listening just as intently and making mental notes on his own. After the meeting was over, not knowing anyone, I immediately headed toward Ken and Merrilee to introduce myself because I had the feeling that these two people knew what was going on. And they certainly did. They answered my questions and made me feel right at home. I helped Ken and others to put up chairs at the end thinking how the CAC was a great way to get involved in the neighborhood -something that Ken and Merrilee together had already found out years before me. When I took the MCAC Co-Chairmanship with Shane, I noticed that Ken and Merrilee rarely missed a meeting. Merrilee's minutes were always spot on and the fact that she was secretary during so many chairmanships with Ken by her side meant that they both lended a stability and consistency to the CAC which was invaluable to keeping our CAC up to date and strong. Their physical presence in setting up the annual picnic has helped to keep that tradition alive, getting tables from their church, volunteering to help with any aspect which fell short. I've noticed that people come and go in the CAC, they make their mark then move on, but Ken and Merrilee keep regularly attending our meetings and keep getting involved. They are often the first to show up at any meeting involving our neighborhood. Merrilee is often the first to send an email of support for a new initiative, and Ken the first one to say thanks for a job well done. Like Tom and Dan, Merrilee and Ken make an invincible pair and we thank you both so much for making Mordecai truly a great place to live. |
