Return to Archived Stories

The annual award is meant to recognize an individual, group, or business that has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of understanding and cooperation between people of different backgrounds. Ruth Aulick, who founded the Paynesville Area Community Service Center, received the first award, named for her, in 1998.

The award especially seeks to recognize efforts to improve understanding in the areas of race, religion, gender, national origin, marital status, disability, age, sexual orientation, or family status.

Last year, the award was given to an anonymous recipient, who said their volunteer work was done solely for goodwill and not out of any desire for recognition. Instead, the award should be shared with all volunteers.

Other winners of the award have been: Brad Skoglund (2004); Maurice Dosdall (2003), Marlys Pearson (2002), Katherine Halvorson (2001), Don Torbenson (2000), and Marie Lauer (1999).

Nomination forms can be picked up at the Paynesville City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. They are due on Friday, May 26.

Letters of nomination - no longer than two pages in length - may also be submitted to the Paynesville Area Human Rights Commission at 221 Washburne Avenue, Paynesville, MN 56362.