2009 Volunteer of the Year Leroy Radanovich and his wife Ellie




The Friends of the Red Cloud Library were presented
the E.O. Lewis Community Service Award

THE CHAMBER’S TOP HONORS GO TO  LEROY RADANOVICH AND FRIENDS OF THE RED CLOUD LIBRARY

On Thursday evening, April 16^th the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce held their 7^th annual event recognizing all of the County’s varied nonprofit organizations and the dedicated volunteers that are the hearts, hands and brains behind them. 

Nearly 100 people enjoyed a fabulous chicken dinner prepared by Leo’s Catering and served up by the Coulterville Claim Jumpers – Gun Fighters dressed in full ‘49er regalia.  After a County Proclamation was presented by County Supervisor Kevin Cann, each association president or representative was presented and photographed receiving their certificate of Appreciation from representatives of Congressman George Radanovich’s, Senator Dave Cogdgill’s and Assemblyman Tom Berryhill’s offices.

Two associations vied for the handsome Perpetual Award that the Chamber presents to the best represented organization.  It looked like the Friends of the Red Cloud Library had it with 13 people enjoying the event.  However, the 15 volunteer North and South County SCOPE member’s beat them out and proudly walked away with the honor. 

The North County Fire Brigade won hands down for the best decorated table thanks to Suzanne Turpin who transformed the table into a thoroughly country western theme complete with farm animals, barns and western accoutrements.

Leroy Radanovich, who stepped down as executive director from the Mariposa County Visitors Bureau last year, was then named as the Volunteer of the Year.  Chamber president MaryAnn Huff recounted not only his recent service, but also summarized his leadership and involvement in Mariposa County over the many decades.

The E.O. Lewis Community Service Award was presented to The Friends of the Red Cloud Library for the most outstanding service to the citizens of Mariposa County during the year.  With the Red Cloud Library’s dedication only two days later and the grand opening scheduled for the first week in May, this honor was most certainly timely. 

This Chamber event not only honors the hardworking volunteers and the organizations that do so much for the county, but it gave everyone present a chance to learn a bit more about their fellow organization’s goals and upcoming events and activities. It also gave everyone a chance to meet both the Chamber’s new Executive Director, Peter Schimmelfennig, and their new Member Services Coordinator, Pamela Gurr.   Also introducing themselves to those who had not yet had a chance to meet them were Jeff Hentz, the Executive Director of the Mariposa County Visitors Bureau who took over after Leroy Radanovich stepped down and his assistant, Melissa Hernandez.  These four individuals share a common goal of promoting the County and underscored to those present how important the contributions made by the County’s nonprofit organizations and the dedicated volunteers are to this endeavor.   

Article Credit: Dale Silverman