Dennis named Wilmington Volunteer of Year
By Mary Baskerville Correspondent January 17, 2013 12:34PM
Updated: February 24, 2013 6:07AM
Dean Dennis is Wilmington’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year.
Surprised by the honor at Tuesday’s Wilmington City Council meeting, Dennis received a plaque from Mayor Marty Orr and will serve as grand marshal of the upcoming Catfish Days parade. He also received a city pin and $100 in chamber gift certificates.
“I couldn’t do all of this without the help of the Lions Club,” he said in accepting the award.
Orr cited Dennis’ involvement and leadership during the North Island Christmas in the Park Walk. While many contribute to the success of the annual holiday event, Orr said Dennis has a leading and continuing role. Citing his carpentry skills, Orr said many of the cutouts used to create the Christmas vignettes “were cut and done by him.”
Earlier in the meeting, the proceeds from the event were presented to the Kuzma Care Cottage food pantry.
The Wilmington Lions Christmas Walk was only one of the community events cited by Orr in presenting the award to Dennis. Among his other efforts are helping the Boys Scout and his many roles in the Lions Club. He also has been a VFW volunteer, active in volunteering for Cat Fish days and created shelving for the library.
It was, Orr said, “easy to make” Dennis the volunteer of the year for all of the time and energy he gives to “make Wilmington a better place.”
