Lewiston honors outstanding citizens [Lewiston Morning Tribune, Idaho]

May 10--All three recipients of Lewiston's 2009 Outstanding Citizen awards share one common attribute, aside from a love of service to their community -- humility.

"We truly enjoy what we do," said Lewiston resident Floyd Haugen. "We don't do it for the publicity or glory -- just the glory of God."

Floyd and his wife, Marian, have devoted their time to volunteering for a total of 57 years between them. When they're not delivering hot meals to home-bound residents through the Meals on Wheels program, they can be found perusing local yard sales for clothing that they donate to the Sons of Norway or building houses for Habitat for Humanity, where Floyd paints the interior doors and Marian paints the trim.

"We enjoy helping people in different ways and we enjoy the people that we do things with," Floyd said.

Floyd and Marian were nominated for the honor by Gary Carson, who wrote, "We would be remiss to underscore the fact that Meals on Wheels is only a small portion of their gifts to Lewiston."

Floyd retired from building dams for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 22 years ago and has spent most of the intervening years serving the community with his wife of 48 years. He and Marian arrived in Lewiston in 1968, intending to spend just one year in the community. But, as Floyd relates with a laugh, "It stretched out."

The couple is actively involved with Trinity Lutheran Church and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

"We have a sign up at our church that says, 'Service Entrance,' and we take that seriously," Floyd said. "You go out in the community to serve and in retirement, you have time to do it."

Marian also has a favorite quote:

"Love learns to manage the interruptions in your planned schedule to help someone else."

Sara Storey is usually the first person visitors meet when they enter the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce. It's a role she doesn't take lightly.

"It's such a thrill to represent the city because a chamber of commerce has a reputation of being the open door with all the answers," she said.

Storey was nominated for the Outstanding Citizen award by former Lewiston Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Havens, who wrote, "She has taken great pride in telling, showing and assisting every tourist she meets in person or on the phone about our beautiful community."

Havens estimates Storey has spoken to more than 2,000 visitors and tourists and volunteered more than 6,000 hours for the chamber.

At the suggestion of Havens, she began volunteering at the chamber in March 2005 as a fill-in. Soon, she was given permission to completely redecorate the office.

"It was thrilling that he gave me that free rein to make it very professional," she said.

One of her favorite memories at the chamber was the time a gentleman came into the office with some friends from Czechoslovakia.

"He wanted to show them the valley," she said. "That's what excites me the most is representing and selling the valley."

When she learned she had won the Outstanding Citizen award, Storey said her first reaction was shock. After all, volunteering, for her, is simply an obligation.

"Being a private person and just wanting to give back to my community, it startled me when I got the letter," she said. "I'm just blessed to be able to give back."

All three Outstanding Citizen award winners will be honored at the annual Community Recognition Awards reception at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lewiston Community Center. To make a reservation, call (208) 746-3671, ext. 202.

Other award winners to be recognized are Jill Carson-Balmer and Todd Maddock for Outstanding Board/Commission Member, Brittany Creutzbeg and Whitney Klemm for Outstanding Youth, Teresa Wolf and Laura Von Tersch for Outstanding Employee, the Lewiston Roundup Association for Outstanding Business or Association, Jacob (Arnie) and Sue Johnson and Tim and Patty Switzer for Residential Legacy through the Orchids Awards Program, Lori Lohman for Commercial Legacy through the Orchids Awards Program, Lewiston Civic Theater for Public Legacy through the Orchids Awards Program, and Sandra Lee, Lewiston Tribune reporter, for Historic Arts and Culture through the Orchids Awards Program.

Award recipients were chosen by the Lewiston Intergovernmental Council, which is comprised of the mayor, chairman of the Lewiston Port Commission, chairman of the Nez Perce County Commission, and chairman of the Lewiston School Board.

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