Archive: Around Town

"In 2012 the Lansing Town Board established the Viola Miller Volunteer Citizen Award to recognize a Lansing citizen or group for their dedicated service to the Town of Lansing and to the quality of life for all who live and work in our community," said Deputy Supervisor Sharon Bowman at Wednesday's Town Board meeting.  "Tonight we honor our 2013 recipient, Richard "Rick/Dicker" Lind."

Lind was presented with the award by Recreation Director Steve Colt.  Colt had lured Lind to the board meeting under false pretenses so he would be surprised when the award was announced.  Lind's wife and daughter were also present.


"One thing about living in Lansing is that we are very lucky that we are blessed with volunteers who are top notch," Colt said.  "Especially in my department.  The volunteers are the engine that drives us.  For the most part our big things ar done by volunteers that we could not do without.  This guy here has been helping us out for a long time."

The plaque lays out 25 years of volunteer service:

"Lind started coaching for the Lansing Recreation Department in the spring of 1988," it reads.  "After his three children aged out of the programs he continued volunteering with the Umpiring Program and in 1994 joined the Youth Baseball Board.

"Rick took over the responsibility of recruiting student umpires, training them and scheduling them to cover all games. He is still performing these duties and has never been paid for his efforts. His responsibilities include paying the umpires that create spring and summer jobs for many students.


"Rick’s record keeping and attention to detail is excellent and in very few cases where a student could not make a game, Rick is still seen underneath the gear behind the plate umpiring. His long term dedication and loyalty to the Baseball/Softball program is exceptional and difficult to find these days.

"Rick is also the president of the Quad County Babe Ruth Baseball League a position he has held since 1998. This volunteer position involves coordinating youth baseball for students age 13-15 for all of the towns in and near Tompkins County. He holds organizational meetings that set the rules and schedules along with organizing the season ending playoffs for both the 13 year old Prep league and Babe Ruth league.

"Rick’s dedication, consistency and experience make him invaluable to the youth in the Town of Lansing Baseball and Softball programs along with the many youth that participate from other towns in the Quad County Baseball league."

Lind is the second to receive the award.  The first recipient was long-time Planning Board member Viola Miller, for whom the award was established.  Miller served on the Lansing Planning Board from 1967 to 2011.

v9i35