BERLIN– From his work with the church to volunteering with secular service organizations like the Lions Club, Doug Parks has spent more than 50 years in service to his community.
Parks is the recipient of the 2013 Berlin Award honoring area volunteers. Recipients of the award, now in its 49th year, are selected by a committee made up of previous winners.
“The award is given to an individual for their outstanding dedication to the Berlin area,” said Roxanne Williams, a Lions Club co-chairperson who received the award in 2012. “The Lions Club dedicates itself to help the community in many, many ways. That and his service to the church have different outreaches that echo throughout the whole Berlin community.”
Williams said she was “so honored” to receive the award last year.
“We don’t do things because we’re trying to get an award – we dedicate our time to help the community and that’s all that any of these recipients do; they’re just generous with their time,” she said.
Parks has been a member of the Berlin Lions Club with perfect attendance for 50 years, and has also volunteered with Coastal Hospice and is a trustee at Buckingham Presbyterian Church.
“Obviously it’s very welcome and I’m pleased to receive it,” Parks said of the honor. “You always hope that your service is beneficial.”
“Doug has done a lot of good in the community,” said Lions Club Co-Chairperson Russ Barrett. “I’ve been in the Berlin Lions Club with him for many, many years and he’s always been very active.”
Asked about the highlights of his 50-plus years of volunteer work, Parks simply chuckled.
“The downside of it is at my age you don’t remember much of it,” he said. “You need to think in terms of a necessity – to provide the services – and you hope that what you do fills a void.”
A dinner will be held at the Berlin Lions Club in Parks’ honor with a cocktail hour on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. Dinner, which includes fried chicken and ham, follows at 7 p.m. Reverend David Briddell, a Berlin native and former executive of the National Council of Churches, will deliver the keynote address. Tickets cost $23.
Williams hopes the award encourages others in the community to volunteer.
“People normally just want to help other people,” she said. “Doug’s volunteering came through the Lions Club and the church, but many of us have helped out through the chamber or through Main Street or arts and entertainment or whatever it is that helps the town of Berlin. Many other recipients have helped through the hospital, basically giving their time to the community in various ways.”
For more information, call 410-641-0444.
Parks is the recipient of the 2013 Berlin Award honoring area volunteers. Recipients of the award, now in its 49th year, are selected by a committee made up of previous winners.
“The award is given to an individual for their outstanding dedication to the Berlin area,” said Roxanne Williams, a Lions Club co-chairperson who received the award in 2012. “The Lions Club dedicates itself to help the community in many, many ways. That and his service to the church have different outreaches that echo throughout the whole Berlin community.”
Williams said she was “so honored” to receive the award last year.
“We don’t do things because we’re trying to get an award – we dedicate our time to help the community and that’s all that any of these recipients do; they’re just generous with their time,” she said.
Parks has been a member of the Berlin Lions Club with perfect attendance for 50 years, and has also volunteered with Coastal Hospice and is a trustee at Buckingham Presbyterian Church.
“Obviously it’s very welcome and I’m pleased to receive it,” Parks said of the honor. “You always hope that your service is beneficial.”
“Doug has done a lot of good in the community,” said Lions Club Co-Chairperson Russ Barrett. “I’ve been in the Berlin Lions Club with him for many, many years and he’s always been very active.”
Asked about the highlights of his 50-plus years of volunteer work, Parks simply chuckled.
“The downside of it is at my age you don’t remember much of it,” he said. “You need to think in terms of a necessity – to provide the services – and you hope that what you do fills a void.”
A dinner will be held at the Berlin Lions Club in Parks’ honor with a cocktail hour on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. Dinner, which includes fried chicken and ham, follows at 7 p.m. Reverend David Briddell, a Berlin native and former executive of the National Council of Churches, will deliver the keynote address. Tickets cost $23.
Williams hopes the award encourages others in the community to volunteer.
“People normally just want to help other people,” she said. “Doug’s volunteering came through the Lions Club and the church, but many of us have helped out through the chamber or through Main Street or arts and entertainment or whatever it is that helps the town of Berlin. Many other recipients have helped through the hospital, basically giving their time to the community in various ways.”
For more information, call 410-641-0444.