On Saturday, January 19, the City of St. Charles hosted an event at the Q Center to honor volunteer members of City boards, commission, and committees. Over 100 volunteers and their guests were recognized by Mayor DeWitte and the City Council for their contributions in making St. Charles a great community.
The volunteers were addressed by keynote speaker Mr. Wayne Messmer, commonly known as "the guy who sings the anthem." One of my favorite memories is when Mr. Messmer performed the National Anthem at the 1991 NHL All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium, shortly after Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced. You can check out the video of that here.
Messmer is the author of the book, The Voice of Victory, an autobiographical account of his career and his amazing comeback from a senseless and random act of violence in 1994 where he was shot in the throat as a victim of an armed robbery. Not only did Messmer come close to losing his career as a speaker and singer, but he nearly lost his life.
In addressing the volunteers in attendance, Messmer spoke to the audience about how to overcome obstacles and achieve success. He also talked about how valuable the contributions of volunteers are and said, "You stand the tallest when you bend down to help another." Mr. Messmer is a dynamic speaker that left the audience both enthusiastic and inspired.
The City of St. Charles relies on the active participation of residents volunteering their time and effort to sustain the quality of the community. Advisory board and commission members exemplify this spirit of volunteerism by lending their talents to benefit the City.
Advisory boards and commissions are established by ordinance in the City Code, which sets forth the composition and duties of each body. Board and commission members provide recommendations that assist the City Council in making decisions, and also serve as ambassadors to the community, informing and educating the public regarding the purposes of the board/commission, activities of the City, and the like.
You can find out more about the various advisory boards and commissions here.
Thank you to all members of the City's boards, commissions, and committees. You give your time and talent for free, but your contributions are priceless!
