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Versailles
Area Chamber of Commerce
Debra
Pohl Citizen of the Year
The
Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is proud to announce Mrs.
Debra Pohl
as their newest recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award. This award was
originally established in
1970 under the name of the Community Service Award and has been award
annual
since its inception. On
Monday, January
21, the VACC will ceremoniously award the Citizen of the Year obelisk
to Mrs.
Pohl.
Deb’s
name was one of many nominees for the award, but her long time
involvement in
the community, local organizations and the school functions won her the
title
of Citizen of the Year.
Deb’s
community service dates back to her high school years when she began
volunteering for the Poultry Days festival by working the chicken
serving line,
eventually she added selling chicken dinner and ride tickets to her
duties then
through the years she continued to become increasingly involved as she
helped
in the Band Boosters tent, where she assumed any and every duty
necessary,
including the setup and teardown.
Mrs.
Pohl has been a part of the Modern Mothers Club, holding various
offices
throughout those years. She
was also
involved in establishing a second mothers club in Versailles, the
Serendipity
Moms. For many
years she was a driver
for the Versailles Rescue Squad, involved in the Versailles Alumni
Association,
served a term on the St. Denis Church Council, was president of the
Versailles
Council of Churches, a volunteer at the local food pantry, a former
meal
deliverer of Meals on Wheels, and a founding member of the “Friends of
Worch
Memorial Public Library”.
Deb
was on the founding board of the Versailles Swim Team and helped at the
meets
for years. She also
spent years
volunteering for the Band Boosters, supported the Versailles FFA,
chaperoned
Versailles school field trips (trip that did not include her own
children). Deb was
a founding officer of
the Rhythm Company which was Versailles’ first show choir which
eventually
became part of the school system; i.e. Encore!
She has also been an avid supporter of
the Towne & Country Players
by assuming many different capacities throughout the years.
The
Athletic Boosters know they can count on Deb to support their sports
programs,
as well as donate annually to their dinner auction.
Deb exhibits her genuine nature by
following
many of the local athletes as they enter college sports. Deb is equally interested
in the musical and
acting talents of VHS graduates as she attends many of their college
theatre
productions.
Presently
Deb is President of the Versailles Area Historical Society and helps
with the
weekly Community Meals, various food relief programs and just finished
another
year of Operation Christmas Child.
Deb
is
a lifelong resident of Versailles, who was the oldest daughter of Betty
(Carter) and Francis Grilliot has one sister, Pam Groff who nominated
her for
this award. Deb
graduated in 1965 and
married Harold Pohl in 1968. Together
they raised four children, David Christa, Brian, & Rebecca. They have five
grandchildren. The
Pohls are owners of Harold J. Pohl, Inc.,
Pohl Transportation and Pohl Logistics.
Prior
to 2011 the honoree’s name had been kept secret until the end of the
evening. Announcing
the winner gave
friends, family and neighbors the opportunity to be present for the
celebratory
ceremony.
The
public
is invited to help Deb and her family, celebrate on Monday, January 21,
at the
Riviera Banquet Room, Stillwater Valley Golf Course.
A cash bar will be open at 6:00 pm with
a
catered chicken, green bean, baked potato dinner served at 6:45 p.m. A brief business meeting,
for the purpose of
reports and election of directors, will immediately follow the dinner. The highlight of
the evening will be the
presentation of the “Citizen of the Year” award.
Local politicians, trustees, fire and
police
chiefs and council members will also be on hand. Tickets are $20.00 per
person
and can be obtained by contacting Fred or Stacy Poeppelman at 526-9869. Since this is a
catered meal it is necessary
to RSVP by January 15th.
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