July 2012: Paintsville’s Bob Pack is region’s top PRIDE volunteer
July 1, 2012 by clackey
PRIDE's Mark Davis and Johnson Co PRIDE Coordinator Lillian Wheeler, presented the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award to Bob Pack, and Johnson Co Judge-Executive R.T. Daniel presented a county award to Pack.
A Paintsville businessman and civic leader has been named southern and eastern Kentucky’s PRIDE Volunteer of the Month for July.
Bob Pack, who owns and manages the Paintsville Automotive Supply Company, received the award June 27 during the meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Paintsville, where he is an officer and board member.
“Mr. Pack, we appreciate you for making our great outdoors clean and healthy for us and for our tourists,” said PRIDE’s Mark Davis, who surprised Pack with the award announcement at the meeting.
“You have volunteered to pick up litter yourself, and you have organized cleanup events so that everyone can do their part to care for this beautiful area, especially Paintsville Lake,” Davis said. “You are a servant-leader. You make a difference, and you inspire others to follow your lead.”
“Bob Pack works hard to have a clean community and a clean lake for everyone to enjoy,” said Lillian Wheeler, who nominated Pack for the PRIDE award. She is the Johnson County PRIDE Coordinator.
“Almost daily, after work hours, one can find Bob at the lake picking up trash,” Wheeler said. “He uses his own boat in cleanup efforts. Over the years, he has solicited hundreds of volunteers.”
Pack began volunteering his time and equipment to clean the lake and recruiting other volunteers before PRIDE was started in 1997, according to Wheeler. He embraced the PRIDE initiative and encouraged others to do the same.
For the last few years, he has worked with the Corps of Engineers to designate the first Saturday in April as PRIDE Cleanup Day at Paintsville Lake. He has made the cleanup day a form of contest to recognize groups’ efforts. On April 7, 2012, 2.5 tons of garbage were collected from the water, shore and surrounding areas.
Since that event, Pack has worked with the Kiwanis Club, Paintsville Tourism and other donors to buy a boat — which has been in service for one month now — for lake cleanup efforts.
Pack has won awards for his local community service. For example, he recently earned the Commander’s Award for Public Service from the Corps of Engineers for his commitment to preserving Paintsville Lake.
In addition to his leadership role within the Kiwanis Club, he also serves as the treasurer for the Staffordsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Mayo Methodist Church, where he is an active member.
The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative, which promotes environmental education and cleanup efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. With corporate sponsorship from TECO Coal, WYMT-TV airs commercials about each PRIDE Volunteer of the Month.
“Volunteers are the backbone of PRIDE,” said Congressman Hal Rogers, who co-founded PRIDE. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our volunteers. More than 360,000 volunteers have helped with PRIDE cleanup and education projects. We want to thank TECO Coal for helping PRIDE give these generous people the recognition they deserve.”
“Please tell us about PRIDE volunteers who impressed you, so we can thank them,” Davis said. “Please call us, toll free, at 888-577-4339, or please go online to submit a nomination for the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award.”
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE PRIDE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH AWARD
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