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Post date: Nov 5, 2010 12:06:02 PM
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.
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