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Community Corner

Southampton Citizen of the Year Tradition Continues

The Inter-Service Club Committee came together nearly three decades ago and continues to recognize Southampton's active volunteers.

As an Upper Southampton tradition nears the end of its third decade, its mission remains the same – recognizing residents who volunteer their time an service in an effort to make the township a better place to live.

Patricia Myers, a member of multiple township service organizations, received this year's Citizen of the Year April 6 at the Inter-Service Club Committee’s 30th annual banquet.

The committee, made up of 17 township service clubs, has been holding the banquet since 1982.

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Sam Costantini, who along with his wife, Faith, received the award in 1987 for their work with Southampton Days, said the committee came together in the early 1980s.

“What had happened back then is we had a little crisis - Bethanna ran into some financial problems,” said Costantini. “So, all the service groups in town came together in support of them.  They got it up and rolling and got Bethanna back on their feet.  That's how the inter-service club started.”

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The group didn’t have to look far for its first Citizen of the Year. Upper Southampton’s first township manager, John Danenberger, “did so much for this town they wanted to find a way to honor him.  So he became the first citizen of the year,” Constantini said. “And we've given someone the award every year since.”

The chairman of the Citizen of the Year committee (this year, Costantini) sends a letter out to all the volunteer organizations that participate, asking for nominees.  Those with a nominee, submit their candidates resume to the committee who then vote on the award's recipient.  There's no lobbying or anything like that, just the past recipients voting solely on the nominee's body of service to the community.

The only stipulations are the nominee be a resident of Southampton, and that the work they are being nominated for is strictly volunteer.  

Inter-Service Clubs:

  • Big Brothers/ Big Sisters
  • Southampton Business and Professional Association
  • Southampton Fire Co.
  • Friends of Tamanend Park
  • Friends of the Library
  • Southampton Days Committee
  • Marine Corps League
  • Southampton Community Band
  • Southampton Lioness Club
  • Kiwanis Club
  • Square Club
  • Lions Club
  • Republican Club
  • Democratic Club
  • American Legion
  • Southampton Free Library
  • Huntingdon Valley-Southampton Rotary

 

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