Award winners make Greene a better place
No doubt a lot of thought and consideration is given when the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce selects its annual Distinguished Service Award recipients.
Nominees are judged on contributions to community welfare and betterment; participation in community activities and civic enterprises; lasting contributions to community welfare; leadership abilities; success in their individual vocations; personal progress; and cooperation with other individuals and organizations.
The chamber’s selections this year are most worthy, considering the above-noted criteria.
And we commend the chamber on its choices.
On Nov. 22, the Rev. Donald P. Wilson will receive the individual award; The Patriot’s Dream Riding Association was selected as the organization winner, and Ed and Sandy Zeglen will be presented with a special award.
Wilson is a deserving recipient of the award and finds himself in good company. He has been president of the Greene County Historical Society’s board, has served on Waynesburg University’s board of trustees since 2000 and, from 1967 to 2005, was the pastor of Lebanon United Presbyterian in West Middlesex.
But the selections of the recipients in the other two categories, the organization and special award winners, are somewhat unusual, and that makes them quite remarkable.
The organization winner is the Patriot’s Dream Riding Association, a biker’s club of sorts, but not the stereotypical leather jacket-wearing Harley riders. Founded in May 2011, PDRA started with 30 men and women who enjoyed motorcycling and helping fellow citizens. They grew to include more than 40 people who work as stewards in their community, sponsoring concerts and spaghetti dinners to help raise funds for families with children who have life-threatening illnesses.
In 2012, they hosted the Venture’s Motorcycle Club Ride to give motorcyclists from several states a chance to see Greene County and surrounding areas. They also participate in the run to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
To date, they have raised a total of $22,171 for the ACS.
They, too, share a special place with previous organization winners: the Greene Community Church Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Waynesburg Lions Club and the United Way.
As the president of the group said when notified they had received the award, “We were all shocked that anyone even noticed the things we were doing. We were also humbled by the fact that it was the business and community leaders that were noticing.”
And when it comes to the Zeglens of Clarksville, well, they are synonymous with the chambers’ annual Christmas parade.
When Mr. and Mrs. Claus ride down High Street at the conclusion of the parade, behind those red suits, white wigs and beard (at least in Santa’s case), it’s been the Zeglens.
Unfortunately, Ed Zeglen retired this year from being the parade Santa, but the Zeglens’ contributions to the community will continue, that we know.
What better way to acknowledge the contributions of these DSA winners than to attend the chamber’s annual membership meeting and banquet Nov. 22 at the university’s Benedum Dining Hall, and say thank you to Wilson, the Patriots and the Zeglens for making Greene County a better place.