Think pink: Vote for Pink Flamingo award winner

The nominees have been selected and voting is under way for the 2011 Pink Flamingo award.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri bestow the award annually to a local resident who gives back to the community, has a philanthropic spirit and demonstrates kindness, generosity, character and leadership.

Voting can be done at bgckids.com/donate/donate.cfm by making a monetary donation. Each dollar will count as one vote.

Votes also can be placed on the club’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, which can be accessed through the club’s Website. Only one vote per person can be cast on the social media sites.
According to the Boys & Girls Club, preliminary voting ends at midnight Feb. 7.

The award will be presented Feb. 12 in the Missouri Electric Cooperatives Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds during the club’s 21st annual auction event “An Evening of Heart and Hope.”

Tickets to “An Evening of Heart and Hope” are $40 if purchased by Feb. 7. Remaining tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the auction for $50 per ticket. Tickets are available on the club’s website or at the club’s office.

The money raised at the event goes directly to helping the Boys & Girls Club offer students a safe place to go after school, a healthy snack, homework assistance and the opportunity to engage in positive relationships with peers and trained youth development professionals.
 
Nominees include:
Holly Thomlinson
Thomlinson, who works at Farmer’s Insurance Group, is involved with numerous nonprofit agencies in the area including the Boys & Girls Club and the United Way. She is also an active member of Sedalia Business Women.

Thomlinson has volunteered with the March of Dimes, Ducks Unlimited and as an ambassador for the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce. She also has worked to assist the Liberty Center and has adopted families through the Community Santa Campaign.

According to Thomlinson’s nomination packet, “her work with the March of Dimes, Boys & Girls Club and United Way has no doubt enhanced the quality of life for numerous children and families not only in Sedalia but in all of west central Missouri. Her leadership style is one that encourages everyone to get on board and support the cause. She is always offering a smiling face and a friendly comment to keep the mood light and happy. Holly (Thomlinson) is a great friend to those who know her and a tremendous asset to our community.”
                                
Doug Sokolowski
Sokolowski, program and news director for KSIS radio, has been the media representative for the Show Me Honor Flight since 2009. He has promoted nonprofit organizations and their events on air. His promotions have included the United Way, Boys & Girls Club, Salvation Army and the State Fair Community College Foundation.

Sokolowski is a past member of Sedalia Kiwanis and has volunteered his time to assist with pancake breakfasts and to check child safety seats with the Sedalia Police Department.
He is an Animal Fair supporter and has assisted at the Community Cafe.

During Sedalia’s sesquicentennial celebration, Sokolowski volunteered to help narrate the commemorative DVD. He is the former master of ceremonies for the Miss Knob Noster Scholarship Program and gave his time on Make a Difference Day to collect teddy bears, blankets and food.

Sokolowski was recognized by the Missouri Broadcasters Association for his work on public service announcements spearheaded the Special Olympics cell phone recycling campaign in Sedalia for the radio stations. He also volunteered for the MS 150 bike event, where he greeted each of the cyclists and shared some of the latest information on the fight against multiple sclerosis.

According to Sokolowski’s nomination packet, “he spends countless hours away from his own family going to and helping with events he cares about in the community. He sees events through from the start to the finish. His passion after he came back from the Honor Flight in 2009 was unmatched.

Listening to him talk about his experience on the flight and how it felt to witness the reactions of the veterans brought to life this amazing experience for many individuals in the community. His contributions to the community go way above and beyond his job requirements. Doug constantly seeks out any and all opportunities to make west central Missouri better.”

Linda Christle
Christle is executive director of economic development for Sedalia and Pettis County.

Christle serves on a number of boards and councils, including the Children’s Therapy Center Community Board, Whiteman Air Force Base Leadership Council Board, Whiteman Base Community Council, Southern Economic Development Council and the Economic Development Regional Planning Commission.

Christle also is an active member in Rotary International.

According to Christle’s nomination packet, “Linda (Christle) has been very involved through the Sedalia-Pettis County Economic Development to improve the quality of life in west central Missouri. She has worked with local manufacturers to expand businesses and increase job opportunities while bringing new businesses and industries to the Sedalia area from July 2009 to June 2010. Her efforts brought 207 new jobs to the area.

Linda (Christle) and her staff have introduced ways to show appreciation to local businesses and manufacturers through the Sedalia Showcase held each August in conjunction with the Missouri State Fair. The showcase spotlights a business that had made a positive impact on the community and the lives of their employees. In 2009, the showcase featured ProEnergy Services and in 2010 Ditzfeld Transfer was honored during its 50th anniversary. The event draws in volunteers from other community organizations and includes a full day of events centering around the honoree. In addition, each year Linda organizes a Manufacturer’s Recognition Dinner where she honors businesses that are celebrating milestone anniversaries. She is always looking for ways to encourage businesses to stay in and come to Sedalia.”

Salome Taylor
Taylor retired from teaching at Smith-Cotton High School.

She volunteers her time at the Community Cafe and with Global Christian Ministry.

She is a member of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and the Community Retired Teachers Association.

According to Taylor’s nomination packet, “Mrs. Taylor has become the most familiar face for volunteers at the Community Cafe. She has made many trips to Haiti in conjunction with the Global Christian Ministries, which provides aid and carries the message of Christianity into Haiti and other countries. As a single parent, she invested her life into raising an incredible son who was recently awarded a $400,000 grant for his work that is being conducted at Yale University. Mrs. Taylor has become Sedalia’s own Mother Teresa.”

David Malmo
Malmo retired as the owner/operator of David Malmo Motors.

He has been a member of the United Way Board of Directors and the Open Door board of directors. He a past member of Rotary and was active with the Industrial Development Authority. He is also a former president of the State Fair Community College Foundation board of directors.

Malmo is a board member, vestry and outreach chairman for Calvary Episcopal Church and a mentor at Washington Elementary School.

According to Malmo’s nomination packet, “David Malmo has been an active member of our community for over 40 years. He has given generously of his time and financial support to help make the community a better place. Most people look forward to retirement to be able to do some of the things they wanted to do for themselves that they have been putting off over the years. David instead chose to invest his time in our children. David has been a volunteer mentor for students at Washington Elementary School since the program started seven years ago. He had a new student each year until he met Malik. He has been a mentor to Malik for four years now. David (Malmo) is the type of person that any business or organization would want to have on their team. He is dedicated to doing what is right and good for our community and children.”

Drew Hill
Hill is the pastor for First Baptist Church in Sedalia.  

He mentors and tutors students at Heber Hunt and Washington elementary schools and works with single parents under the program “Never Alone Hope and Help for Single Parents.”

He has been president of the Pettis County Ministerial Association and is chairman of the Blue Ribbon Steering Committee, where he has been active in assisting the City of Sedalia with a long-range plan.

Hill is a coach and referee for Upward Basketball and volunteers with the Sedalia Youth Football program.

According to Hill’s nomination packet, “Drew (Hill) leads by example. He not only encourages others to get involved in the community, he is a doer and he gets involved himself. He wasn’t only a basketball coach when his kids were playing because his kids have been out of the program for six years and he is still out there and involved in the program. He has great passion for the community and he is constantly giving back.”

Robert Bond
Bond is a sales associate with W-K Chevrolet.

He is president of the Sunrise Optimists and through the organization has worked to raise funds for the train in Liberty Park, sold Christmas trees and volunteered with the school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

Bond is an active member of Eldorado Methodist Church and the 40 & 8.

According to Bond’s nomination packet, “Robert Bond serves the community tirelessly through his personal commitments and professional involvement with the Sunrise Optimists. His passion for celebrating our youth is unmatched. He is very generous of his time and positivity and is always kind and friendly to all he meets. Robert probably has to buy several copies of the local newspapers as he is always cutting out articles featuring others and mailing it to them along with a note of congratulations. The energy he spends raising up others makes him an ideal candidate for this award.”