'Probably One of the Things in My Life I’m Proudest Of'

The civic-minded among us don’t do what they do for the attention, or the accolades.

Nonetheless, every now and then, it’s right to recognize them.

Nominations are due by Thursday for Moorestown Service Club Council’s 2012 Citizen of the Year award. The award, now in its 59th year, honors a Moorestown citizen who “through varied community service activities, has significantly contributed to the quality of life of the community and its citizens,” according to a release.

Dave Schill said, “It turned my head. I was so flattered.”

Schill, a 40-year Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Guantanamo Bay, is involved with the Moorestown Improvement Association, the township appearance committee, and various other civic groups in town, as well as being responsible for the Windows on Main Street fundraiser for the This spirit of public service, he said, has been with him nearly all his life.

“I did them, not to get noticed, but in the hopes of improving my town,” he said. “My father implanted in me the feeling that one should do their civic duty … He did things like this.”

Ann Baiada, a member of the Moorestown Rotary and volunteer with Heart of Camden (a neighborhood revitalization program in the city’s Waterfront South neighborhood), was named Citizen of the Year in 2009.

She said the award represents “probably one of the things in my life I’m proudest of … I was in awe of the fact that I could be named with some of the past winners.”

In an email, she further explained her feelings: “From a very young age my parents modeled for us the importance of helping others, sharing and giving. We didn't have much ourselves back then, but it was the way our community lived and that's how we grew up. We were always being sent somewhere to help with something—so it became part of who we were.”

It’s part of who Jack and Micki Ginsberg, the 2010 Citizens of the Year, are too.

The Ginsbergs, the first (and so far) only couple to share the honor, are both involved with the Rotary as well, along with a number of other civic organizations in Moorestown.

It was an unusual feeling to be recognized, Micki said, because she already derives so much “joy” out of helping others, the award was just icing on the cake.

“I actually was amazed, because I would not have thought of myself as Citizen of the Year,” she said, “because I get so much fun out of doing the things I do … That’s the best kind of thing.”

She added, “After not being able to believe it, it got to be a lot of fun.”

The Citizen of the Year will be honored at the Service Club Council’s 59th annual dinner meeting scheduled on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at The Merion in Cinnaminson. Proceeds from the event benefit local organizations and have included for a , Lenola Emergency Unit for resuscitation dolls, Friends of the and the Moorestown Community House.

Moorestown citizens can nominate someone by filling out a nomination form, available at the Moorestown Community House or on the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties website.

Completed forms should be dropped off or mailed to the Moorestown Community House, 6 East Main St., Moorestown, NJ 08057 or sent to denisea@ymca-bc.org.