Ron and Sherry Whalen are the Salvation Army Austin Corps Volunteers of the Year.

The Whalens received the award at the annual civic dinner held Thursday at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Jennings Hall.

The Whalens were honored for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the Salvation Army to plan and prepare the annual civic dinner, community meals and other functions.

Major Douglas Yeck, commanding officer of the Salvation Army Austin Corps, welcomed guests to the civic dinner, saying, "The people you are sitting next to are the epitome of altruism. The best volunteers anywhere."

Mary Frances Jones, an advisory board member, gave the invocation and masters of ceremonies Dan Conradt and Carrie Vincent described the evening's agenda.

Conradt, news director at KAUS, introduced a video of New York firefighters expressing their appreciation tot he Salvation Army for efforts at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

The Salvation Army's Jim Middleton praised the Austin Corps' own disaster services volunteers for a year of heroism.

Dave Reynen, president of the advisory board, introduced advisory board members.

Roger Campbell, holder of honorary lifetime membership status, was honored for 47 years on the board by co-master of ceremonies and an advisory board member, Vincent, a KAAL television news anchorperson.

Vincent also honored Brian McAlister, another advisory board member, who is retiring from the duties after 15 years of volunteer service. McAlister also distinguished himself, volunteering

at the Salvation Army's Family Thrift Store.

Deceased advisory board members Don Sorenson and Dean Adams were also honored posthumously.

Conradt and Vincent shared recognition duties for

the hundreds of volunteers

at a wide variety of Salvation Army projects , such as food drives, community meals, fund-raising and bell ringing.

A video prepared by KAAL television to the music of Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?" paid homage to all the volunteers

Awards went to the bell ringers of the year, Elaine Kitselman, Michelle Sundlie and John Cafourek, who comprised a bell ringing team at the HyVee Food Store last Christmas.

Capt. Catherine Baugh, who is leaving the Austin Corps for other duties, praised the three honorees for being "every day bell ringers" for the Salvation Army's popular holiday fund drive effort.

The Austin Masonic Temple was honored as the outstanding group of the year The group raised $3,474 in its bell ringing efforts

Kay Johnson was honored for leading the efforts in the first-ever "Homeless for a Day" fund-raiser.

Ann Prokes earned recognition for her work on the Angel and Caring Tree projects and Nate Pitcock was named youth volunteer of the year.

Austin postal workers were honored for holding the outstanding food drive after

collecting 8,700 pounds of non-perishable food items for the emergency food shelves at the Salvation Army.

KAAL TV-6 was honored as the outstanding organization of the year for its support of the Salvation Army.

Master of ceremonies Conradt said the television station epitomized its motto "Spirit of the Heartland."

Campbell gave the benediction to conclude the evening's events, but not before the commanding officer, Yeck told the volunteers, "You

are what helps us to keep going and going and going."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com