Ruth Poppe

Nominated by Susie & Jim Erdman they wrote:  

     Ruth has made a tremendous impact on the community of Chenoa.  For the past 35 years Ruth has been the leader for the 4-H club, the Space Age Pioneers.  Ruth has guided hundreds of youth in our community to be better citizens.  She has challenged kids to excel and achieve goals never thought possible.  Many kids have won numerous awards and have gone to higher levels with Ruth’s guidance.  She has great way of motivating kids to achieve goals.
 
     The community also benefits from Ruth’s actions.  She organizes the club to serve the community.  Each year the kids collect for the food pantry, plant flowers at the library, work at the Christmas open house, help at the 4th of July celebration, serve refreshments at the ice cream social, and help whenever the need arise in our community.  The dunk tank has been a fixture at the 4th of July celebration, thanks to Ruth’s organization.  Many times Ruth has said to the club that someone called and asked for our members to help with their cause.  She has taught our members about the importance of the community service. 

     Ruth has decided to end her career as our 4-H leader, so the timing is perfect in nominating her as Chenoan of the year.  Her pride in our youth and community is hard to beat!

Nominated by Jeff & Nancy Todd, Ashley, Kelly and Haleigh they wrote:
         
      Our family would like to nominate Ruth Poppe as Chenoan of the Year for 2006.

     Ruth has done a terrific job as leader of the Chenoa 4H club, Space Age Pioneers, one of the most active and largest clubs in McLean County.  Ruth has been a great volunteer in many ways, including donating countless hours with our community’s youth, school, church and various community causes. 

     This is Ruth’s last year as official 4H club leader, after more than 20 years of service as leader of our local 4H club.  During her tenure, Ruth has influenced hundreds of youth people and helped them develop skills in leadership, public speaking, organization, teamwork and appreciation for nature and community.  In her 4H work, she shares with her club members a sense of pride in family, self and social responsibility.  If you talk to former club members, they would testify to her positive influence long after their 4H years.

     Ruth will probably be too busy raising money for the 4th of July committee at the annual 4H dunk tank, but I imagine we can convince her to break away to ride in the parade.  Let’s honor her with this award.

Nominated by Ann M Steidinger she wrote:

     I am writing to you to nominate Ruth Poppe as Chenoan of the Year.  Ruth has dedicated numerous hours to the youth of our community thorough our 4-H club, Space Age Pioneers.  This club is one of the most active in McLean County because of the many community service projects that are coordinated by Ruth and completed by the club each year. 

     Ruth is always willing to lend a hand wherever she is needed.  She dedicated many hours to the school while her son was growing up.  Ruth is also dedicated to her church and can be found at the raffle table during the fish fry’s held at St. Joseph’s.

     I think this award would be especially fitting this year as Ruth is retiring from 4-H following the 2006 McLean County Fair.

Nominated by Mark, Karen, Travis & Jake Heins they wrote:

     We would like to nominate Ruth Poppe as Chenoan of the Year.  Ruth has been leader of the Space Age Pioneers for 25 plus years.  She will be retiring after the McLean Co. fair in August.  Ruth has been a great volunteer with Chenoa's youth, the schools, churches, and the community.  She has reached so many people with her kindness.  The Baby Fold, Claire House, Safe Harbor, Chenoa Food Pantry, Meadows Home, the community sale, 4th of July dunk tank and many more places and people.  She has helped many of the Chenoa’s youth receive scholarships for college. 

     Please consider Ruth as Chenoan of the Year, not only for all the things she has done, but for all the lives she has touched.

Nominated by Tom Kahle he wrote:

    I would like to nominate Ruth Poppe for Chenoan of the Year.  Ruth has been active in the community as a parent in the schools and leader of the Space Age Pioneers 4-H Club.  She has spent countless hours helping the youth of this community.  I think she would be a well-qualified choice for this award. 

Nominated by Jackie Corrie she wrote:

     I would like to take this time to nominate Ruth Poppe for the 2006 Chenoan of the Year.  Ruth has been a contributing member of this community for a number of years.  She has been involved with the schools, her Church, the community and also the Chenoa Space Age Pioneers 4-H Club.  Ruth is resigning from 4-H this year, it seems that this would be a perfect time to honor such an incredible person.

Nominated by Brett & Sara Johnson they wrote:

     We are writing to nominate Ruth Poppe for Chenoan of the Year.  We feel Ruth is deserving of this recognition because she has contributed a great deal toward the betterment of our community.  One of Ruth’s biggest contributions has been as the leader of the Chenoa 4H club, the Space Age Pioneers.  Her hard work and dedication to this club for the last 20 years has directly impacted the lives of many of our kids, and her leadership has elected the status of our club by making it the most active club in McLean County.  Ruth has also volunteered a lot of her time to work with Chenoa’s youth in the schools, church, and community in general. 

     We think Ruth’s efforts represent the essence of what this recognition is all about, and we think she is deserving of this honor.